Advice is needed about a GP

Q. I have been registered with a GP practice in Cambuslang for a number of years now and I recently raised a complaint with them as I was unhappy with their services.

I have contacted a number of other local GPs and visited them in person. I asked one in particular if they were accepting new patients and was told they were. I was then asked for my postcode and advised that I was out with the catchment area and they were only taking G73 postcodes as new patients. I am looking to check that the practice is allowed to do this.

A. You are entitled to register with a GP in your local area if you live within their catchment area.

They do not need to accept you but they need to give you reasonable grounds to refuse you, in writing.

You could be refused if their register is full or you live too far away for a home visit. You cannot be discriminated against due to race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.

They have advised you that they are full and you are outwith their area.

You can ask for the reason and make a complaint if you feel that you were poorly treated.

You can write to your local NHS board if you are unable to find a practice to register with in the local area.

Q. I was furloughed when lockdown started and when I returned to work I was advised via a Facebook post that my previous employers had sold the business and it had been taken over by someone that owns other pubs in the area.

I was TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) over from my previous employer which means that my term and conditions in my original contract were all protected.

However, I am having the following issues with my new employer:

1) I am now being paid in cash and I am receiving no payslips. I was previously receiving payslips and was paid by BACS.

2) I have been informed by my pension provider that I have opted out of my workplace pension – however I have done no such thing.

3) When I informed my manager that I had no payslip this was rectified and I received a payslip but there was no tax deductions on it, the only thing that had been paid was National Insurance. I am worried about this.

I am wondering if there is any advice you could offer me regarding the issues that I have?

A. As a TUPE employee, Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment, you should not see any changes to your working conditions or the way you are paid.

Generally you would not get a new contract of employment because the old contract is still valid. You would be advised that your only approach regarding this would be to speak to your employer informally but this would be a decision that you would have to make.

You should have not been opted out of your workplace pension as you are the only one that can do this.

If you feel that you cannot talk to your employer about your pension query then you can phone the Pensions Regulator and the whistleblowing number on 0345 600 7060.

The number for HMRC is 0300 200 3300 and this would be to check whether your tax is being paid. You have a duty to ensure that your tax code is correct and that your tax is paid up to date as HMRC will ultimately seek to recover the missing tax from you.

Q. I have been on statutory sick pay for 22 weeks and I am now being pressured by my employer to resign but I do not want to do this.

I would like to know how long I can get statutory sick pay for and what would my next options be as I do not feel as though I could return to work when my sick pay ends.

A. You are entitled to statutory sick pay for 28 weeks. You should continue to provide your employer with sick notes with no intention to resign.

Once your statutory sick pay ends your employer should give you a SSP1 form (this will be needed for claiming benefits).

Your benefit options after your sick pay ends will depend on your household income (what your partner earns) but generally it would be an application for either Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, with Employment and Support Allowance you can claim prior to ending so that it is up and running.

The assessment phase would see you get £74.70 per week, the Department of Work and Pensions would then assess you within three months of submitting your application and this would determine whether you are put into the work related group or the support group.

The work related group has a 365-day limit entitlement.

Q. I am gay and I run my own local business. I have heard that there is specific help for gay and lesbian people who run their own businesses is this correct?

A. The Gay Business Association of the United Kingdom is an association of businesses and organisations in the UK who serve the gay and lesbian community. It was established to enable its members to share information and experience, to improve standards and to promote businesses serving the gay and lesbian community.

Their details are as follows: Gay Business Association of the United Kingdom BCM-GBA , London, WC1N 3XX. Tel: 0700 225 5422. E-mail: hello@gba.org.uk Website: www.gba.org.uk

PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone / e-mail advice Mon – Fri 9.30am – 3.00pm.