MWord – issue 35 – Dr Michelle Drage’s latest update for GPs and practice teams

Dear Colleague

As we run into the busiest time of the year I would like to ask you to briefly cast an eye towards the big picture, in particular:

• The GP Partnership Review – your last chance to feed in by 3 December
• Conference of England LMC Representatives
• An eventful start to next year

GP Partnership Review – your last chance to feed in by 3 December

Over the last few months the GP Partnership Review team has been meeting GPs across the country to listen to the challenges that the profession faces, including two practice visits and a round-table meeting facilitated by Londonwide LMCs.

It would be helpful if you could take 10 minutes to feedback to the Review team on your working patterns and career plans. It is important that the views of London GPs are represented, the Capital presents a unique set of circumstances for general practice and your voice needs to be reflected in the Review’s findings.

The feedback form needs to be completed by Monday 3 December, which should take about 10 minutes and can be completed here.

Conference of England LMC Representatives

At Friday’s conference we saw two important motions proposed by London LMCs and a number of strong speaking contributions by our delegates. The conference captured the frustrations felt by many of you and had a focus on practical solutions.

Waltham Forest LMC proposed a motion calling for the independence of practices to be retained as the NHS rolls out its at-scale agenda and for individual practices to not be frozen out from signing up to deliver additional services. Dr Ben Molyneux spoke passionately about the fact that an organisation caring for 5,000 patients is just as capable of providing high quality care as one with 50,000 patients.

Redbridge LMC proposed a motion on out-of-area GP providers, calling for the end to the out-of-area registration regulations, a government re-assessment of online consulting and all providers to offer the full range of general practice services. Dr Henry Akpabio spoke about how it goes against the values of general practice to tell a patient to de-register if they develop an illness where they require home visits.

London delegates also spoke in other debates, including calling for: a better work/life balance, another year to be added to GP training, for GPs to oppose the introduction of co-payments, and for improved technology to allow practices to expand their online services.

The conference agenda can be viewed here and the webcast of the day here.

An eventful start to next year

We’re continuing to engage with the Mayor’s Office, as part of their work to bring together the key players in London’s health and social care landscape. Last month I spoke at City Hall about the role of general practice in meeting London’s health challenges, with Simon Stevens and Sadiq Khan in attendance.

The first few months of next year are scheduled to see the arrival of the state-backed indemnity scheme, the UK’s official departure from the EU and Londonwide LMCs’ annual conference. I can say with certainty that our annual conference will take place on Tuesday 12 March, at the Kia Oval and will be hosted by Dr Ben Goldacre. We will keep you updated on what state indemnity and Brexit actually mean for your practice, once the goalposts have stopped moving.

Michelle 

Dr Michelle Drage FRCGP

Chief Executive, Londonwide LMCs

As ever – Please do let me have any views on these issues or others at mword@lmc.org.uk.