Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 6th October 2017

Date sent: Friday 6 October 2017

All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here

Letter from Dr Nick Bray LMC Chairman re CCG meeting with practices 11th October attached
NHS England “Third Available GP Appointment” Survey
Maternity and Paeds review
Annualisation within the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme
Severn Faculty RCGP Social Event for GPs approaching retirement and retired GPs

NHS England “Third Available GP Appointment” Survey All English Practices will be telephoned during October

NHSE has commissioned the North of England CSU to survey all practices in England in the hope of getting a snapshot view of waiting times and demand pressure in general practice. In principle this is a good and helpful thing to do, but unfortunately NHSE have chosen to use the old question that asks about the practice’s “third next available routine GP appointment”.

For many reasons, this is not the right thing to be asking. A growing number of practices have triage systems, nurse led assessments or team based appointments which make the question meaningless, and it really doesn't’t work if you have a strict personal list system.

This means that many practices will just not be able to respond to the survey, and we recommend that unless you run a traditional “open booking with a GP” system you should not try to answer, but instead explain that your system is not compatible with the question. We don’t know if callers will ask practices to estimate or answer as best they can, but if you cannot give a clear answer, it’s better not to try. Note that Improved Access appointments count, though you should only use these if you use the traditional system during the day, and do qualify your reply if the appointment is in another practice, especially if it is some distance away.

Although this is a voluntary survey we do encourage all practices to respond as they see appropriate. If you can give the required information that is likely to be helpful in reflecting the pressure on practices, even if the actual numbers do not mean much; and if you can’t it is important that NHSE gets the feedback that they are asking the wrong thing. We understand that the survey only takes 3-4 minutes and it is probably best answered by the practice manager or reception manager. It would be reasonable to ask the caller to ring again if neither are available at the time of the first call.

Maternity and Paeds Review This review is progressing with a view to the review report being published by 13th Nov. Currently the CCG are doing a lot of data collection and engagement meetings with the acute and community services, It is vital that the Somerset GP Board gains as much insight from Primary care on what currently works well and what doesn't, therefore would you please send any comments and suggestions to Dr Rosie Benneyworth rosie.benneyworth@nhs.net by Friday 20th October

Severn Faculty RCGP Social Event for GPs approaching retirement and retired GPs 26 October 2017 (6pm – 9pm) Are you newly retired? Are you thinking about retirement in the near future? Then come along and meet other retired or soon to be retired GPs and learn about what life is or could be like after practice!

We will be providing a hot buffet, wine and soft drinks and will include a couple of short talks.

Please Click Here and complete the booking process to secure your place. RCGP Members free, others £15.

Kind Regards

Jill

Jill Hellens

Executive Director

Somerset LMC

TEL: 01823 331428

Fax:01823 338561

www.somersetlmc.co.uk

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