Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 2nd August 2024
Date sent: Friday 2 August 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New this week - 'GPs braced for collective action'
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Collective Action
- Non-Statutory Ballot in England
- GPs Are On Your Side - A Message for Patients and GPs in England Say Why Action is Needed to Save General Practice
- Signing National 24/25 NHS Standard Contract - Clinical News/Updates
- Changes to Cancer Waiting Times Standards - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- A Step by Step Guide for GPs to Ensure you have Accurate Pension Records
- LMC GP Connect Survey
- Physician Associates in General Practice: Making it Safe for Patients and GPs
- Somerset AHP Faculty - Allied Health Professional Educator Survey - Training/Events
- BMA Sessional GPs Conference 2024 Diversity, Opportunity, Safety
- Finance Health Check for Practices - GPC Webinar
- Thornfields Free Webinar - Safer Recruitment, All You Need to Know - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
Collective Action
Non-Statutory Ballot in England: You will see from the GPC communications that the ballot for collective action has been overwhelmingly successful. We recognise that there is a significant amount of information coming through all media channels about this. Somerset LMC are actively engaged with local LMCs and our ICB. We have set up weekly meetings with the ICB to discuss the collective actions as this campaign evolves, we have stressed this is a ‘slow burn’.
GPC / BMA Collective Action summary if you have not read this please take the time to do so. This lays out all the actions that are being proposed, which can be considered without being in breach of the GMS contract. We stress that if you are unsure of whether you can undertake any specific action please do contact the LMC for advice. As you can imagine there is a huge amount of information coming into our office about this campaign and we will keep you updated on all the relevant points while trying not to overwhelm you. If you receive any media enquiries please either direct to the LMC of the BMA Media Office Mediaoffice@bma.org.uk.
We would like to thank you for supporting this campaign. We hope that these actions will help to address our underfunded contract, our rising running costs, staff salaries and allow practices to employ more GPs to deliver more appointments for our patients and secure the future of General Practice.
GPs Are On Your Side - A Message For Patients and GPs in England Say Why Action is Needed to Save General Practice: YouTube video
Signing National 24/25 NHS Standard Contract: The LMC team have replied to a number of e-mails about signing contracts this week. Some practices are uncertain about signing their 24/25 NHS Standard contract . The LMC do understand some of the confusion when some headlines are reporting GPs should refuse to sign new NHSE contracts as part of collective action.
This contract MUST be signed to guarantee payments, it is not an imposed contract therefore safe to sign.
Do not confuse signing your core contracts with the GPC/BMA collective action suggestions, which are in reference to new imposed contracts or Pilots.
Clinical News/Updates
Changes to Cancer Waiting Times Standards: The LMC have received several queries about the national changes that came in October 2023, particularly the 2WW. Details of the national changes can be found here. One of the changes announced included the removal of the 2WW standard in favour of a focus on the Faster Diagnosis Standard, and the rationalisation of those standards into three core measures for the NHS:
- The 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (75%)
- One headline 62-day referral to treatment standard (85%)
- One headline 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard (96%)
The LMC are working with our ICB and Cancer Leads to provide a further update on this area for GPs. Changes to the patient Information Leaflet on C-Signs are also planned so watch this space.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
LMC GP Connect Survey: Please spare 2 minutes to complete this short survey which will close on Friday 9th August at 5pm.
Somerset AHP Faculty - Allied Health Professional Educator Survey: There is a survey out for all AHPs in Somerset to complete. We are all educators and we are all learners, but do you know where you fit into this? Please use this link to complete this survey in under five minutes. The survey is available from 1-30th August, but don’t delay, complete it today and have your voice heard.
Training/Events
BMA Sessional GPs Conference 2024 Diversity, Opportunity, Safety: Friday 20 September, 9.30am–4.30pm. A one-day conference specifically for sessional GPs, free for BMA members. Finance Health Check - GPC Webinar to register.
The sessional GPs conference will give you updates on topical issues including future models of general practice and establishing professional relationships with new clinical roles such as ARRS staff and PAs. Breakout groups will provide practical advice and guidance on a choice of topics in smaller groups. What to expect:
- informative presentations on key topics for sessional GPs, with chances to get your questions answered by experts
- networking opportunities
- information on how the BMA represents and supports you as a sessional GP, including understanding your contract and employment rights.
Finance Health Check - GPC Webinar: Wednesday 7th August 12.30-2pm With AISMA Accountants and IGPM (Institute of General Practice Management), find out:
- How to improve income
- Stay on top of finances
- Good practice management
Thornfields Free Webinar - Safer Recruitment, All You Need to Know: Wednesday 14 August 2024 12:30-13:30 – Register here. Feeling overwhelmed by the recruitment process in healthcare? This FREE webinar is aimed at all healthcare managers who are responsible for managing recruitment and will help you master safer recruitment practices.
We understand that recruitment can be fraught with potential equality pitfalls; how do you know the qualifications and experience your employees have are actually true? HR Consultant Ciara Burns will discuss how you can implement a rigorous process in place for safer recruitment and explore what the liabilities are if employers fail to adequately verify qualifications.
A comprehensive guide containing key information, resources and Q&As from the webinar will be sent to attendees after the session.
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
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
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