Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 25th March 2022
Date sent: Friday 25 March 2022
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
The funeral of Dr Barry Moyse LMC Medical Director will be taking place at St Mary’s Church in North Petherton on Wednesday 30th March at noon, we will be closing the LMC office that day as a mark of respect.
- QOF Payments Linked to the Childhood Vaccination and Immunisation Program
- Rebuild General Practice
- Waiting Lists
- Global Manufacturer Raw Material Issues Affecting Test Reagents- Ferritin and Transferrin Saturations Test and 2WWs
- BMA Successfully Challenges Threatening Letters from Solicitors
- Consultation-Review of Current GP Representative Structure from the Chair of GPDF
- Tier 2 Sponsorship
- GP Recruitment Event 11th May at Taunton Racecourse
- South West Primary Care Academy Practice Managers Conference 2022 27th April
- Job Vacancies
- Top Tips...
- Population Manager QOF v46 (Release 1.3)
QOF Payments Linked to the Childhood Vaccination and Immunisation Program: Following initial discussions regarding this at a System level in Somerset, there is a commitment amongst all System Partners to find a pragmatic local solution that will allow practices in the county to feel confident that they will be adequately funded to continue providing the childhood vaccination and immunisation service, at least for 2022-23, pending a national resolution to the problem.
Rebuild General Practice: Funded by the GPDF the campaign, "Rebuild General Practice" has been launched on Monday 21st March giving a call to action for UK and devolved Governments, 'rebuild general practice or put patient safety at increasing risk'. The campaign launch was supported by an ‘emergency press conference’ whereby the campaign leads raised patient safety concerns and set out a 3-point plan to rebuild general practice. We will share campaign material across our social media channels and would encourage practices that are on twitter to also follow the campaign.
Waiting Lists: The LMC have received a number of frustrated emails regarding waiting lists and the lack of communication to patients, we raised this with the Trust this week and have received the following information.
Global Manufacturer Raw Material Issues Affecting Test Reagents- Ferritin and Transferrin Saturations Test and 2WWs: 2 week wait referrals will not be affected by the inability to request a ferritin or transferrin saturations. These are not part of the mandatory bloods. On the rare occasion that there is a related clinical query by the colorectal team, then secondary care will contact the surgery directly. This will not impact on primary care's ability to make the 2WW referral.
BMA Successfully Challenges Threatening Letters from Solicitors: A number of solicitors have been threatening doctors with legal action if they do not provide COVID-19 exemption for the solicitor’s clients. The BMA’s Medico Legal Committee (MLC) has written to the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) and has been assured that solicitors should not be “writing in offensive, threatening or intimidatory ways. They also do not expect solicitors to pursue matters which they know have no legal merit.”
If doctors receive intimidating letters, please advise your Medical Defence Organisation (MDO) and share a copy with info.gpc@bma.org.uk so that the MLC may pursue further via the SRA. Furthermore the GPC and the MLC have met with the COVID-19 Exemptions Team at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We understand that further guidance on COVID-19 exemptions will be published and this will clarify the role of doctors in providing exemption certificates, make it clear what conditions do and do not warrant an exemption, and reiterate that there is no appeal. The BMA have asked for departmental support that any legal action is against the policy, and thus the DHSC, and not the GP/surgery. Both committees hope to see a swift and satisfactory conclusion to this matter.
Consultation-Review of Current GP Representative Structure from the Chair of GPDF: The Conference of UK LMCs in May 2021 approved a motion requesting GPDF commission a review of GP representation. A number of interviews and discussions have taken place to inform the structure of this review. One key element is a consultation in which every GP regardless of setting can contribute their views on the issue of representation. This consultation is being conducted on a confidential basis where the identity of the respondent will not be provided to anyone other than the research organisation administrating the consultation. We would encourage all GPs to take part in this survey which closes on the 6th April.
Tier 2 Sponsorship: After talking to a number of GP trainees at a recent RCGP career fair, many of them are keen to stay in Somerset but will require Tier 2 sponsorship to do so. There are currently a handful of practices that do offer this, however this may be worth considering for others that are struggling with recruitment, the CCG have confirmed that they are able to help with the costs on an individual basis where it can be shown to help with resilience, further detail can be found here and the process for supporting trainees is here.
GP Recruitment Event 11th May at Taunton Racecourse: Our latest popular GP recruitment event will be held from 2pm on Wednesday 11th May as a face to face meeting. This event will give GPs and GP trainees the chance to meet and talk to a wide variety of Somerset practices in one place. If you are GP or GP trainee looking for a job in Somerset please book here. Somerset practices can book their table to advertise their vacancy here. Registration and participation is free.
South West Primary Care Academy Practice Managers Conference 2022 27th April Programme and registration link
Engineers House, Bristol, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Clifton, Avon, Bristol BS8 3NB
Time: 8.45am - 9.30am Registration / Conference Opens and Networking
9.30am - 4.30pm Conference Keynotes and Workshops
Please note that lunch will be provided for all attendees
Top Tips...
Can be found here.. New item this week is:
- Population Manager QOF v46 (Release 1.3)
Kind regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
Crown Medical Centre, Venture Way, Taunton, TA2 8QY
Tel: (01823) 331 428
Fax: (01823) 338 561
www.somersetlmc.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter
Download the App
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
We have updated our privacy policies on both the Somerset LMC and Somerset GP Education trust websites.
