The latest issue of Humberside LMC's regular newsletter is now available to download.

This edition includes news, information, updates and events with highlights including:

• Funding opportunities including the launch of the GP Forward View Online Consultations Fund
  
• GPC Chair's presentation at our recent LMC event
  
• Indemnity Update
  
• Updated version of our Practice Nurse Training Guide
  

Download the latest issue (PDF).

You can find all previous issues of our newsletter on the newsletters page.

Humberside LMC has published guidance for GPs regarding maintaining indemnity cover as we await details of the new state-backed scheme announced by the Secretary of State in October 2017.

GPs need to ensure they maintain the full indemnity cover before any change to a state-backed scheme in the future. The following links direct you to useful sources of information which should be carefully considered before making a decision on your indemnity provider. Please note that unfortunately neither the LMC or the BMA are able to give specific advice or guidance on which medical defence organisation a doctor should use.

Medical Defence Union (MDU) - Transitional Benefits

The MDU has published a range of information about its transitional benefits offer on its website including:

• Why we are introducing Transitional Benefits
• Transitional Benefits explained
• Extended Benefit Rights Explained
• FAQs
• Change to GP Membership Webinar

The FAQs include advice regarding retirement and changing indemnity provider.

The LMC would advise any doctor with MDU membership, or considering MDU membership, to read the information carefully and listen to the webinar to help them make an informed decision. If doctors still have remaining questions they should contact the MDU to discuss these.

Additional Background Information

The other indemnity organisations and a large insurer have all issued a formal response to the MDU offer which may be helpful in considering your options and the Department of Health has also issued a commentary:

• Department of Health Statement on Indemnity in General Practice, October 2017
• MDU’s Response to the Department of Health Statement
• MDDUS Response to the MDU Offer
• MPS Response to the MDU Offer
• MIAB Response to the MDU Offer

This guidance is also set out in an LMC Advice Sheet which you can download here.

The LMC Practice Nurse Training Guide has been newly updated to include courses and learning programmes starting over winter 2017/18.

The guide is now on its third update. Courses included in the guide are a mix of half day, full day, ongoing and online sessions. Full details of dates, providers, venues, costs and contact details for bookings are provided.  

The guide was developed in response to the need reported to us by practices for availability for training to support this group of staff.

Download the guide (PDF).

We are aware that many practices and individual GPs have been experiencing problems relating to PCSE (primary care support services in England), commissioned by NHS England and provided by Capita.

LMCs are working with the BMA nationally to gather evidence of ongoing difficulties and push PCSE/Capita to resolve the issues. To help gauge the severity of the problem two short surveys have been created which practices and individual GPs are asked to complete.

Survey for GP practices: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PCSEpracticesurvey 

Survey for all GPs including trainees: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PCSEpractitionersurvey 

The deadline for responding to the surveys is noon, Friday 8 December 2017.

Thank you for your help. The greater the response to these surveys, the stronger our hand for pushing NHS England and PCSE to resolve these issues urgently.

The Chair of the BMA's General Practice Committee (GPC) Dr Richard Vautrey delivered his vision for a sustainable future for general practice at last week's Humberside LMC event.

Reflecting on developments since the announcement of the General Practice Forward View, Dr Vautrey highlighted issues facing general practice and pointed to continued underfunding of healthcare in the UK compared to other EU countries. The presentation analysed progress towards delivering a new future for general practice including:

• increasing the general practice workforce 
• tackling the increased pressure on GP workload
• negotiating the GP contract in England
  

The presentation was preceded by a short AGM where the Humberside LMC Annual Report 2016/17 was presented.  

Download Dr Vautrey's presentation (PowerPoint).

Humberside Group of LMCs has published its annual report covering the period April 2016 to March 2017.

This was a period of considerable change, both for the LMC and also for many practices. In this year's report you can read about how the LMC has adapted to the changing environment in general practice including:

• Reports from the chairs of North and North East Lincolnshire LMC and Hull and East Yorkshire LMC, and the senior management team
  
• Summary of our 2016 constituent survey results 
  
• Details of how we supported practices in 2016/17 through advice, support and representation
  
• Case studies on notable work this year, including our Funding and Support Guide and the LMC Question Time event
  
• Full details of our committees' membership and annual accounts
  
• How to get the best from the LMC
  

Download Annual Report 2016/17 (PDF)