According to the latest LOCSU Hot Briefs, PCSE have informed LOCSU and the Optical Confederation there has been a delay in processing some GOS payments this month due to the recent adverse weather.
Payments for the areas listed in Hot Brief 64 below have already been processed and the extent of the delays have been confirmed.
Payments for a firther 14 areas listed in Hot Brief 65 will be processed over the next few days and the expected ‘in bank dates’ are as listed. Details of a special process to ensure that payments due between 24/3 and 29/3 arrive as close as possible to the due date, and no later than 29/3, will follow asap.
UPDATE 20/3/2018: NHS England’s Central Finance Team have agreed to implement a special process to ensure that all contractors in the affected areas receive a payment before the last working day in March. The process is explained on the flow chart in Hot Brief 66, below. Contractors in the areas listed in the brief will receive an ad-hoc payment on the 26/03 or 27/03 to the same value as their February 2018 GOS payment. This ad-hoc payment will be balanced against the contractor’s March 2018 GOS payment once it has been processed by PCSE.
Contractors will receive a remittance notice from NHS SBS (where a valid email remittance address is held) for the ad-hoc payment paid by NHS England but will not receive a GOS statement until their claims have been fully processed by PCSE. A further remittance notice will be issued from NHS SBS showing the balance paid to the contractor on the revised payment date for their area where the March payment value is greater than the ad-hoc payment. If the March payment is less than the ad-hoc payment, then the overpayment will be deducted from the April GOS payment.
The revised payment date will be confirmed to contractors by PCSE once processing for their area has been completed. The latest payment date is expected to be 09/04/18.
NB: It is important that contractors read the information on the two remittance notices received from SBS in conjunction with their March GOS statement.
Contractors in the affected areas should receive an email from their PCSE Regional Liaison Manager (RLM). Any contractors for whom the delayed payment will cause cashflow problems or financial hardship should contact their RLM to request an emergency payment. To find out how your area is affected, read the Hot Briefs
Hot Brief Issue 64 – March 2018