Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to present our latest newsletter, which highlights the recent work and collaborative efforts Hillingdon LMC and Londonwide LMCs along with other local partners.
Hillingdon LMC Membership and contact information.
What has Hillingdon LMC been working on recently?
Safe Working:
- Primary/Secondary Care Interface – After much work the LMC are happy to announce The Hillingdon Hospital now have a point of contact for GP’s to raise any issues or concerns with. The local interface group will also now meet more regularly moving from quarterly to monthly. We continue to pushback on all the inappropriate workload dumping that is taking place which includes Hospital consultants asking GPs to refer to another service when this should be done internally, re-referring to the correct sub-speciality, and arranging further investigations on behalf of the hospital.
- Raising concerns with the Borough team and NWL ICB for Protected Learning Time for Practices and asking for a review in the policy.
- Continue to raise issues GP’s are facing with Mental Health Provisions for Asylum Seekers.
- Challenging the rejected referrals for Rapid Access Chest Pain clinic and ensure the referral form is fit for purpose.
- 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 patient’s GP.
Stabilisation:
- The LMC continues to work with the ICB regarding unfunded or inappropriate work. Examples of this include administering Prostap and Zoladex, pre-operative tests and prescribing specialised medication without a shared care agreement. Your practice does not have to accept inappropriate requests. Please see the different template letters which can be used to reject this work using the template letter here or alternatively for Zoladex template letter or Prostap template letter.
- 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.
- 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.
Attrition:
- Continue to build relationships with key stakeholders including Healthwatch, The Local Pharmacy Committee, PCN CD’s and the confederation. Including quarterly meetings with PCN CD’s, Bi-monthly meetings with The Confederation and Hillingdon Borough team, along with informal meetings with the Borough’s Medical Director.
- Attending Hillingdon Primary Care Liaison Group which replaces the Hillingdon Primary Care Executive Group.
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 Sujata Chadha, Co-Chair – Hillingdon LMC
Dr Venothan Suri, Co-Chair – Hillingdon LMC