Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to present our latest newsletter, which highlights the recent work and collaborative efforts Brent LMC and Londonwide LMCs along with other local partners. We understand the pressures under which you and your team are working.
Brent LMC Membership and contact information.
What has Brent LMC been working on recently?
Safe working:
- Primary/Secondary Care Interface – We continue to push back on all the inappropriate workload dumping that is taking place. We attend interface meetings with the different trusts Brent GPs use. An example of this includes Hospital consultants asking GPs to refer to another service when this should be done internally, including for some in patients.
- Raising concerns with NWL ICB over the number of inappropriate rejected referrals including suspected cancer pathways and radiology. We are aware of a number of patients who have come to harm due to these rejects. We have written to the NWL Cancer leads about our concerns with the current sarcoma pathway. Other examples include rejections due to the forms used and asking GPs to re-refer to the correct sub-speciality when this should be re-directed by the trusts.
- Raising concerns practices have been experiencing with requests from the London Ambulance Service; with Londonwide LMCs now meeting regularly with LAS leads to establish correct pathways are being used and issues addressed. As a consequence of these meetings LAS have confirmed crews should use their own infrastructure and clinicians to support them rather than the patients GP.
- Continue to raise issues GP’s are facing with Mental Health Provisions for Asylum Seekers.
Stabilisation:
- The LMC continues to work with the ICB regarding unfunded or inappropriate work. Some examples of this include asking the GP to arrange further investigations on behalf of the hospital, onward referrals, and preoperative tests. Your practice does not have to accept inappropriate requests. Please see the template letter which can be used to reject this work using the template letter here.
- Ongoing work for the Same Day Access Proposals 24/25. A challenging 9 months, 50p has been released for engagement and the £2 for phase 2 has just been released, we have reservations about the ask to demonstrate value for money with an increase in 10% activity – the LMC were not asked to contribute to this metric.
- Providing feedback and reviewing specifications for the in-year specification changes for the current Single Offer Enhanced Services such as diabetes, hypertension and medicines management.
- Flagging concerns over mass deductions to PCSE and NWL ICB IT leads, which do not appear to follow the FP69 process. This is now being investigated.
Attrition and connections:
- Building relationships with key stakeholders including Healthwatch, The Local Pharmacy Committee, PCN CDs, and Brent Borough team.
- Attending a number of Brent specific meetings and ensuring on the ground GP’s are represented within the new ways of working following the recent transformation of the ICB and Borough team.
GP Support Team
The GP Support team provides expert, confidential and bespoke advice and support to individual constituent GPs and practices in difficulties. – Contact: [email protected].
Resources available
- Patient information videos
- GP and Practice staff training
- Advertise practice vacancies for free
- Safety First – Safety Resource Pack including a new webinar added last month.
London General Practice Awards
We have already had more than 100 nominations for the inaugural awards that are being run by Londonwide LMCs. Thank you to those who have submitted nominations, if you have not already nominated yourself and/or a colleague then please do so by Saturday.
Get in touch!
All constituents can raise any issues of concern with the LMC at any time and thank you to those that have been in touch since the last newsletter. We rely on you to know where support is needed and are grateful for your queries. Please do reach out to LMC members or Amy. We are keen to hear from our local GPs and practice teams about any issues you are facing. We are here to represent your views. Please feel free to contact [email protected].
Yours faithfully,
Dr Prakash Chatlani, Interim Chair – Brent LMC