News Items

Continued Use of Face Masks in Health Premises

Date published: Tuesday 13 July 2021

A joint statement from:

• Humberside Local Medical Committees
• Community Pharmacy Humber 
• Local Dental Committee
• Local Optometry Committee 

"We are all committed to ensuring the health and welfare of patients, service users and staff. We’re aware of the lifting of the remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions from 19th July 2021. 

But we still need to act cautiously to stop the spread of the virus. The delta variant is more transmissible, and people may be contagious without knowing it. 

Face masks have helped to reduce the spread of the virus. Many people are still not yet fully vaccinated, so cutting virus transmissions is still important. 

Health premises are a higher risk environment and we will need to maintain some control measures to keep everyone safe. We are therefore asking everyone visiting health premises to continue to wear a mask, unless they are exempt, and to observe social distancing and keep hands clean by using gel or handwashing."

Practices can download an A4 poster to print and display to help with patient messaging.  

LMC Podcast Looks At Workload Pressures

Date published: Monday 12 July 2021

The latest episode of the Humberside LMCs podcast is now available. 

In this episode we're looking at workload pressures in general practice in the light of the recent Health Select Committee report which said NHS and care staff in England are so burnt out that it has become an "emergency". Colleagues at Wolseley Medical Centre in Hull also recently invited cameras in from BBC Look North to show the reality of the pressures GPs and practice teams are facing every day. 

Dr Zoe Norris, LMC Medical Director explains how the LMC can help staff deal with pressures, and sets out some of the services and resources which can be accessed via the LMC. 

You can listen online and subscribe to our podcast on all major podcast platforms including Apple, Google and Spotify.  

Delay in Roll-out of Patient Data Sharing Programme (GPDPR)

Date published: Thursday 24 June 2021

The government has announced that the planned roll-out of the GP Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) in England is to be delayed by two months, from 1 July to 1 September 2021. 

This follows extensive engagement by BMA and RCGP with NHS Digital and with the health minister, calling on NHS Digital and the Government to delay the introduction of their new data programme until patients and the public have had time to be aware of and understand the programme and choose to opt-out if they wish. Discussions are ongoing to ensure that there are appropriate safeguards in place as to how the data collected is used, and that the views of the profession are represented in all discussions pertaining to patient data. Read the BMA’s statement about the announcement to delay here.  

LMC Newsletter June 2021

Date published: Thursday 24 June 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Events and opportunties across the Humber region 
• Update on the delay to roll-out of the patient data sharing programme (GPDPR)
• Issues with the PCSE pay and pension system and what you should do to check your records

Download the June newsletter. 

General Practice Pressures Featured on BBC Look North

Date published: Tuesday 15 June 2021

Dr Kanan Pande and the team at Wolseley Medical Centre in Hull appeared on BBC Look North on 9th June 2021 in a report illustrating the pressures facing general practice. 

The visit was set up by the LMC to help explain to the public why practices are so busy, and how clinicians and support staff are working on their behalf. Journalist Anne-Marie Tasker spoke to GPs, admin staff and patients in a report which highlighted the scale of the workload facing Doctors and practice staff. 

Clips from the report can be viewed via this Twitter thread. You can also view them on our Facebook page.  

Well done to Dr Pande & team at @WolseleyMedical who on BBC Look North last week showed the reality of the pressures #generalpractice is under.
"The phones are non-stop from eight o'clock in the morning..." pic.twitter.com/OonkD0tOKV

— Humberside LMC (@HumbersideLMC) June 15, 2021

"We are now dealing with three times as much work as we did previously and we ask for some understanding," Dr Pande says. "We will see everybody who needs to be seen, it might just mean that you don't get your appointment today. However anyone who needs urgent help is clearly being seen."

Congratulations to Dr Pande and the team at Wolseley Medical Centre for giving up time in such a busy period to highlight the role of general practice. 

Health and Care in and across the Humber and Place Partnerships

Date published: Tuesday 1 June 2021

Humber, Coast and Vale ICS have published a presentation which gives an overview of the transition to the new NHS body - NHS Humber, Coast and Vale - from April 2022. 

It outlines how HCV will, subject to legislation, discharge its responsibilities through Place based and Sector based units of operation (Place Partnerships and Provider Collaboratives). It describes how Place Partnerships will operate and sets out proposed arrangements for funding will work. 

Download the presentation. 

Online Consultations Guidance for Practices – Contractual Position

Date published: Thursday 27 May 2021

The LMC continues to receive queries from practices about the contractual position around online consultations. Along with other LMCs, we have sought clarification from the GPC England team. While NHS England refers to online consultations in the latest SOP dated 4th May, the contractual position has been outlined by the BMA - see LMC UK conference | COVID vaccination | online consultations – contractual requirements (bma-mail.org.uk) (scroll down to the Online consultations – contractual requirements heading). This is an extract from the GPC advice:

The contractual position
Before the pandemic, as part of the 2019 GP contract deal paragraph 5.10 (i)) GPC England agreed that it would eventually become contractual for practices to offer online consultations during core hours. This agreement has not yet been added to the contract regulations, so is not currently a contractual requirement. However, GPCE also agreed that practices should offer online consultations as early as possible, provided that the necessary infrastructure is in place, but it would not become a requirement until it is entered into the contract regulations. It is therefore for practices to determine how best they use online consultation systems, including what hours they are available, and they should try to use them in such a way that helps with triage and workload management, enabling the delivery of a safer and more accessible service to all their patients.
 
The LMC wishes to reassure practices that they are under no contractual obligation to provide access to any online consulting platforms outside their core contracted hours of 8am-6:30pm (or 6pm if local arrangements are in place), Monday to Friday. We know that some practices find online platforms useful, however where a practice feels they are not helpful in the delivery of their services, or they are not yet fully ready for their implementation they may request that the provider deactivates them outside core hours or completely. Where deactivating these platforms is technically difficult (e.g. from the provider end), practices may wish to simply remove the link on their website as a temporary measure – you do not need to seek permission to do so but should inform the CCG so they are aware. Please feel free to copy the LMC in if you wish. 
With thanks to BBO LMC for sharing their statement on this matter. 

LMC Newsletter May 2021

Date published: Thursday 27 May 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Onlince consultations - our advice to practices
• Humberside LMC Leadership Programme for GPs from BAME backgrounds
• CQC update from recent LMC liaison meeting

Download the LMC Newsletter May 2021. 

Majority of GP Receptionists Face Unprecedented Levels of Abuse at Work, New Research Shows

Date published: Monday 24 May 2021

“If I die, it will be your fault,” is just one of the abusive comments heard by GP reception staff, as a new survey* launched today shows 75% report experiencing daily abuse from patients.
                                                                                    
With the majority (78%) facing threatening behaviour, racist or sexist abuse from patients, and 83% reporting having called the police for help, today the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) launch their campaign to end all abuse towards general practice staff.

The IGPM members have responded to the increase in physical, verbal, and written abuse towards practice staff over the Covid-19 pandemic, with a video of real-life examples of patient interactions from practices across the UK. These include:
- GP staff whose tyres were slashed by a patient who had not been able to get an appointment that day;
- A receptionist with Chinese heritage, who received racist abuse and was spat on in relation to the Covid-19 virus;
- Daily verbal threats including the common phrase: “If I die, it will be your fault”.

Robyn Clark, a practice manager in South Gloucestershire and one of the founders of the IGPM commented: “As demand for GP services has increased dramatically over the last year, sadly so has the amount of abuse practice staff have faced.

“The aim of our campaign is to highlight the good work practices are doing, and make a plea to the public to be patient with our staff, instead of attacking them. GP staff have worked throughout the pandemic and have done their absolute best to support patients. We’re calling for the abuse to end now.”

The survey of 571 GP practice managers showed that 83% have had to remove a patient from the surgery due to multiple incidents towards their team. Other recent research from an NHS Staff Survey showed that 14.9% of respondents had been subjected to physical violence while in work.  Much abuse goes unreported and national annual data on physical assaults against NHS staff are no longer published. The ‘If I die it will be your fault’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the zero-tolerance approach to abuse and encourage all practice staff to feel confident about reporting incidents.

Nicola Davies, a practice manager in Cornwall and founding member of the IGPM said: “We hope that by raising the personal effect of abuse on staff, we can encourage patients to be tolerant and understanding. Our staff are doing their job. It is never a personal vendetta to stop a patient from accessing healthcare.” 

Kay Keane, a practice manager in Stockport and Director of the IGPM said: “A man attended our practice with six knives because he didn’t get the treatment he wanted. He smashed up the waiting room and threatened staff members. It was a scene we never want repeated in GP practice. It was terrifying and unnecessary. But we also know this is extreme. Bad language and threats are an everyday occurrence, and it is unacceptable.”

Jo Wadey, a practice manager in Worthing and founding member of the IGPM commented: "Receptionists are leaving their roles because of the abuse they receive, which means we are continually trying to recruit and train, which puts a huge strain on practices." 

The ‘If I die it will be your fault’ campaign video can be found here, with practices up and down the country joining forces to share the message that abuse towards practice staff must stop.

LMC Response to Standard Operating Procedure Update Letter

Date published: Monday 17 May 2021

Many people working in general practice will be concerned by the updated Standard Operating Procedure to support restoration of GP services, published on 13th May 2021, which advised GP practices on how to improve patient access. Dr Richard Vautrey issued a response on behalf of the GPC criticising the update on 14th May.

The NHSE letter was not discussed with the BMA General Practitioners Committee before it was published. This letter serves as guidance – it has no contractual force. We are expecting further clarification from the BMA and GPC regarding this matter and will share it as soon as it becomes available. Please be assured that Humberside LMCs have made our NHSE regional team aware of how unhelpful and counter-productive we feel this letter is.

To ensure that practices are in full compliance with the terms of their contract they should be: 

• Offering patients access to your practice via telephone/online and your reception is also open;
• Offering patients face to face appointments based upon your assessment of clinical need following a discussion between the clinician and the patient;
• Offering on-line access for a proportion of your appointments;
• Offering a discretionary e-consultation (or equivalent) platform, which need only be during core hours Monday-Friday 08:00-18:30, and;
• Providing information about your services via your practice website

Practices are not obliged to offer patients a face-to-face appointment solely upon their request. The relevant parts of the Regulations are as follows: 

Essential Services

4) The services described in this paragraph are services required for the management of a contractor’s registered patients and temporary residents who are, or believe themselves to be—

(a) ill, with conditions from which recovery is generally expected;

(b) terminally ill; or

(c) suffering from chronic disease,

which are delivered in the manner determined by the contractor’s practice in discussion with the patient.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4) “disease” means a disease included in the list of three character categories contained in the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems; and “management” includes

(a) offering consultation and, where appropriate, physical examination for the purposes of identifying the need, if any, for treatment or further investigation; and

(b) making available such treatment or further investigation as is necessary and appropriate, including the referral of the patient for other services under the Act and liaison with other health care professionals involved in the patient’s treatment and care.

Since March 2020, practices in the Humber area have remained open and continued to offer face-to-face appointments based on clinical need – this should not change, and the LMC will support practices to continue to practice in this way. The LMC is very aware that many GP colleagues, practice managers and practice teams do not believe they are now able to offer a consistently safe service to all patients. It is very disappointing that after all the efforts of the past year, general practice is experiencing unparalleled demand. 

This latest NHSE letter panders to the illusion that the NHS can meet the limitless pool of patient demand, rather than a service based on need, and throws general practice to the media wolves. It also ignores the continuing concerns about circulating Covid-19 variants, and the need to maintain appropriate infection prevention and control procedures.

The LMC will continue to work closely with the local CCGs and the NHSE regional team. Our system partners and PPGs need to better understand the detail and data behind the scale and challenge around GP access, patient demand and workload.

We would encourage all colleagues to prioritise their own health and well-being, and not sacrifice themselves (and their families) in an attempt to manage impossible, unlimited, patient demand.

Update 20/05/21

Richard Vautrey, Chair of the GPC has said in an update:

"Instead of knee-jerk responses to press headlines there needs to be proper acknowledgement from the Government and NHSE/I that practices are under huge pressure at the moment, that you are doing the right thing by working in line with national infection protection and control guidance as set out by the CMO and that you have been using telephone and online consultations appropriately to both keep patients and staff safe. This also needs to be much more clearly explained to the public."

"It is for practices to determine how best to manage and deliver their services and the best arrangements for appointments, based on their expert knowledge of their local community. Practices have the contractual freedom to do this taking in to account their capacity and workload pressures, and by doing so delivering a safe service to their patients."

"None of us trained to be call-centre GPs and we all want to get back to a time when we have the freedom to see more patients face to face but we need to do that in a way that matches capacity and safety within each practice. As covid-19 prevalence falls and, through the incredible efforts of general practice, vaccination levels rise practices are rightly and wisely adapting the arrangements they have had during the height of the pandemic. However, at present we know there is no spare capacity, there is no surplus workforce waiting to come and assist and the impact of the wider NHS backlog is having a massive impact on every practice. We know that Practices have been and will continue to offer face to face appointments for those patients who need them as well as trying to protect our patients and colleagues from becoming infected in our surgeries."

"We don’t just need our patients’ understanding, we have often had that throughout this last year, we need governments to act. We don’t just need short term fixes, or more letters and guidance telling us what to do, but a return to the freedom to deliver services in the way that best meets the needs of our patients, as well as long-term commitment to investment and development of general practice. That is what we will keep pushing for and what we expect government and NHSEI to deliver."

India Covid Crisis - An Update

Date published: Thursday 6 May 2021

We are deeply concerned by the Covid situation in India as the country's healthcare system struggles to cope with the number of cases there. Many colleagues in the Humber have friends and relatives directly affected and we appreciate this will be a deeply worrying time for them. This is a short summary of actions and services which are being put in place:

A. There is a central NHSE response being coordinated by Prerana Issar with an emphasis on:
1. Advice on surge hospitals
2. Remote monitoring and management 
3. Clinician to clinician telelink
4. Equipment inventory 

B. The SAHF (South Asian Health Foundation), Academic Health Science Network (AHSN Network), and Learn with Nurses are running a series of webinars sharing ​NHS experiences of COVID-19 with health and care professionals in other countries. The next webinar is on Friday 7th May, 16:00-17:00 with the theme of Hospital and ICU Management of Covid-19 - sign up here. Details of further sessions will be posted on the South Asian Health Foundation events page. 

C. These are some of the charities providing support to India 
British Asian Trust Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal 

BAPIO India Covid Fund 

APNA South Asian Heritage NHS Staff Leaders Network Covid-19 India Appeal 

BAPS India Covid Emergency Appeal 

D. BAPIO is also planning to provide free telemedicine support to health care staff in India. If you are interested in helping, please register stating your area of expertise and local language skills. Sign up link.   

E. Please also check in with your colleagues here who have family in India. They may be distressed and have to take additional breaks to stay connected with friends and family. Also please signpost them to help available through wellbeing schemes - our support page has information and links to sources of support.

New Report Calls for Action on Discrimination in General Practice

Date published: Tuesday 4 May 2021

A new report from a working group led by the LMC has highlighted discrimination faced by staff and patients from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds in general practice and calls for a zero tolerance approach to tackle racism in all its forms.

The report, Racism and Discrimination – the experience of primary care professionals in the Humberside region, is based on a survey of clinical staff, managers and administrators working in general practice in the Humber region. 

The survey is part of a Humberside-wide strategy, supported by the four CCGs in the region, to address racial inequalities and barriers, and provide support for all those staff from ethnic minority backgrounds working in primary care. 

238 people responded to the survey distributed by Humberside LMCs, the highest response rate for any consultation we have ever conducted. The responses highlighted respondents’ experiences of discrimination in areas including training, working patterns, and complaints. 

For example, 22% of Black and Minority Ethnic respondents reported that their ability to train in their careers was affected by racism or discrimination. One respondent commented: 

“Comments were made throughout my career that I was an inferior doctor…rather than seeing the positives - awareness of different cultures, languages and attitudes. My background was seen as a negative.” 

The report has been compiled by a working group made up of representatives from general practice and led by Dr Zoe Norris, Medical Director at Humberside LMCs. She says:  

“The report is not an easy read, and starkly illustrates the challenges our colleagues and patients are encountering every day due to racism and discrimination.” 

“It’s based on the lived experience of both clinical and non-clinical staff working in primary care across the Humber region, and we’re incredibly grateful to all the staff who shared what are clearly very difficult experiences with us.” 

“Despite the problems highlighted we hope that, through shining a light on these issues, this will be the beginning of a conversation between all of us working in primary care to tackle discrimination.”

Download the report (PDF). 

Please contact us with any queries or comments. 

LMC Newsletter April 2021

Date published: Thursday 29 April 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Racism and Discrimination Report - read the report on the responses to our recent survey on experiences of racism in general practice 
• Details of the newly elected members of the LMC Committee
• Invitation to take part in the new Humber Primary Care Collaborative 

Download the LMC Newsletter April 2021. 

Freedom to Speak Up - New Poster

Date published: Wednesday 28 April 2021

You can now download a poster which promotes the new Freedom to Speak Up Guardian service which supports people working in the NHS to raise a concern. 

Any members of staff from GP practices can speak up about concerns they have which they feel are not being listened to by their own management reporting. Reasons someone may wish to speak up might include if they feel they are being affected by racism or discrimination.

Download a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian service poster (PDF). 

More information on the service, including how to raise a concern can be found here.  

Integrated Care System - The Impact on Our Constituents

Date published: Monday 19 April 2021

You might already be aware that the next 12 months will bring significant change to how healthcare is commissioned and organised in the Humber region. This will bring about changes to General Practice and will impact on all of our constituents.

Humberside LMCs believe that Primary Care must have a strong voice and influence over how the ICS will be structured and the role of Primary care leadership going forward. We are working on your behalf to represent general practice and we propose to create a new Primary Care Collaborative body comprised of Clinical Directors, GPs, Federations, Primary Care providers, Commissioners and Humberside LMC (and 
potentially other primary care stakeholders including Pharmacy/Optoms/Dentistry and Community Services) - to be this voice.

We would like your support to take this forward please. There is more information in this discussion paper. We have recently sent an email to constituents with more details along with information on how you can support, comment and perhaps even volunteer to be part of the collaborative group. Please let us know if you haven’t received this, or if you have any queries. 

LMC Constituent Survey 2021

Date published: Thursday 15 April 2021

All our constituents are invited to give us their views by taking five minutes to complete this year’s LMC survey. The survey is one of the main ways we engage with GPs and practices in the Humber area and find out how we are doing in supporting general practice. Like other services, we have had to change how we work due to the pandemic and we’re really interested in your feedback on how we have performed, and how we can develop and improve.

The survey is open until 5pm on Friday 30 April 2021. Take the survey. 

Could You Be A Mentor for Your Fellow GPs?

Date published: Monday 12 April 2021

A two year General Practice Fellowship programme is supporting the development of newly-qualified doctors and nurses entering general practice.

The overarching aim of the Supporting Mentors Scheme is to retain experienced GPs working in primary care through creating this portfolio working opportunity, while supporting newly qualified GPs through high quality mentoring.

GPMplus is working with the HCV programme partners to recruit GP Mentors and to deliver the supporting mentors scheme.

The Supporting Mentors Scheme will support GPs who currently deliver a minimum of three clinical sessions per week, and are looking to conduct an additional weekly session (4 hours 10 minutes) of mentoring. Mentors will be remunerated at a rate of £289 per session, which will be paid directly to the mentor’s practice on a quarterly basis from June 2021.

More information:

• Application process for GP Mentors (PDF)
• Application form for GP Mentors (Word)

If you are eligible and interested in joining the scheme as a Mentor, please complete the application form and return it by email to info@gpmplus.co.uk by 5pm on Thursday 15 April.

LMC Newsletter March 2021

Date published: Tuesday 30 March 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Events and opportunities update - several new evets for general practice staff to attend
• Contract resources and updates 
• Additional mentoring hours available via our new provider

Download the March 2021 newsletter. 

Supporting Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Staff

Date published: Tuesday 23 March 2021

Although the shielding advice is to be paused nationally from April 1st, the government is still advising that people continue to work from home where possible. If individuals cannot work from home, employers should undertake a comprehensive individual workplace risk assessment. 

NHS England have advised in a letter to all trusts and primary care organisations that employers should refresh their risk assessments for all clinically extremely vulnerable staff to determine the appropriate workplace arrangements from April 1st. Download the letter for more information on next steps: advice and support for staff.   

GPC Roadshow 2021 - Resources and Q&A

Date published: Thursday 11 March 2021

We were delighted to welcome Dr Krishna Kasaraneni, GPC executive team member at the BMA, for our online GPC Contract Roadshow earlier this month. Krishna gave an overview of the changes agreed in this year's GP contract negotiations and we can now share the presentation and a summary of the Q and A session from the evening. These can be downloaded via the following links:

GP Contract Roadshow 2021 Q&A

GP Contract Roadshow Presentation 

You can also view a BMA webinar on the new contract on the BMA website. 

Our thanks to Krishna for presenting at the event.  

LMC Newsletter February 2021

Date published: Thursday 25 February 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Events and training coming up in March, including the online GPC roadshow
• The launch of our new mentoring service, provided by GPMplus
• The LMC constituent survey 2021 - take 5 minutes to give your views.

Download the February 2021 newsletter. 

Vaccine Hesitancy

Date published: Thursday 18 February 2021

Surveys have shown stark differences by ethnic group in attitudes to COVID vaccines, and a quarter of younger women fear it would affect fertility. The BMA has published guidance and resources on how to communicate with different groups about the vaccine.

CCGs across the Humber, Coast and Vale area, have come together to coordinate video messages from local GPs, and are working to promote them to enhance confidence in the vaccine and to dispel any vaccine myths. These videos are currently available in English, Polish, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati. The playlist can be found on the Humber, Coast and Vale YouTube channel here.

The British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists has also published some COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs to help address some of the vaccine hesitancy relating to fertility.

Read the BMA’s guidance on the COVID-19 vaccination programme which includes information about what is expected of practices and the support available to enable practices to prioritise vaccine delivery.

LMC Newsletter January 2021

Date published: Wednesday 27 January 2021

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• This year's GP contract - changes negotiated by GPC and NHS England. 
• PCN DES ballot of GPs - outcome of the vote
• LMC elections 2021 - your chance to join the LMC committee and represent your GP colleagues

Download the January newsletter. 

Primary Care Networks DES Ballot Outcome

Date published: Monday 25 January 2021

In November 2020 the LMC England conference passed the following resolution for the BMA's GPCE (General Practice Committee England) to ballot the profession regarding the mandate to continue to negotiate the PCN DES:

"Conference notes that the BMA GPC (GP committee) England has never secured a robust democratic mandate for the PCN DES and so again asks the GPC England to secure a firm mandate from the entire profession by means of ballot before negotiating any extension or changes to the PCN DES for the year 2021 / 2022."
 
The ballot was held in early January with the following question: "Prior to any further negotiations, extension or changes for 2021/22, do you give GPC England a mandate for the PCN directed enhanced service?"
 
Voting has closed and the results have been validated and verified.
Total votes:        4,534
Outcome:           

Yes: 80%  (3,619)
No: 20%  (915)
 
Richard Vautrey, GPC Chair, said: "This outcome provides a clear mandate from the profession for the PCN DES, and GPC England will therefore continue to negotiate on this, seeking improvements and further developing it, as part of the whole GP contract, for the benefit of practices and our patients."

The LMC will continue to monitor progress with the PCN DES both locally and nationally. If you have any queries please contact us. 

Face Mask Exemptions

Date published: Tuesday 12 January 2021

Following recent news coverage regarding supermarkets requiring 'medical exemption' from people not wearing a face covering in their stores, we'd like to remind practices that there is no need under the rules for people to seek proof of exemption from their GP. 

Government guidance on face masks states “you do not need to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about your reason for not wearing a face covering.” Requests for such letters will only add to the heavy burden of work on practices and our advice is that such requests should be declined. 

The guidance clearly sets out situations when people are exempt from the requirement to wear a mask. If someone has an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a mask they do not need to show proof of exemption. However, some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. In these cases an exemption card or badge can be downloaded from the gov.uk website here. 

Our earlier advice to practices regarding requiring patients to wear face masks when attending appointments can be found here.  

ICS Consultation - LMC Response

Date published: Thursday 7 January 2021

Humberside LMCs have submitted a response to the consultation on Integrated Care Systems. ICS's will present a significant change to the way the NHS is organised in England, with NHS organisations, in partnership with local councils and others, taking collective responsibility for managing resources, delivering NHS care, and improving the health of the population they serve. 

As the professional voice of general practice in the Humber area we are keen to ensure that general practice is involved in the development of the proposals and the design of the consultation. We are concerned that the timing of the consultation and the proposed models do not address our concerns over what will be a hugely significant change for the delivery of primary care generally and for general practice in particular.

Read the LMC ICS consultation response. 

Our next steps:

• Receive and review consultation responses.

• Work with YORLMC and seek a meeting with HCV ICS leadership to state our case for primary care representation and set out the role of GPs, CDs and the LMC in this and how we might put this in place

• Attend Humber Partnership PCN development session to form opinions on how the system can work with PCNs.  All CDs are invited also.

• Raise the issue of ICS representation at the LMC meeting on 12th January.  Matt De Hoest has agreed to lead this item from his perspective on the Professional Board

We will keep you informed of developments with this. 

LMC Newsletter December 2020

Date published: Thursday 17 December 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Call for responses to the Integrated Care Systems consultation
• Latest news on our support services, including webinars to improve wellbeing
• Our wellbeing support packs, recently sent to every practice in the Humber region

Download the December 2020 newsletter. 

COVID Vaccination Programme - Update 11 December

Date published: Friday 11 December 2020

A number of key documents and updates have been published in relation to the COVID 19 vaccination programme over the last couple of days: 

The Standard Operating procedure: COVID-19 local vaccination services deployment in community settings has been published and describes the operating model and design requirements for the safe delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the community.

View the document: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/standard-operating-procedure-covid-19-local-vaccination-services-deployment-in-community-settings/.

MHRA have issued further important guidance and advice about managing allergic reactions following COVID 19 vaccination with the Pfizer/ BionTech vaccine.  

This updated guidance and advice can be viewed in full at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmation-of-guidance-to-vaccination-centres-on-managing-allergic-reactions-following-covid-19-vaccination-with-the-pfizer-biontech-vaccine

The MHRA have also explicitly advised that a 15 minute observation period needs to be reinstated. NHSE has stated that they are considering the operational consequences of this for vaccination centres.

MHRA Confirmation of Guidance to vaccination centres on managing allergic reactions following COVID-19 vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmation-of-guidance-to-vaccination-centres-on-managing-allergic-reactions-following-covid-19-vaccination-with-the-pfizer-biontech-vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination: Governance, handling, and preparation of vaccines by GP led Local Vaccination Centres (PCN designated sites)

The chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Keith Ridge has written to CCG lead pharmacists and chief officers to set out the principles and expectations necessary to maintain integrity, and therefore safety, quality and effectiveness, of the COVID-19 vaccines. The novel characteristics of the first vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT 162b2) make it essential that very careful attention is given to its receipt, storage, movement / transportation, and preparation.

The letter sets out the legal basis and expectations of The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, Regulation 174 for temporary authorisation of the supply of vaccine products, and what this means for lead GPs, CCG lead pharmacists and other registered healthcare professionals in primary care teams.

It also provides a model NHS COVID-19 Primary Care Vaccine Handling and Management Policy which will support practices and primary care networks to implement good governance. All staff responsible for planning and managing the primary care COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2020/21, and all Pharmacy staff engaged in supporting and delivering the COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2020/21 should read the policy. The policy includes sections on legal framework and practice standards, roles and responsibilities, accountability and responsibility for vaccines, associated medicines and their supply chain, handling and management of vaccine and medicines in vaccination sites, staff authorisation to be supplied with and administer COVID-19 Vaccines, storage and transportation of vaccines and other important details.

Governance, handling, and preparation of vaccines by GP led Local Vaccination Centres (PCN designated sites): https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/governance-handling-and-preparation-of-vaccines-by-gp-led-local-vaccination-centres-pcn-designated-sites/

Local pharmacy teams are available to work with vaccination sites and lead GPs in regards to addressing the details of this policy and the LMC would encourage vaccination sites and lead GPs to take up this offer of support.

Supply Inventory List for primary care: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0914-Appendix-1_Supply-Inventory-List_Details_v2-7-December-2020.pdf

Standard operating procedure for the management of COVID-19 vaccination clinical incidents and enquiries:  https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/standard-operating-procedure-management-of-covid-19-vaccination-clinical-incidents-and-enquiries/

The NHSE documents can also be found on the NHSE website at https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-programme/primary-care-guidance/

This continues to be a swiftly developing process; a number of documents are being updated so please follow the links to find the latest version available on respective websites.The LMC will be monitoring this closely and will publish further updates as soon as more information is available. If you have any queries please contact us at humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net.

COVID Vaccination Programme Update 7 December

Date published: Monday 7 December 2020

Please check our COVID-19 Vaccination Programme page for links to the latest resources.

A letter from Dr Nikita Kanani and Ed Waller of NHSEI outlining the latest position on Wave 1 mobilisation of the Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 2020/21 was published on 4 December. 

The Enhanced Service Specification has been re-published (4 December) to include modifications following discussion with MHRA and to ensure patients from non-participating practices can be provided vaccinations. 

The COVID-19 Vaccine Collaboration Agreement has also been updated (4 December).  This is designed to support the delivery of the CVP by setting out the responsibilities and relationships between collaborating practices.

Practices are asked to sign up to the Enhanced Service by 23:59 on Monday 7 December, and will be provided at least 10 days’ notice of the first vaccines becoming available.

NHSEI will be writing to sites identified as part of Wave 1 today (7 December), setting out full details of vaccine supply dates, delivery of other consumables and equipment to the site, and the process for assuring readiness before delivery of vaccines. This will include a delivery of IT equipment necessary to deliver the programme and a fridge for each site. Access to necessary training will be provided and sites will be given full support to mobilise within the timescale. 
 
Sir Simon Stevens said last week that around 1000 GP group sites had indicated their willingness to take part in the programme. Once the vaccine becomes more widely available these other community sites will be able to start vaccinating.  They will also be given at least 10 days’ notice of this. It is therefore important for practices not involved in the first wave to continue to review the enhanced service specification and indicate to their CCG as soon as possible their decision about involvement in the programme. 

Rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination is a swiftly developing process; the LMC is monitoring this closely and will publish updates as soon as more information is available. 

LMC Newsletter November 2020

Date published: Thursday 26 November 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Our new monthly 'Hot Topics' item which brings you up to date with the issues the LMC team have been working on to support local practices
• New Coroners Referral Form for East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull
• Information on how the LMC is now offering the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service 

Download the LMC Newsletter November 2020. 

New Coroners Referral Form for East Riding and Hull

Date published: Tuesday 17 November 2020

The Coroner’s Office in the East Riding and Hull is currently progressing plans to move to a new version of the case management system used.  The transition is due to take place later this month and the Go Live date for the new system is currently set as 24th November.

The new version of the software includes a web based version of the reporting form used when referring a death to the coroner.  The new form will be accessed through the same link as the current form and so there will be no need for doctors to familiarise themselves with an alternative URL.  A link to the form will also be made available on the coroner’s web page.

The new form will look and feel different to the current form, although the information to be completed will not significantly change.  There will be the ability to provide a lot more information on the new form, so the form will look a lot more in depth , however not all questions will be mandatory to complete. Mandatory questions will be highlighted in red.  

Hospital doctors and registrars will use the same form.  Questions will differ depending on the referrer’s role and so one of the first new questions is to confirm your role i.e. GP or Hospital Doctor.  The use of drop down lists, including one for causes of death will hopefully make the form more user friendly and easier to complete.

At the end of the form the doctor will have a clear view of the information provided and the ability to edit any section to make changes.  When submitting the referral a confirmation will be displayed at the top of the screen to confirm it has been successfully submitted along with the option to print or save a copy of the form.  This will replace the confirmation by email.

The Coroner’s office have stated that they appreciate that now is not an ideal time to make changes, however given problems with IT servers that concern the current system they cannot delay the change any longer and hope that this change will not cause any inconvenience at this difficult time for everyone.

The Coroners Officers are contactable on 01482 613009 for support and to discuss referrals. More guidance including screen shots of the new form can be downloaded on this guidance note. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Details Released - Updated

Date published: Wednesday 11 November 2020

Details have been released of the enhanced specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme which has been agreed between the GPC and NHSEI. 

You can view the letter to GPS, practice teams and CCGs on preparing general practice to contribute to a potential COVID-19 vaccination programme, along with an Indicative Enhanced Service Specification, on the NHSEI Updates for General Practice page. 

We know practices are trying to make rapid decisions about the COVID-19 vaccination service specification – the LMC are already responding to queries about this, and actively engaging with our local CCGs and NHSEI teams to ensure practices have the support they need. This is a difficult and complex decision, on the background of nearly 9 months of constant work and pressure. With the timeline being extremely tight, practices will have a short amount of time to make some key decisions.  The most helpful summary we have seen so far is on this link to the BMA website, under the section “Practical considerations for practices and PCNs”.

COVID-19 vaccination programme page - BMA

Discussing these issues between your colleagues and PCN should cover the main areas that need to be addressed before deciding. As an enhanced specification, it will be optional for practices to sign up to the service and it is separate to both your core contract, and the PCN DES. Whatever you decide the LMC will support local practices.

Please contact us if we can help and do check our website daily where we will share the latest local and national information.

We have created a new COVID-19 Vaccination programme guidance page which will be updated regularly with the latest documents, guidance and resources. 

Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service

Date published: Thursday 29 October 2020

Speak Up Month 2021 

Here at Humberside LMCs we will be sharing some short video clips and songs throughout October to celebrate Speak Up Month. 

Look out on our Twitter feed and here on this page, then take some time on your coffee break to think about the messages we share. 

“We really want to capture people’s attention this year with something uplifting, thought-provoking and inspiring”
Amy Stathers, Freedom To Speak Up Guardian, Humberside LMCs

The pandemic has highlighted that speaking up has never been more important for the benefit of colleagues and patients. Speak Up Month in October is an opportunity to raise awareness of how much we value speaking up in our organisation.

The theme of this year’s Speak Up Month is Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up. To make speaking up business as usual it is essential that when people speak up, they are listened to, and that learning and improvement happens as a result. 

Speaking up is for everyone. 

Everyone is encouraged to Speak Up if something is not quite right or can be improved.

Everyone should Listen Up when someone speaks up to them. When someone speaks up to you, say ‘thank you’, respond appropriately and escalate matters where needed so that the right actions can be taken. 

And leaders should ensure that they Follow Up and use the information and intelligence that speaking up brings for learning and improvement. 

The National Guardian’s Office, in association with Health Education England, has developed an e-learning package which is freely available for anyone wherever they work. You can access it here: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/freedom-to-speak-up/ 

The first module, Speak Up, available for all workers, describes what speaking up is and why it is important. The second session, Listen Up, is aimed at managers at all levels and focuses on listening and understanding the barriers to speaking up. The final module, Follow Up, aimed at senior leaders – including executive and non-executive directors, lay members and governors – is coming soon.
We would encourage you to complete this e-learning and make a Speak Up Pledge to show how you support speaking up, listening up and following up in your work. 

Making speaking up business as usual will enhance all of our working lives and improve the quality and safety of care.  Listening and acting upon matters raised means that Freedom to Speak Up will help us to be the best place to work. 

Find out more from www.nationalguardian.org.uk. You can get involved with Speak Up Month on Twitter and LinkedIn by using the hashtag #SpeakUpListenUpFollowUp.

Our Freedom to Speak Up Guardians

Humberside LMCs now offer a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service to anyone working in primary care in our four CCG areas who wishes to raise a concern. Any members of staff from GP practices can speak up about concerns they have which they feel are not being listened to by their own management reporting. Reasons you may wish to speak up might include if you feel you are being affected by racism or discrimination.

All constituents within the region covered by Humberside LMCs (East Yorkshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire) are included in the scope of our new policy to give everyone the confidence to speak up at the earliest possible opportunity, using Humberside LMCs’ Freedom to Speak up Guardians or your own organisational Freedom to Speak up Guardians.

For full details, including how to raise a concern, download our Freedom to Speak Up policy. 

Download a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service poster (pdf) to print and display.

LMC Newsletter October 2020

Date published: Thursday 29 October 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Your chance to get involved with the work of the LMC by joining our committee
• Latest online events including Lighten the Load Coach Approach Skills and Practice Manager Buddying
• News including GP contract updates and GPDF/PCN Organisational Development Funding

Download the October 2020 newsletter. 

Humber Primary Care COVID-19 Response Engagement Report

Date published: Monday 26 October 2020

This report presents the findings of a major engagement exercise conducted by CCGs in North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Hull, and East Riding of Yorkshire between July and August 2020 which asked patients about their experience of primary care during the pandemic. Over 7,000 people responded and there are some very positive findings for general practice in the report, with the majority of people rating their experience good or very good. Read the report here.  

LMC Annual Report Published

Date published: Wednesday 7 October 2020

The Humberside LMCs Annual Report 2019/20 has just been published and can be read online as a digital publication. 

The report covers a very busy period for the LMC, with major changes to primary care with the creation of Primary Care Networks, as well as internal changes at our organisation. The document covers how we helped our constituent practices adapt to the new landscape, with links to a number of useful resources. 

Read our annual report. 

PPE Portal Order Limits for General Practice

Date published: Tuesday 6 October 2020

Practices are now able to order PPE through the central portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 1st October 2020 the following limits apply:

GPs with fewer than 5,000 patients can order up to (per week):

• 200 IIR masks
• 200 aprons
• 400 gloves (200 pairs)
• one bottle of hand hygiene (usually 500ml)
• one box of visors (usually 50 per box)

GPs with between 5,000 and 7,999 patients can order up to (per week):

• 400 IIR masks
• 400 aprons
• 800 gloves (400 pairs)
• 2 bottles of hand hygiene (usually 500ml)
• 2 boxes of visors (usually 50 per box)

GPs with between 8,000 and 10,999 patients can order up to (per week):

• 500 IIR masks
• 500 aprons
• 1,000 gloves (500 pairs)
• 4 bottles of hand hygiene (usually 500ml)
• 2 boxes of visors (usually 50 per box)

GPs with between 11,000 and 29,999 patients can order up to (per week):

• 1,100 IIR masks
• 1,100 aprons
• 2,200 gloves (1,100 pairs)
• 8 bottles of hand hygiene (usually 500ml)
• one box of visors (usually 200 per box)

GPs with 30,000 patients or more can order up to (per week):

• 2,600 IIR masks
• 2,600 aprons
• 5,200 gloves (2,600 pairs)
• 12 bottles of hand hygiene (usually 500ml)
• 2 boxes of visors (usually 200 per box)

Further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-protective-equipment#order-limits.

Register and access the portal using your NHS registered email. Call the customer service team on 0800 876 6802 if you have any questions about using the PPE portal. The team is available from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.

Job Vacancies at Humberside LMCs

Date published: Monday 5 October 2020

Humberside LMCs are recruiting for the following vacancies to support our team delivering services to general practices in the Humber area:

• Business Support Officer (Maternity Cover)
• Team Administrator (Maternity Cover)

Business Support Officer (Maternity Cover)

The Humberside Group of Local Medical Committees is seeking maternity cover for a Business Support Officer role.

We will rely on you to provide a high quality, effective and flexible administrative support service within the team and to support the development and delivery of our services to local GPs and practices.

You will act as line manager for our two Team Administrators and will have responsibility for the day to day running of the office from a home and office base. An important part of your role will be to ensure that appropriate systems are in place to deliver an excellent service to our customers who are largely local GPs, practice managers and colleagues from partner organisations.

You will provide direct administrative support to our Senior Management Team including diary management, minute taking, agenda planning and dealing with queries.

£31,212 pa (37.5 hours)

Fixed term maternity cover from 4 January 2021 for 8 months (may be extended)

Between 30 and 37.5 hours per week (Negotiable)

Home and office based

Monday to Friday (Exact hours negotiable)

Employer pension contribution (See Terms & Conditions in the Application Pack)

Application Deadline: 19 October 2020, 12 noon

Interview Date: Week commencing 2 November 2020

For full details including an application pack and how to apply visit https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0011-20-9605

Team Administrator (Maternity Cover)

As a Team Administrator, we will rely on you to provide a high quality, effective and flexible administrative support service within the team and to support the development and delivery of our services to GPs and practices.

An important part of your role will be to ensure that appropriate systems are in place to deliver an excellent service to our customers who are largely local GPs, practice managers and colleagues from partner organisations.

You will provide direct administrative support to our Senior Management Team including diary management, minute taking, agenda planning and dealing with queries.

£23,409 (37.5 hours)

Fixed term maternity cover from 4 January 2021 for 8 months (may be extended)

Between 30 and 37.5 hours per week (Negotiable)

Home and office based

Monday to Friday (Exact hours negotiable)

Employer pension contribution 

Application Deadline: 19 October 2020, 12 noon.

Interview Date: Week commencing 2 November 2020. 

For full details including an application pack and how to apply visit https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0011-20-0382

Testing and PPE Issues in Primary Care

Date published: Thursday 1 October 2020

The LMC has today written to our four local CCG chairs, along the chair of the Humber, Coast and Vale Testing Group and NHS England to express concern about access to testing and supplies of PPE in primary care. This follows calls and messages from practices in the Humber region who are experiencing problems. The full text of our letter is below:

"The evolving second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause significant pressure on primary care. The LMC is receiving calls from practices across the HCV area experiencing major issues in accessing testing for primary care staff, and in accessing adequate PPE. 

There remains an ongoing discrepancy between the ability of the primary care workforce to access testing compared to those colleagues working in secondary care. This compounds the perception that primary care is undervalued at present, and we welcome your influence in accessing equitable testing for all healthcare staff. All staff working in the NHS need to be assured of the same access to timely testing; general practice will not function over the coming months without this based on the current levels of staff needing to isolate while awaiting testing or results. Given no national solution is forthcoming, we urge the HCV area to source a local solution or risk destabilising healthcare services. 

PPE remains a problem, and while practices continue to order supplies via the portal as recommended, we request that additional supplies are procured at local level to support the increased need. The end of the Covid reimbursement fund means that practices cannot rely on reimbursement, and it is unfair to expect primary care staff to be personally funding their PPE when other parts of the NHS have it provided for free. We would urge all HCV CCGs to use local suppliers to secure adequate supplies and support primary care. 

This is the beginning of another incredibly challenging time for the NHS; locally the workforce is tired, demoralised, and running on empty. Your public support and commitment to addressing these key areas would provide a vital boost to colleagues."

We will keep you updated with developments on these important issues. If you need advice or support from the LMC please contact us. Resources and information can be found on our Support and Coronavirus pages.   

LMC Newsletter September 2020

Date published: Wednesday 30 September 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• CQC mythbusters to help with inspections
• Sending of death registration documents
• Revised Network DES published

Download our September 2020 newsletter. 

Our Message to Practices in the Humber Area

Date published: Tuesday 15 September 2020

Humberside LMCs would like to thank all practices for their continued hard work in meeting unprecedented demand in primary care, and in the face of demoralising media coverage in response to NHS England's letter reiterating the importance of providing face-to-face appointments for those who need them.

We know that face-to-face appointments have been available to patients throughout the pandemic where there is a clinical need. We wholly reject any implication that practices are not seeing patients and subsequent negative stories in the media. 

Should your practice be in need of additional support, please contact the LMC or visit the support page on our website for information, links and resources.   

New Wellbeing Project to Support General Practice

Date published: Tuesday 8 September 2020

Humberside LMCs, supported by YORLMC, are delighted to announce the launch of their new project to improve the wellbeing of GPs and other staff working in general practice in the Humber, Coast and Vale ICS area.

Funded by NHS England, the project will involve developing new services, tools and resources to support wellbeing and enable individuals to look after their own health and know when to seek help before difficulties arise, or be signposted to help if problems have already arisen.

At this time of great stress and pressures for general practice, the wellbeing of people working in local health services – GPs, practice managers and all other practice staff – is particularly important.

The project is being led by Dr Zoe Norris of Humberside LMCs, recently recruited as Wellbeing lead. Dr Norris will be supported by Dr John Bibby of YORLMC whose Wellbeing project is well established. YORLMC is sharing knowledge & contact information to enable development of the project across Humberside. Dr Norris and Dr Bibby are working with their respective LMC teams to develop services in line with local priorities and feedback gathered from those working in general practice.

Services provided through the project will include mentoring for people working in practices, and learning events to support practice staff.

You can find details of resources, services and information for GPs and others working in general practice on our support page at  www.humbersidelmc.org.uk/supportgpspracticemanagers. 

If you’d like more information on the new wellbeing project at Humberside LMCs, please contact humbersidelmcgroup@nhs.net. Information about YORLMC’s project can be requested via info@yorlmcltd.co.uk. 

LMC Newsletter August 2020

Date published: Monday 24 August 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Latest events and opportunities
• Updates for practices, including flu vaccines in 2020/21
• General news, including carer funding for GPs on the induction and refresher scheme

Download the LMC August 2020 newsletter. 

Advice for GP Surgeries Regarding Patients and Facemasks

Date published: Wednesday 5 August 2020

The Government website advises that all patients over the age of 11 years old wear face coverings in NHS settings, including community care settings, such as GP surgeries and hospitals. Face coverings can consist of a range of options, including cloth masks, scarves, face shields, or surgical masks and must cover the nose and mouth. 

GP surgeries must protect all patients who attend the practice. As an employer, the practice has a duty of care to staff. Humberside LMC encourages practices to require patients to wear face coverings whenever they enter the practice premises. If a patient refuses to do so, despite being offered one and having the reasons explained to them, the LMC will support practices who offer non-face to face care until the patient complies. 

There are very few valid medical reasons for not wearing a face covering; patients in whom there is a genuine exemption can be identified by the practice and managed accordingly. Please contact the LMC if you have any questions or concerns regarding this issue.

Update 18/08/2020

The BMA has issued the following statement regarding face coverings:

"The BMA believes that the government must do more to protect healthcare workers in community settings, including GP surgeries, and require those entering a healthcare facility to wear a face covering, as is the case for shops and other indoor settings. 

It is for practices to decide how to deliver services to their patients. It is also a practice’s responsibility for them to protect their staff and patients, many of whom may be vulnerable to the most severe effects of Covid-19, from unnecessary risk. Therefore, if a patient refuses to wear a face covering inside a practice, without good reason, the practice can choose to provide services to that patient by means other than face-to-face consultation within the practice.

Practices should inform patients, in advance of their attendance, that a face covering will be required to protect other patients, clinicians and other staff who they will inevitably come into proximity with inside the building. If a patient has a legitimate reason for not wearing a face covering the practice will need to consider this on an individual basis."

LMC Team to Continue Remote Working

Date published: Tuesday 4 August 2020

Given the current COVID-19 situation Humberside LMCs will continue to work remotely. We will offer remote alternatives to all face to face
events, meetings and training where possible until January 2021. 

Please continue to contact us in the usual ways. Details of LMC committee meetings can be found here.   

LMC Newsletter July 2020

Date published: Tuesday 28 July 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Save the date for two upcoming LMC events
• Advice on responding to requests regarding face mask exemptions
• New to Partnership Payment Scheme details

Download the July 2020 newsletter. 

Supporting Practice Managers

Date published: Tuesday 30 June 2020

Owing to support and funding from NHS England, the LMC were able to recruit and train a cohort of freelance Practice Manager Appraisers, all of whom are currently working as Practice Managers across the Humber area. 

Many of our local Practice Managers report feeling over-burdened and isolated, receiving little formal or ongoing personal and professional development. The peer to peer appraisals on offer as part of this scheme are designed to address this developmental shortfall. These are not intended to be a performance review, but instead an opportunity for reflection on the manager’s work and approach, and to help identify areas for ongoing improvement and development. There is also the opportunity to repeat the review with the same Appraiser at agreed intervals, such as six-monthly or annually. 

Several of these peer to peer reviews have been completed over the past year, and the feedback from participants has been very positive:

“It was really nice to be appraised by someone who understood how you felt and was able to provide some good supportive advice that wasn’t just ‘text book’ but from actual real life experiences.  The whole process was really informal and [my appraiser] was great.  Overall I found it a really positive experience and yes I would definitely do this again”

“It was quite useful to actually sit down and complete the form to enable me to evaluate what my role is. I did find meeting with [my appraiser] and talking through what I had written very useful, and for me to be away from my Practice to do this was of great value.”

“It was really helpful, almost therapeutic!  I think the work will lie in being able to implement some of the suggestions. We agreed to keep in touch and meet again to review progress in 6 months.”

Our trained cohort of freelance Practice Manager Appraisers are keen to continue to connect with their local PM colleagues and facilitate these valuable sessions. If you are interested in being part of this scheme, then please contact the Humberside LMCs team by email on humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net.  

If you decide to go ahead and arrange a session, you will be matched with a PM from outside of your CCG area, who contact you directly to make all of the arrangements.

LMC Newsletter June 2020

Date published: Monday 29 June 2020

The latest edition of our regular monthly newsletter is now available, containing all the latest updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Could  you be an LMC member?
• GP funding and contracts explained by The Kings Fund
• Update on GP revalidation 

Download the LMC newsletter June 2020. 

New GP Wellbeing Lead at the LMC

Date published: Monday 8 June 2020

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Zoe Norris as the LMC’s new GP Wellbeing Lead. This is a new role dedicated to reaching out to GPs in the Humber region to help improve their wellbeing, working alongside our existing pastoral care team. She will be advising across a range of areas including workforce planning and developments, primary care management, system change and resilience of general practice. 

Zoe already has a part-time post as Medical Director with the LMC and will be working an additional one day per week in this new role. She says: “I’m excited to start contributing to the increasing offering from the LMC around wellbeing, and to focus on practical and concrete improvements to the lives of our constituents. We have an amazing workforce in primary care locally,  and I am looking forward to developing this role."

GP Guidance - Return of Schools

Date published: Thursday 4 June 2020

The Government mandated opening of schools for some year groups from 1st June 2020.  The LMC would like to assist GPs in dealing with queries which may arise in connection with the return to school by providing the following links to trusted sources of information:

• The Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health has produced advice on returning to school. 

• Clinically extremely vulnerable children are to remain shielded and not to return to school.  The list of conditions included can be found here.

• Schools have received the following advice from the government to put in place where possible for pupils return.

• Specific advice with helpful links has been issued by the government for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The LMC will add updates and additional links to this guidance as they are available.

LMC Newsletter May 2020

Date published: Thursday 28 May 2020

The latest edition of our regular newsletter is now available with news, updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• Training and opportunities including our resilience webinars in June, plus access to rapid access mentoring
• Request for feedback re PCSE records
• Advice to GPs check performers list entries

Download the LMC's May newsletter. 

LMC Statement - BAME Staff and Coronavirus

Date published: Monday 18 May 2020

Relative Risks from COVID – 19 for people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Backgrounds (BAME)

We have all become aware over the last few weeks of an increasing number of deaths amongst health care workers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Whilst every death from COVID 19 is a tragedy it has become obvious that a larger proportion than we would have expected come from BAME backgrounds. 

Statistics that have been collected nationally by Public Health England have now confirmed that there is a real issue here. No reasons for this phenomenon have yet been found although urgent research is ongoing. 

This must be very worrying for our colleagues from such backgrounds and we must do all we can to reassure them and minimise any risk to which they may be exposed. People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds make up 44% of the medical workforce. 

Pending more definitive guidance coming out as a greater understanding of the issues develops the LMC would recommend the following approach:

• Practices should be supported to have thorough, sensitive and comprehensive conversations with members of the practice team from a BAME background. They should identify any existing underlying health conditions that may increase the risks for them in undertaking their frontline roles, in any capacity. Most importantly, the conversations should also, on an ongoing basis, consider the feelings of BAME colleagues, particularly with regard to their safety and their mental health. 

• Practices should risk-assess staff at potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly. Practices should consider how they can do this and take action to protect members of their team.  Here are some risk assessment tools available:

1. Risk reduction framework
2. Risk stratification tool
3. NHS Employers advice for BAME

• The first thing for all workers is to stay safe. The vast majority of patient interactions are now done remotely and that is likely to remain the case for some time. Any patients that are seen, will require the health care workers to wear appropriate PPE. Even when seeing patients who are asymptomatic of a potential COVID infection but need to be seen for a non COVID condition, they should still be seen in a clean environment with appropriate PPE worn by the health care worker and the patient. (usually a mask)

• As we learn more about this and can understand the true level of increased risk for our BAME colleagues, we will be communicating with all our members. Until this is possible we ask that all doctors and their staff stay safe, don’t take any risks and follow robust protocols for infection control and use of PPE.

(Our thanks to Peter Higgins at Lancs and Cumbria LMC for sharing their document)

LMC Newsletter April 2020

Date published: Thursday 30 April 2020

The latest edition of our regular newsletter is now available with all new, updates and opportunities for general practice in the Humber area. Included in this month's issue:

• News on our mentoring service for GPs, including a new rapid access service that can be accessed online in the current restrictions
• Information for on temporary registration for GPs returning to work to respond to the pandemic
• More resilience services available to GPs and other practice staff 

LMC Newsletter April 2020 (pdf). 

Shielded Patients - LMC Update

Date published: Thursday 16 April 2020

The LMC shares practices’ concerns about the shielded patients project run by NHSE which has resulted in large amounts of work for primary care, an inconsistent approach from secondary care, and confusion for many patients. 

We advise all practices to focus on ensuring any lists they are asked to review or generate are correct, rather than rushing to achieve a specific deadline. 

The LMC has expressed this view to CCG colleagues, and will support practices who encounter any difficulties. 

We have just produced a shielded patients update which summarises the latest guidance on shielding patients in higher risk groups, and provides information for practices to work from.  

LMC Newsletter March 2020

Date published: Tuesday 31 March 2020

The March edition of our regular newsletter is now available. In this issue, which is shorter than usual due to the number of cancelled events and training courses, you will find:

• How the LMC can help you and your practice during the coronavirus pandemic
• Latest on the PCN DES
• Guidance on IR35 for sessional GPs

Download the March 2020 newsletter (pdf). 

Coronavirus - Help from the LMC

Date published: Sunday 22 March 2020

The LMC is committed to helping our practices in the Humber region in this most difficult time for the health service. We'll be making sure you can access the latest updates and information, but we're also aware that you will already be receiving a huge volume of communications. We'll therefore approach things as follows:

• Our guidance page  https://www.humbersidelmc.org.uk/coronavirus will be updated daily. It includes links to trusted sources of information and guidance (including NHSE/I, PHE, and government advice to the public) which are being updated daily.
• We will be issuing a weekly coronavirus bulletin on a Friday afternoon via email to GPs and practice managers. This will include a round-up of the week's updates and new guidance. This will also be available on the coronavirus guidance page as a PDF. 
• We have published a list of FAQs which are based on queries we've received from practices. We'll be adding to this regularly as the situation develops. You will always find the latest version of the FAQs on the coronavirus guidance page. If you have a query it's worth taking a look at the FAQs as it may be answered there. 
• The LMC social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook will be regularly updated with new information. 
• The LMC team are all working as normal during this unprecedented situation and we're here to support you. If you need our help with your queries contact us in the usual ways and we'll respond as soon as we reasonably can. 

Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to supporting patients at this most difficult time.  

LMC Newsletter February 2020

Date published: Tuesday 3 March 2020

The February issue of the LMC newsletter is now available to download. In this edition you will find all our regular updates including:

• Latest news on the GP contract 2020/21 
• VAT guidance for PCNs, commissioned for networks in the Humber, Coast and Vale area
• Updated guidance on Tier 2 visas for practices recruiting from overseas

Download the February 2020 newsletter (pdf). 

GPC Contract Roadshow - Download the Event Presentation

Date published: Tuesday 3 March 2020

The presentation slides for this year's GPC Contract Roadshow, which was held in our region on Tuesday 3rd March 2020, are available to download on the BMA website.

Please follow the link and then click on “Download the briefing” in order to access the presentation.

https://www.bma.org.uk/collective-voice/committees/general-practitioners-committee/gpc-england/gp-contract-agreement-england-2020-2021

Thanks to Doctor Krishna Kasaraneni of the BMA's GPC executive team for presenting at the roadshow. 

Gender Prescribing Guidance

Date published: Monday 17 February 2020

Humberside LMCs has published new guidance for GPs regarding prescribing for patients with gender incongruence in primary care. This is a complex issue with several different pieces of relevant published guidance, and it's an area we continue to receive enquiries about. We have tried to summarise these into a more accessible Q&A document for constituents, which gives some of the background and common scenarios faced. If you have a particular query not covered here, please do get in touch with the LMC and we will try our best to advise. 

Download our gender prescribing guidance​​​​​​​ (pdf). 

GP Contract 2020/21 - Summary of Changes

Date published: Monday 10 February 2020

GPC England and NHSE/I have negotiated changes to the GP contract for 2020-21 following a GPC England meeting held on 6 February 2020.

Full details are available on the BMA website here.  ​​​​​​

Headlines are:
•         The new value of Global Sum from 1st April will be £93.46.
•         The new value of a QOF point will be £194.83.
•         More roles added to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.
•         Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, the scheme will expand to 26,000 additional roles.
•         All roles to be reimbursed at 100%, freeing up the existing £1.50/head to contribute to management support for PCNs.
•         Funding entitlements increase from £257m to £430m next year and, in 2023/24, from £891m to £1,412m.
•         Extra investment will fund new GP training recruitment and retention measures with £20,000 plus training support for every new partner.
•         Payment arrangements for vaccinations and immunisations to be reformed.
•         QOF to be updated.
•         PCN service specifications reduced and improved.
•         Investment and Impact Fund introduced worth £40.5m in 2020/21.

The BMA and NHS England have published a new document Update to the GP Contract agreement 2020/21-2023/24 which includes the revised DES specifications, subject to approval at an LMC special conference which will discuss the changes. A date for this event will be announced shortly.  

GPC exec will be presenting these changes at the GP Contract Roadshow on Tuesday 3rd March 2020, 19:00-21:00 (Food from 18:00) Lazaat Hotel, Cottingham HU16 5SX. Places can be booked here​​​​.

We welcome your comments on this package. Please email these to humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net. 

NHS England Publishes Summary of PCN DES Engagement

Date published: Tuesday 4 February 2020

NHS England has published its summary of the recent engagement on the draft PCN DES specifications. 

Over 4,000 responses were received to the proposals, which has prompted an overwhelmingly negative reception from GPs when they were released in December. See our earlier news story on the national response from the BMA and how Humberside LMC is working to ensure that the concerns which our constituents have expressed are heard. 

NHS England's summary concludes with this message:

"Our goal is to provide PCNs with certainty and confidence about their future as rapidly as
possible, as part of the process for agreeing the GP contract with the BMA GPC.

The engagement feedback has already been informing discussions about the final contract
deal, with both NHSE&I and BMA GPC working to address the core concerns raised in a way
that continues to respect the existing five year deal, sustains general practice, and secures
improvements for patients.

The scale and feedback received demands a clear response, in the form of an updated
overall contract package, as part of which we want to agree a significantly reworked set of
service specifications."

In other developments, the BMA has published the results of their recent survey of PCN Clinical Directors. The survey asked clinical directors about their experience of being involved in the creation of PCNs, recruitment of a new workforce, delivery of new services, and also views on the future of PCNs: 

"The results reveal that whilst there is considerable optimism amongst clinical directors
about what PCNs can achieve if given the resources, time and practical support to thrive,
there are also concerns about the scale of the challenge facing these new structures and the
expectations being placed on them. This has most recently been evident in the widespread
serious concern raised following NHS England and NHS Improvement’s publication of draft
PCN service specifications."

We will keep you informed of further developments with the PCN DES specifications. Read NHS England's summary of engagement.  ​​​​​

New LMC Service: Free Mentoring for GPs

Date published: Thursday 30 January 2020

A new peer mentoring service from Humberside LMCs in partnership with GP-S is due to launch in February. The service is free and open to all GPs in the Humber region.  GPs can access up to 4 free confidential sessions over 12 months to:

Support development
Move forward with personal and career goals
Create a greater work life balance
Advance professional development
Build self confidence
Enhance abilities outside and inside work
Achieve aspirations
Enhance leadership skills and build resilience. 

Contact details: GPs interested in pursuing the offer should either contact Humberside LMCs by telephone 01482 655111 or email humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net or contact GP-S directly by telephone 0115 979 6917.

LMC Newsletter January 2020

Date published: Thursday 30 January 2020

The January issue of the LMC newsletter is out now and available to download. In a packed first edition of the year you will find all the latest news and updates including:

• Latest update on the draft PCN DES specifications
• Lots of new events and opportunities including new mentor service for GPs
• Update on the primary secondary care interface in Hull and East Yorkshire

Download the January 2020 newsletter (pdf). 

Update - Draft PCN Specifications

Date published: Tuesday 28 January 2020

On 16th January BMA’s England GP committee voted not to accept a revised contract agreement with NHS England and condemned the recently-published DES draft service specifications outlining what is expected of Primary Care Networks over the next four years. Since the specifications were released for consultation at the end of December, the feedback from GPs was overwhelmingly negative, with practices concerned at the levels of workload involved, especially for those networks that were struggling to recruit additional staff.

Negotiations between GPC and NHS England are continuing and a further meeting of BMA’s England GP committee will take place on 6th February to review further changes to the draft service specifications.   Revised DES service specifications will then be presented and debated at a Special Conference of English LMCs to allow GP reps from across the country to debate and consider the outcome of contract negotiations.  No date has been set for this Special conference and it is possible that the planned date of 1 April 2020 for implementation of specifications will not be met.

Humberside LMCs will attend the Special Conference and represent the views of our constituents, who have called for:

• Time to develop more capacity to address the workforce legacy before committing to additional specifications. 

• Specifications which have new supporting funding and can be delivered with the resources available in the PCN’s locality.

• A phased implementation of specifications which is achievable and commensurate with the development of supporting resources, and PCN maturity

• Meaningful and detailed consultation on any future specification proposals with a wider representative GP group and the negotiated specifications subject to a vote by the profession

• PCNs to remain focused on the wider workforce and their original ethos to move work away from GPs; GPs should not be asked to do any additional work without dedicated funding being included for this

• Future PCN DES changes to include a cost: benefit analysis for each specification, to ensure they are financially viable for practices to take up

Humberside LMCs have written to our CCGs requesting that they engage with PCNs when the agreed DES specifications are published and that they allow the LMC to contribute these discussions on behalf of constituents.   It is possible that a small minority of practices may no longer wish to participate in the DES and choose to leave their PCN, in the event that they consider that the final negotiated specifications cannot be delivered.  Whilst the LMC are committed to work with practices to ensure the sustainability of PCNs, we have asked CCGs to consider developing a shared contingency plan and set of actions in this event.  This will include setting out liabilities for additional roles already employed, for PCNs, practices and CCGs. 

Further updates will be published on the LMC website.

Constituent Response to Draft PCN DES Specifications

Date published: Wednesday 15 January 2020

Based on feedback received from our constituents, Humberside LMC has submitted a response to the draft service specifications for the PCN DES which were published in December 2019: 

'Constituents are generally supportive of any initiatives aimed at improving patient care by reducing inequity of access and quality of care and can see clear benefits to working together practice to practice but also locally across disciplines. The current draft PCN specifications however are unacceptable to our practices, and if not modified we will be advising practices not so sign up for the 2020/2021 PCN DES.

Our practices believe that PCNs were designed to address the legacy of underfunding in primary care, not to force practices to take on additional services. There are serious concerns about lack of funding and the capacity to do the extra work and it appears that much is dependent on additional staff freeing up capacity to take up the extra services and working with other providers. Recruitment into additional roles has been limited by the available skills resource in our locality and the financial capacity of their organisations to subsidise the new role funding. As a result, the majority of PCNs in our localities have been unable to draw down their full additional roles reimbursement funding. The additional roles have an ongoing cost to practices, in both monetary terms and in terms of time for training. Despite the 100% funding for social prescribers, there is also an impact where CCGs provide a maximum figure which is below the salary range locally. 

Our GPs feel that it is critical that PCNs are not set up to fail by taking on too many tasks too quickly. Many PCNs are still being supported to deal with issues such as resource, funding, data-sharing and organisational development. The risk in driving through new service specifications is that disillusionment following over-inflated expectations, as well as time-limited funding and support, leaves general practice in a worse position. It is also impacting on GPs nearing retirement seeing this as a catalyst that precipitates them leaving practice, so further increasing the resource problem.

The LMC are concerned that by negotiating these DES specifications as a component of the overall GMS contract negotiations, it presents a risk that other components of the main negotiations will be significantly detrimentally influenced. More specifically our constituents have called for:

• Time to develop more capacity to address the workforce legacy before committing to additional specifications.
• Specifications which have new supporting funding and can be delivered with the resources available in the PCN’s locality.
• A phased implementation of specifications which is achievable and commensurate with the development of supporting resources, and PCN maturity
• Meaningful and detailed consultation on any future specification proposals with a wider representative GP group and the negotiated specifications subject to a vote by the profession; the questions in the current consultation are unhelpful as a feedback mechanism
• PCNs to remain focused on the wider workforce and their original ethos to move work away from GPs; GPs should not be asked to do any additional work without dedicated funding being included for this
• Future PCN DES changes to include a cost: benefit analysis for each specification, to ensure they are financially viable for practices to take up

In summary, the draft specifications were described by our LMC committee as “The single most depressing document for a decade…didactic, central command and control that does nothing to alleviate workforce pressure…it feels like NHSE just don’t care.”'

The response was submitted as part of the consultation on the proposals which closed on 15 January 2020. 

PCNs - Network Contract DES National Service Specifications 2020/21

Date published: Thursday 2 January 2020

NHS England is seeking feedback on the five national service specifications, of the GP contract framework, which will be delivered by primary care networks (PCNs) - in collaboration with community services and other providers - from April 2020.

The GP contract framework set out seven national service specifications that will be added to the Network Contract DES: five starting from April 2020, and a further two from April 2021. The five services are:
•    Structured Medication Reviews and Optimisation
•    Enhanced Health in Care Homes (jointly with community services providers)
•    Anticipatory Care (jointly with community services providers)
•    Personalised Care; and
•    Supporting Early Cancer Diagnosis.

The LMC's position on the specifications is set our in our advice update which can be downloaded here.  

There are a number of opportunities to share your thoughts on the outline draft of the service specifications. Please note there is a tight timescale to submit responses.
•    The document is available online here​​​​​, with a number of questions to be answered to help shape the final service specifications. This will be live until 1pm on 15 January 2020.
•    A series of facilitated interactive webinars will be taking place as follows:
•    Wednesday 8 January 2020 – 12 noon-1.30pm
•    Thursday 9 January 2020 - 10am-11.30am
•    Tuesday 14 January 2020 – 3pm-4.30pm (focusing on the community services elements of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes and Anticipatory Care service specifications, aimed at directors and chief executives of community health providers).

Nikki Kanani will be hosting a Twitter chat on 7 January 2019 specifically about the service specifications. Follow #primarycarenetworks from 8pm and join in the conversation and share your views.

Should you have any questions, please contact england.networkscontract@nhs.net​​​​​. 

LMC Newsletter December 2019

Date published: Thursday 19 December 2019

The December issue of the LMC newsletter is out now and available to download. In this final edition of 2019 you will find all the latest news, events and opportunities including:

• New LMC events in 2020 including a premises seminar with Capsticks solicitors 
• News regarding GP direct access to diagnostic services - managing patient care and investigations
• Registration of individuals leaving the secure residential estate - guidance for practices. 

Download the December 2019 newsletter (pdf). 

LMC Manifesto for General Practice

Date published: Monday 9 December 2019

Humberside LMCs today publishes its manifesto for general practice.  

Workforce and wellbeing

• We need to retain the excellent workforce we have and recruit new GPs by widening the bursary funding to attract doctors to parts of our region where there have been consistent shortages of trainees.  The LMC welcome work force investment benefitting every practice to support the training of current reception and clerical staff to play a greater role in navigation of patients and handling clinical paperwork to free up GP time.  

• In our August survey GPs told us that high workload, fear of complaints and low staffing levels are leading to low morale & burnout across the profession.  The LMC would believe we need continuous funding for resilience support for GPs and the wider medical and support workforce in primary care.  

Primary/Secondary Interface

• The LMC believe that primary and secondary healthcare providers in our region could work better together.  We know there is a willingness from practitioners across our system to communicate, integrate and evolve to provide a better patient care experience.  The LMC want to work with commissioners and providers to improve this integration and invite all stakeholders to embrace this opportunity.

Pensions

• The pensions taxation crisis means that doctors are being forced to turn down vital extra shifts caring for patients in our under-pressure GP surgeries because they would be literally paying to go to work. Doctors are trapped in a dilemma between wanting to care for patients and not wanting to end up financially worse off.  The LMC support the work of the BMA to lobby Government to deliver pension taxation reform and for pensions administration to change to offer a responsive, timely and accurate service to GPs. 

Premises

• An historical underinvestment in premises and increasing demand for accommodation for new PCN roles is placing an unsustainable demand on our primary care estate.  The charges levied on premises are frequently difficult to understand and non-negotiable.  The LMC would like long term realistic capital funding to meet the needs of patient care and a premises charging administration which is responsive, transparent and fair.

IT and Infrastructure

• The LMC is concerned about the impact of digital health providers on our local system.  Continuity of care lies at the centre of traditional general practice, with local surgeries providing person-centred care from the heart of communities. We would highlight the risk that digital only practices poses to this and want to see a well-integrated and mixed provision which serves the need of all of our patient population.  

• Effective primary care should be built on a stable and integrated IT platform.  The LMC supports a case for fast and reliable infrastructure integrated across the whole healthcare system with controlled access to patient records by all practitioners.

LMC Newsletter November 2019

Date published: Thursday 28 November 2019

The November issue of the LMC newsletter is now available. Included in the latest news, updates and events:

• Invitation to complete our 2019 LMC survey
• A number of medication supply alerts practices need to be aware of
• Changes to the the community pharmacy contract and patients with diabetes

Download the November newsletter (pdf). 

LMC Survey 2019

Date published: Tuesday 19 November 2019

GPs and practice managers in the Humber region are invited to take part in our annual survey to shape the work of the LMC. 

The survey is a key method we use to assess our services to general practitioners and identify how we can improve. We study all the feedback we receive and use the results to help set the LMC’s priorities for the coming year. 

Last year’s survey helped identify a number of key areas which we have been working hard to deliver since then:

• Supporting practices with the major changes underway in general practice through the new GP contract and formation of PCNs
• New resilience programme of training and support for GPs and practice managers
• New ways to engage with our constituent GPs and practices, including an improved website with access to a greater range of content

The closing date for responses is Friday 13th December 2019. 

Click on the link below to take the survey. You can complete the survey on phones and tablets as well as your desktop.  

​​​​​​https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NTYYWMQ

LMC Newsletter October 2019

Date published: Wednesday 30 October 2019

The October issue of the LMC newsletter is now available. Included in the latest issue:

• New LMC events and training, including Better Conversations training
• Opportunity to become a GP mentor and receive training 
• News on flu vaccinations for GP practice staff 

Download the LMC newsletter October 2019 (pdf). 

Humberside LMC Resilience Support – Appeal for GP Mentors/Coaches

Date published: Monday 28 October 2019

Humberside LMCs invites you to apply to attend a two day Mentor Training course with a view to becoming a self-employed paid mentor for GP-S. GP-S is a free peer mentoring and coaching service for GPs due to launch in Humberside in early 2020. 

The service will give all GPs in the area access to a free trained peer mentor/coach for four sessions of face to face support lasting two hours at a time. 

Sessions can be used for any problem or opportunity an individual feels they may have, from career or personal development to stress and work/life balance. Everything discussed within GP-S is kept confidential. 

To help set up this service, GP-S and Humberside LMC are looking to recruit a number of local GPs to become self-employed paid mentors for the scheme. All Humberside GPs are eligible to apply for the positions. Mentors will need enough time to complete two-hour mentoring sessions away from practice and will be able to determine the distance they feel able to travel. 

Once GPs have applied for a position they may be invited to attend a two day training and assessment course. The GP-S potential mentor training and assessment course takes place over two full days on 16th and 17th January 2020. Delegates will need to attend both dates to have the opportunity to progress. 

The course will cover mentoring and coaching techniques and focus on the Egan model. On the first day delegates will learn key skills and cement the knowledge already gathered through the pre-course learning materials. The second day will give everyone a chance to practice the model as a client, mentor and observer. Through this, delegates will be assessed to determine if they would be suitable for the role of mentor with GP-S locally. 

The course is intensive but highly rewarding and previous delegate feedback has praised the safe and informal learning space created by GP-S trainers.  

The training is due to take place on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January 2020 at the LMCs Boardroom, Albion House, Albion Lane, Willerby, HU10 6TS. 

If you’d be interested in attending the course to potentially become a GP-S mentor for Humberside GPs, please email contact@gp-s.org by Friday 29th November 2019 to receive an expression of interest form. 

LMC Newsletter September 2019

Date published: Monday 30 September 2019

The September 2019 issue of our regular newsletter is now available. Included in this month's issue with all the latest news, events and updates:

• Premises issues update from the GPC
• Additional roles reimbursement guidance
• Latest training and events including HYMS courses

Download the September 2019 newsletter (pdf). 

Premises Issues Update

Date published: Wednesday 25 September 2019

Practices affected by issues with CHP and NHSPS will be interested in the latest update regarding work being done at national level to address these matters. 

In summary, the BMA has asked NHS Property Services for an urgent response to concerns over the worrying rise in service charges faced by GP practices. Failing this, legal action will be considered. BMA lawyers have set out in detail the reasons why it believes NHSPS is acting unlawfully in a letter of claim. If no satisfactory response is received, the BMA says it intends to take NHSPS to court. The BMA are currently engaging in the ‘alternative dispute resolution’ process proposed by NHSPS’s lawyers.
 
Further background to the issue can be found in a recent GPC policy leads update (see the Premises and practice finances update by Gaurav Gupta, pages 8-9). 

The BMA has a dedicated area on their website Support with Community Health Partnership (CHP) and NHS Property Service issues (NHS PS) which practices may find useful.
 
BMA guidance is clear that practices should engage with NHSPS, identify areas where there is a dispute and pay undisputed amounts. Practices should not be forced into any agreement which places the viability of the practice at risk and solutions must be sustainable. Practices should be mindful that the BMA are proceeding with legal action to address historical charges and should ensure that in reaching any agreement independently of this they do not put themselves at risk of any future liability or compromise their future position.

We are happy to provide advice and support to practices facing issues with premises. Contact details here . 

LMC Newsletter August 2019

Date published: Thursday 29 August 2019

The August 2019 issue of our regular newsletter is now available to download. 

Included on this issue are all the regular updates, events and opportunities including:

• Primary Care Network Data Templates
• New local resource - GP Signposts for Yorkshire and the Humber
• Resilience Resources

Download the August 2019 newsletter (pdf).  

New Appointment at Humberside LMCs

Date published: Tuesday 16 July 2019

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Zoe Norris who will be joining the LMC Secretariat team as Medical Director in August.
 
Zoe is a sessional GP and Hull Chambers lead for The Medical Chambers and has worked in the East Riding for the last nine years.  She also has roles as a GP Appraiser and Clinical Lecturer.

We will be welcoming Zoe when she starts early next month, working with us for one day a week. She will have a key role in informing, supporting and representing GPs and practices, and in liaising with a range of bodies on primary care issues including workload, funding and workforce development. 

Take Part in Our Annual Survey 2021

Date published: Monday 1 January 0001

We're inviting GPs and practice managers in the Humber region to complete our annual survey and shape the work of the LMC.

The survey is a key method we use to assess our services to general practice and identify how we can improve. We study all the feedback we receive and use the results to help set the LMC’s priorities for the coming year. 

Our last survey helped identify a number of key areas which we have been working hard to deliver since then:

• Our expanded secretariat team has enabled us to develop new programmes to support GPs and practices

• Rollout of our new service to provide free mentoring to GPs to support personal development, build confidence, and create better work life balance 

• Supporting the development of primary care networks 

The closing date for responses is 5pm on Friday 26 March 2021.

You can complete the survey on your desktop, phone, or tablet.