EMail Alerts - All 3 Counties
Current GPC view on Summary Care record (SCR) (20/07/10)
Please note below the current GPC view on Summary Care record (SCR)
Summary Care Record
The GPC considered the recently published evaluation report of the Summary Care Record (SCR) by UCL and passed the following two resolutions:
That GPC believes that, after consideration of the UCL Report in respect of the Summary Care Record (SCR) in England:
1. the clinical benefits are insufficient to justify continuation at present, particularly at a time when patients are being denied proven clinical services on the grounds of expense;
2. the clinical benefits are insufficient to justify the creation without fully informed explicit consent;
3. the clinical benefits are insufficient to justify GPs consenting to the upload of data on behalf of patients who have not expressed consent;
4. the creation of SCRs in England should be halted until the full review of the model, and other models, has taken place to address cost-effectiveness and the need for informed and explicit consent of patients.
That GPC believes that in view of the risks to patient safety caused by the failures of SCRs to be reliably and consistently updated, access to existing SCRs should be immediately suspended by the government until all patient safety issues have been fully investigated and satisfactorily resolved.
The GPC believes that it is for individual practices to decide whether they wish to proceed with uploads to the SCR.
FP69s & SCR uploads
Where practices participating in SCR uploads have received FP69s from their PCT due to undelivered PIP (Public Information Programme) letters, they should also have been advised to flag the records affected as “not for upload” until processing has been satisfactorily completed.
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Resending: HPERU Summary of White Paper (14/07/10)
As some of you have experienced difficult opening the Adobe version of the White Paper Summary circulated earlier, please find attached a Word version of the document for your and your GPs ease of reference.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
HPERU Summary of White Paper (14/07/10)
Please find attached, for your and your GPs information, HPERUs Summary of the Government White Paper.
The document is also available on our website at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Rogue Company Scam Alert (14/07/10)
Rogue Company: City Map Town Map
Could practices please heed the warning given below?
Pauline Green
BBO LMC
Hi Everyone,
I have just heard from a couple of practices who have been contacted by a company called City Map Town Map who advised them that their 'free' online advertising trial period was up and that they had to sign a disclaimer to get out of the 'contract' they claim the practice agreed to last year (where have we heard this before). Of course what they would be signing up to is 1697 of 'advertising'. Glasgow Trading Standards has advised that practices do not to sign anything, do not part with any money and do not to touch this company with a barge pole, especially as the company is based in Europe.
You might like to forewarn practices in your area, as you can bet your bottom dollar some poor soul will get caught out. This company are also telephoning practices and are getting quite shirty as they want the practice to stamp and sign their 'disclaimer which is actually an order form and fax it back to them.
Mary
Mary Fingland
Office Secretary
Glasgow Local Medical Committee
Sessional GPs Newsletter, Summer 2010 (08/07/10)
For your information, please see the GPCs email below.
NB: The Sessional GPs Newsletter Summer 2010 is attached for your ease of reference.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Dear colleagues
The Sessional GPs Newsletter, Summer 2010, is now available on the BMA website
This
newsletter contains information about new and ongoing issues affecting sessional GPs and the work of the Sessional GPs Subcommittee and General Practitioners Committee (GPC) on their behalf.
We
would be grateful if you could distribute this newsletter as widely as possible in your local area.
This issue covers the following topics:
Regards
Karen Day
Division Secretarial Assistant
NHS GPs Division
Practices may want to keep a copy of their H1N1 data from the IMMFORM website (06/07/10)
Please see the attached from the Influenza Vaccine Uptake Monitoring Team
The H1N1 data on IMMFORM website will be archived after midnight on 30.7.10 and your data prior to 28.2.10 will no longer be accessible to you
Your practice might want to keep a copy of its H1N1 data in case data is subsequently disputed
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Appointments to Tribunal Service - advertisement (01/07/10)
For your and your GPs' information, please see the email below and attached advert re appointments to the Tribunal Service.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Good day,
There is currently a recruitment exercise underway which might be of interest to your
constituents. I have attached a copy of the advertisement which appeared in BMJ careers.
The Tribunal Service, which is part of the Ministry of Justice, has a large number of vacancies for fee paid members throughout England and Wales and Scotland. It may be of interest to GPs who don't routinely read BMJ Careers. I would be obliged therefore if you would consider sending this out to your constituents for their interest. It is of note however that the closing date is in two weeks and if at all possible therefore it would be best if this could be sent via email.
If there is anything further I can add please don't hesitate to contact me.
Patricia
Dr P A Moultrie
Updated GPC guidance on PE7 and PE8 (patient survey)
(01/07/10)
Please note below the updated GPC guidance on QMAS sign off, and issues with the patient survey
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
GP Patient Survey - update April 2010
This
update aims to explain the results process for the 2009/10 GP Patient Survey, directing LMCs and practices to sources of information and helping to prepare for the release of final survey data for this year. This update applies to England only and the timetable and process will vary in Scotland, Wales and N Ireland. The PE7 and PE8 easements referred to below however do apply the UK as a whole.
Background
The patient survey is now being undertaken on a quarterly basis rather than
annually as has been the case before. In terms of payment, the quarterly results will be
amalgamated and the latest information is that final results will be made public on or around 15 June 2010. In previous years, practices have been made aware of their results in advance of this by PCOs, but it is important to note that there have been severe restrictions on making public these results until the government embargo has passed.
How to access existing results
All the results of the patient survey are published
in detail on a special website. This currently includes results for the first three quarters of 2009/10, the most
recent results being published in March 2010. Within this there is a specific page on which all these results are available, including results at practice level. There is a handbook to help explain the process to practices, together with a model powerpoint presentation which may also be useful.
The relevant links are as follows:
www.gp-patient.co.uk
www.gp-patient.co.uk/surveyresults/
www.gp-patient.co.uk/practiceinfo/
Signing off QMAS
Last
year the results were issued very close to the deadline for signing off QMAS. While there may be a little more time this year, this is a reminder of our advice from last year that all practices should sign off QMAS (or its
equivalent) by the deadline regardless of whether any appeal or dispute is likely to be raised over the results of the
patient survey. However, all practices should in signing this off clearly state that they reserve the right to raise a dispute regarding the accuracy of any of the sections. If a practice does not sign off QMAS, the PCO could withhold
part or all of an achievement payment and it is possible that this might also affect aspiration payments next year.
You may wish to look again at the further guidance issued by the GPC last year, which
includes information about confidence intervals and a template letter in case practices wish to launch disputes following the survey results. We are aware that some disputes are still ongoing from the 2009 survey results, and that the outcomes have been disappointing in some areas.
www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/independent_contractors/quality_outcomes_fra mework/updateonpatientsurvey.jsp?page=1
PE7 and PE8 easements
Separate
FAQs are available on the specific issue of the PE7 and PE8 easements agreed as part of the swine flu negotiations in autumn 2009.
www.nhsemployers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Swine_flu_vaccination_FAQs%20_fb_29 _10_09.pdf
The future of the survey
The GPC has consistently said that it is vital to gather
the views of patients on the
service their GP practice provides. However, we continue to believe that a national patient survey is not the best or most appropriate way to achieve this, particularly when key questions are linked to GP pay. We have strongly advocated a return to local patient surveys which we believe are more responsive to what patients want and allow more genuine dialogue between patients and their practices. The GPC has produced guidance on how practices could be more responsive to patients and this is available at the following link:
www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/independent_contractors/managing_your_practi ce/listenpatient.jsp
We have emphasised that the outcome of the survey in 2009 led to many GPs losing confidence in it and that as a result the survey has lost credibility among GPs and practices. As the survey has considerably expanded from the original version, we also believe that its purpose in relation to GP pay has been diluted and we have recommended that the two payment questions be removed and another way found to establish the views of patients on these areas. We recognise however that the survey is likely to continue in its current form in the foreseeable future and that academic research is increasingly concluding that the survey as a whole is statistically sound, irrespective of the ongoing problems we continue to raise. We have in particular continued to raise our concern that the outcome of the current process is often to remove resources from the very practices that most need to invest in improving their services.
Given the current situation, as previously advised we recommend that practices do everything possible to encourage patients to complete the survey to maximise response rates. Once the final outcomes of the 2009/10 survey become clear, we will issue further guidance as necessary to help LMCs and practices.
PMS Regulations (amended): consolidated version (24/06/10)
Dear LMCs,
As part of our package of support to LMCs on PMS contract issues, I attach a
consolidated version of the PMS Agreements Regulations 2004 (as amended), with the many amendments made to the Regulations shown in different colours for your ease. I trust that you will find this to be helpful resource.
Please note that if you require the support of the GPC with any PMS reviews or other PMS issues, then please contact your GPC liaison officer in the first instance.
(See attached file: PMS Regs annotated.zip)
Kind regards,
Julie Goodway
Senior Policy Executive
NHS GPs Division
British Medical Association
Latest BBO Information Roundup (18/06/10)
Dear All
1 April May 10 Information Roundup
Please find attached BBOLMCs latest bi-monthly Information Roundup.
I would be grateful if you could please circulate it within your practice and hope you, and your GPs, find it of interest and value.
Comments and suggestions for improvements and/or items for inclusion in future editions to pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk are very welcome.
2 Latest BBOLMC Website Updates
Please note, for your and your GPs information, that the following are now available on our website:
All of the above, and more, can be accessed at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
*NB: Our most recent Hot Topic and Information Alert emails can be accessed via the red Click for Latest Email Alert link on our Home Page - www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
GPC updated Focus on new tax brackets Guidance & Interim Seniority Factors for GMS GPs (18/06/10)
Dear All
1 GPCs Focus on new tax brackets Guidance
The GPCs Focus on new tax brackets guidance has now been revised and a spreadsheet added
which illustrates the financial implications of taking on taking on a salaried GP. Please also note the addition of the Mazars LLP letter report and the General Practitioners Defence Fund Limited (GPDF) disclaimer, both of
which are integral to a proper understanding of this guidance and of its accompanying schedules, which are presented for illustrative purposes only.
Note that this guidance may have to be revised again after the
emergency budget has been announced on 22 June.
The Guidance is available at:
http://www.bma.org.uk/images/focustaxbracketsschedules15june10_tcm41-195393.pdf
2 Interim Seniority Factors for GMS GPs
Technical Steering Committee has published the Interim
Seniority Factors for GMS GPs in England and Wales for 2010/11. The figures are 95,802 for England and 85,690 for Wales.
Further details are available on the NHS Information Centre website at www.ic.nhs.uk/tsc
The figure for Northern Ireland has also been published and further details are available in a separate paper on the same website. The Northern Ireland figure is 83,160.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Sessional GPs Representation Working Group Report (03/06/10)
Please can you circulate the BMAs email (below) to all the Sessional GPs working in your practice? Many thanks.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Dear LMC Secretary / Office
Sessional GPs Representation Working Group Report
This is to let you know that the Sessional GPs
Representation Working Group, set up to review the representation of sessional GPs at a national and local level, published its report today. To inform its work, the working group also commissioned an
extensive research exercise, taking in the views of sessional GPs, LMCs and other external organisations. The working group report and research findings are available at www.bma.org.uk/sessionalgps.
The report recommends a number of reforms to the way in which sessional GPs are represented within the GPC. These are as follows:
Additionally, one of the findings from the research commissioned by the working group was a disconnect between many sessional GPs and their LMC. To help address
this problem, the working group has developed guidance for both sessional GPs and LMCs on improving the local representation of this group of doctors. You will find this in Appendix 2 of the working group report.
We hope you
find the reports useful and would ask you to disseminate this information as widely as possible.
Best Wishes
Joe Read
Senior Policy Executive
NHS GPs Division
British Medical Association
Redraw of practices selected for % PPV visit by LMC (27/05/10)
Some of you may have noticed on our website, a list of practices chosen for this years PPV 5%QOF probity visit.
Unfortunately, I put this there in error.
Thames Valley PCTs and the TVPCA feel this advance warning invalidates the draw and I agree with them.
This email is to alert you to the fact that a new list of chosen practices will be drawn by LMC after PCT and practice QOF sign off in the summer.
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Coalition Government Health Policy: May 2010 (26/05/10)
I thought practices would like to see the NHS section of the Coalition Government plan
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
The Coalition: our programme for government
Freedom, Fairness, Responsibility
22. NHS
The Government believes that the NHS is an important expression of our national values. We are committed to an NHS that is free at the point of use and available to everyone based on need, not the ability to pay. We want to free NHS staff from political micromanagement, increase democratic participation in the NHS and make the NHS more accountable to the patients that it serves. That way we will drive up standards, support professional responsibility, deliver better value for money and create a healthier nation.
Latest BBOLMC Website Updates (21/05/10)
Dear All
Please note, for your and your GPs information, that the following are all now available on
our website:
All ofthe above, and more, can be accessed at:www.bbolmc.co.uk
*NB: Our most recent Hot Topic and Information Alert emails can be accessed via the red ‘Click for Latest Email Alert link on our Home Page - www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
LMC alert re new DNACPR (resuscitation) system (20/05/10)
Practices will soon be receiving packages from their PCT for the new DNACPR system.
These will
contain a pad of lilac forms, a few small plastic fridge bottles and patients leaflets.
The initiative comes form an SHA group who have consulted all three TV LMCs.
GPs are encouraged to discuss with relevant patients how
cardiac arrest should be handled.
The list probably includes more than just cancer patients eg most unstable organ failure patients
At first sight the form looks a bit complicated
Section 1 (Reason for Decision not to attempt resuscitation) has three categories of decision A-C.
You should agree with each patient which tick box applies to them
Sections 2-4 are
The completed lilac form should stay with the patient, with a white copy staying fixed in the pad
The form contains a tear off strip at the bottom on which the patient or carer should write the normal location of the form
This completed strip should be placed in the plastic bottle, which itself should be placed in the fridge
Each unused bottle contains two stickers, identifying the household as one where a DNACPR decision has been made.
One sticker should be visible close to the front door and one should be stuck on the fridge door
Use of the yellow form also in the bottle is optional but recommended.
In managing severe illness and cardiac arrest, ambulance crews will be guided by what the lilac form says.
The form will go to hospital with the patient, and hopefully return to the home when the patient does.
The latter may have some teething problems and GPs might have to complete another form where the first is lost.
The hope is that practices will soon be provided with an electronic version of the form, but this will have to be printed off on lilac paper, provided by PCTs
This is to enable crews to identify the form quickly in an emergency
Please let me know of your experiences.
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Details of RCGP Leadership Programme - 2010-2011 (18/05/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the email below and attached letter re the RCGP Leadership Programme 2010-2011.
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Please see attached information on the RCGP Leadership Programme for 2010-2011 which we hope you will find time to read.
If you would like further information or to talk to some please contact:
Julie Hargreaves
Executive Education Administrator
University of Exeter Business School
Email: Julie.Hargreaves@exeter.ac.uk
Daily Mail headline about OOH (14/05/10)
Some of you (hopefully not many) might be Daily Mail readers and welcome clarification of todays OOHs article
See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278236/GPs-told-provide-hours-care.html
The headline proclaims that GPs will have to take back OOH work. Laurence Buckman wanted LMCs to know that he received an unsolicited phone call from the new ministerial health team, the gist of which is as follows:
Andrew Lansley's adviser said that the headline in the Daily Mail today says that GPs will have to do OOH again. She says that the headline is incorrect, but the article is correct.
GPs will be expected to commission OOH but not have to do it themselves: GPs will not be the providers of last resort.
The ministerial health team is aware that the Mail is hostile to GPs and wanted to distance itself from this headline. They have already told the paper about headlines that mislead.
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Patients stranded abroad and in need of medication (20/04/10)
Some of your patients may be stranded abroad by the Volcano related air traffic embargo
Some may also need to restock their medication supplies
The following points may help you manage requests for help
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
GP trainees newsletter - Spring/Summer 2010 (14/04/10)
Dear All
Please note, for your and your GPs information, that the Spring/Summer 2010 edition of
the GPCs GP trainees subcommittee newsletter is now available.
The newsletter covers the following topics:
and can be accessed at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ni/representation/branch_committees/general_prac/gptraineesnews spring.jsp
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
GPC's Fit for the Future: The Evolution of General Practice
(14/04/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs
information, please see the GPCs 50-point plan for the future of general practice in the UK.
The plan and Executive Summary are available at: http://www.bma.org.uk/healthcare_policy/fitforfuture.jsp
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
General practice and community pharmacy guides (14/04/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the GPCs attached letter, re the latest General Practice and Community Pharmacy Guides.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Guidelines Briefing workshop on Cardiology (13/04/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the email below and attached details re the forthcoming Guidelines Briefing workshop on Cardiology.
Full details are available on our website www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Good morning Pauline, it was great to speak with you about our Guidelines Briefing workshop on Cardiology. As promised, here is more information for you to review and hopefully circulate on to GPs/surgeries in Bucks, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
We are running a Guidelines Briefing workshop on Cardiology for primary care in London on May 5th, and we are trying to ensure that all GPs are aware of it. Guidelines Briefings are organised by the publishers of Guidelines, Guidelines in Practice, and eGuidelines.co.uk, and are whole day educational events that update GPs on the latest clinical guidance in primary care.
Expert speakers will summarise the keys points for implementation, discuss case histories, and present the evidence behind the guidelines. Dr David Jenner (GP and NHS Alliance GMS contract/PBC Lead) will chair and facilitate the meetings. The Guidelines Briefing provides up to 6 hours of quality CPD, a certificate of attendance, worksheets to help GPs double their CPD credits from the day, and learning tools for practices.
The agenda covers:
NICE cardiology guidelines on:
* chest pain/discomfort of recent onset: significant new guidelines just published
* lipid modification
* chronic heart failure
* atrial fibrillation
Maximising cardiology QOF points
We are happy to arrange a 20% discount on attending Guidelines Briefings in Cardiology to LMC members - by following the link below to the registration site GPs will automatically receive a 20% discount off the standard delegate fee. For full details and to secure your place with a 20% discount, please visit: http://www.eguidelines.co.uk/briefings/?d=bG1 or call 01442 876100 and quote LMC001.
In addition, members of the LMC are also entitled to free registration for eGuidelines.co.uk, the online version of Guidelines and Guidelines in Practice, valued at 60+VAT.
I enclose a copy of our brochure which details the agenda, and costs.
Info Alert: Feb 09 - March 10 Information Roundup (01/04/10)
Dear All
Please find attached BBOLMCs latest bi-monthly Information Roundup - I would be grateful if you could please circulate it
within your practice and hope you, and your GPs, find it of interest and value.
Comments and suggestions for improvements and/or items for inclusion in future editions to pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk are very welcome.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Practices can write LMC conference motions (01/04/10)
The deadline for LMC sending motions for the LMC conference is 12.4.10
The table attached lists the motions that have already been sent by the 3 Thames Valley LMCs
(useful in deciding how to write one and seeing what has already been covered)
If there are any other issues you regard as problems please write a motion and send it to me
Paul Roblin
CEO of BBOLMC
Revised GPC/NHS Employers agreed H1N1 DES guidance
(01/04/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs
information, please see the BMAs email below giving a link to GPC/NHS Employers agreed revised H1N1 DES guidance.
The guidance is also available on our website at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Dear colleagues,
The GPC has agreed with NHS Employers a revision to the H1N1
DES guidance. This now provides specific details about the process for the calculation of the vaccination uptake figures, which in turn provides for the easement of the patient experience thresholds in the QOF. Pages 7-10 and 16 in the guidance provide the details for this process.
The guidance is available here: http://www.bma.org.uk/images/panflugpguidance_tcm41-191608.pdf
Best wishes,
Richard
Richard Stebbings
Senior Policy Executive
NHS GPs Division
GPC Guidance - The Extended Hours Access Scheme 2010
(25/03/10)
Dear All
Please find attached, for your and your GPs information, the GPCs The Extended Hours Access Scheme 2010- England Guidance for GPs.
The Guidance is also available on our website at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Latest BBOLMC Website Updates (19/03/10)
For your and your GPs information, please note that the following are all available on our website:
All ofthe above, and more, can be accessed at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
*NB: Our most recent Hot Topic and Information Alert emails can be accessed via the red Click for Latest Email Alert link on our Home Page - www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
DDRB 39th Report 2010 (12/03/10)
Dear All
Please find attached for your and your GPs information a letter from the GPC regarding the DDRBs 39th Report.
The letter isl also available on our website at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Urgent Update: GPC Focus on Tax Brackets Guidance (11/03/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs
information, please see the GPCs email below re the withdrawal of their Focus on Tax Brackets Guidance.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
To: LMCs
As
highlighted previously on the listserver, our advisers have confirmed that there is an error in the figures in the recently published Focus on Tax Brackets and other matters in the guidance also need to be reviewed. The guidance has therefore been withdrawn and should not be used.
Please
accept our apologies for this and any difficulty it may cause. We hope to be able to issue the corrected version of the guidance as soon as possible.
Gail
GPC
New GPC guidance on Summary Care Record (SCR) (09/03/10)
Please see: http://www.bma.org.uk/ethics/health_records/connecting_for_health/scrguidance.jsp
Paul Roblin
CEO of BBOLMC
The future of GP practice premises (09/03/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the attached GPC Guidance re the Future of Practices Premises.
The updated guidance examines the current state and future of the various primary care premises development options available and describes the premises provisions of the GMS contract. It incorporates guidance on the premises costs directions and on the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused - the Guidance is now attached.
The Guidance is also available on our website at:
http://www.bbolmc.co.uk/ftrpractprem0310.pdf
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Dr Roblin's 2009 Annual Report (03/03/10)
Dear All
Please find attached, for your and your GPs information, Dr Roblins latest (2009) Annual Report.
The Annual Report is also available via our website at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
GPC Guidance on SCR Feb 2010 (02/03/10)
Please see the attached GPC guidance on the Summary Care record (SCR) and Public Information Programmes (PIPs)
Berks and MK PCTs have been fast followers (see paragraph 3) and opted to use the DOH money by the end of March 2010.
Other PCTs will eventually have to do the same.
The second half of the document is probably the most relevant to you.
I dont think you need to know out of date information about which SHAs are early adopters.
Paul Roblin
BBOLMC
GP Trainees Conference 2010 (26/02/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs
information please see the email below, and attached flyer, re the BMAs 2010 GP Trainees Conference.
This information is also available on our website www.bbolmc.co.uk .
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Dear all,
I would be
grateful if you could circulate the attached flyer and below info to anyone who you think might be interested in attending the BMA's 2010 GP Trainees Conference
The BMAs 2010 GP Trainees Conference, Get Ahead: The Essential GP Trainee Skills Day will take place on Friday 16th April at BMA House. If you want to make the most of your training, prepare for life as a qualified GP, and network with colleagues from across the country, this is the event for you.
Members of our General Practitioners Committee (GPC) will share their experiences and advice on subjects such as finding a partnership and options for sessional and locum working. Dr Laurence Buckman, the current Chairman of GPC will introduce the day, and a representative from The Careers Group will give advice on how to best present your CV and succeed at interviews.
You can find out more on the BMA website at: http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/gpreg2010.jsp
Best wishes,
Faye
Faye Bunch
Executive Officer
NHS GPs Division
British Medical Association
Summary Care Record (SCR) and GP practices (26/02/10)
PCTs in Berks and Milton Keynes are taking advantage of a time limited government offer to fund their Public Information Programme costs for the Summary Care Record. I am sending this to all ThamesValley practices because it is likely that other PCTs will soon follow
Because of the rushed implementation, issues are cropping up regularly.
Workload for practices seems to have been underestimated. Please let me know the impact the initiative is having on you.
I am personally in favour of the SCR but feel ashamed of a national system that makes it difficult for patients to opt out and to exercise free choice.
Discovering how to opt out on the SCR website is difficult: the mechanism is somewhat hidden.
In the end I found a hyperlink entitled 'What happens if I choose not to have a summary care record (SCR)?' (PDF, 50Kb). The form is hidden at the end of this document.
LMC has discovered that any parent that calls the SCR line is told that they cannot opt out their children without first seeing their GP for assessment of child competence followed by Read coding of opt out intentions. This requirement does not appear in any of the SCR literature. Several Thames Valley GPs have already been on the receiving end of this both as GPs and parents
Some PCT letters are explicit that practices are responsible for coding new patients yet there seems to be a lack of information about how an Opt Out Form should be handled by practices.
My understanding of the electronic system is that at some time in the future a national computer will talk to each practice computer and only upload those records which do not contain an opt out code. Free text recording of patient opt out would by definition not be recognized. I dont believe any PCT has supplied such a code (which is a bit of an omission) so I have made enquiries and been told the appropriate one is 93C3.
Please note the poster and patient leaflet devised by London wide LMCs at
http://www.lmc.org.uk/news/news-detail.aspx?dsid=7118
I have obtained their permission for ThamesValley practices to use their documents.
Paul Roblin
CEO of BBOLMC
07799116597
DWP guide to GPs on fit notes (24/02/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see attached the Department for Work and Pensions - guide on the new fit notes.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Consolidated SFE (23/02/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see attached the BMAs Consolidated Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE).
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
GP trainees subcommittee e-bulletin, February 2010 (19/02/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the BMAs email below and the attached GP Trainees E-Bulletin Feb 10.
The Bulletin will also be available on our website after the weekend at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Dear colleague
Please see the attached GP trainees subcommittee newsletter.
This is also available on the BMA website.
We hope that you have found this edition of the GP Trainees subcommittee e-bulletin interesting and helpful.
Please do pass it on to anyone interested in GP trainee issues, and if you would like to be added to our mailing list please email fbunch@bma.org.uk.
Regards
Karen Day
Division Secretarial Assistant
NHS GPs Division
BMA Half-day Seminars: Making the Most of being a Salaried GP
(12/02/10)
Please find attached details of the BMAs half day Seminars re Making the Most of being a Salaried GP, to be held by between March and November this year, for circulation to your Salaried GPs. Many thanks.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
NHS Appraisal Toolkit - An Update (12/02/10)
Dear LMC secretrary / office
Following Laurence's update below,
this is to update you on the situation regarding the shutting down of the NHS appraisal toolkit. We are happy for you to pass this on to GPs in your area (in fact we would encourage this).
Following the telephone conversation between Laurence and Mike O' Brien, we have now written formally to the Department to ask them to write to all PCTs, advising them to be flexible in their use of appraisal deadlines for any GPs affected by the problem. We have also asked for any costs incurred by appraisers and appraisees to be met, as well as re-affirming the importance of the security of information uploaded on to the toolkit. We have not asked them to revise the three week shut down period, due to the importance of the security problem being resolved properly.
In case you missed it, the Department of Health released the attached statement regarding this situation. There is advice for GPs from the people who run the toolkit at its website at http://www.appraisals.nhs.uk, and in the attached document.
Other than that, the situation outlined in Laurence's e-mail remains. We will provide further updates as and when we get them.
Best Wishes
Joe Read
Senior Policy Executive
General Practitioners Committee
CRB checks & ISA (10/02/10)
A query over the ISA vetting and barring scheme and CRB checks has arisen in the ThamesValley and I thought my reply might be useful to all practices
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Answer:
See ISA and BMA websites and the attached GPC guidance
http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/ and http://www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/employmentcontracts/salaried_gps/vettba rringscheme.jsp
Query:
I have been asked to contact you
on behalf of local PMs, although everyone is likely to be affected.
We would all like to have clear, succinct guidelines as to which members of the team need which checks done by what date and by whom.
Over the
last few months practices
have been given different advice from different members of the PCT and TVPCA and it is quite clear there is no common understanding of what is required, some practices have requested CRB checks and some not for new employees, and some have employed agencies to CRB check all their current team including GPs!
The PCT feels it has exhausted all avenues and accepts we are generally none the wiser.
Has something been produced by either Oxfordshire or Berkshire, that we could adopt?
Or does a small team need to meet, agree a process and validate it.
NHS appraisal toolkit unusable for the next three weeks
(10/02/10)
Dear All
I was phoned about this at lunchtime today by the minister, Mike O'Brien.
The government today announced that they have identified a security problem with the NHS appraisal toolkit. As a result of this, the toolkit is to be shut down for three weeks, so that the suppliers can modify it to ensure security. Mike O'Brien, the health minister, was meant to make an announcement so we could alert all GPs but I am not certain he has announced it formally yet. This PDF has turned up however.
There are two clear aspects to this problem - data security and the appraisal itself. Taking these in turn:
Data Security
We have been unable to
ascertain exactly how long the security problem existed for before it was identified yesterday. However, we have no reason to believe that an actual security breach occurred - i.e. that anyone accessed data that they were not authorised to see on any doctor(s) using the toolkit. The government have assured us that steps will be taken to ensure the full security of doctors' data before the toolkit is re-launched.
It is expected that this will take about three weeks.
Appraisal
The shutting down of the toolkit will affect the
appraisal of any GP who uses the NHS appraisal toolkit, and whose appraisal is due to take place during the three week period (and possibly after). GPs who are unable to participate in their arranged appraisal due the toolkit being shut down should organise an alternative date for their appraisal. PCOs are being told about this tonight and are being told to be reasonable.
I know...
This situation may lead to some GPs being unable to meet
the normal deadline for the completion of their appraisal. We have urged the government to advise PCOs not to put unfair pressure on GPs who have not completed their appraisal before the deadline, through no fault of their own.
Additionally, we have stated to the government that any extra costs to appraisers and appraisees caused by this problem should be met in full.
We will provide further details on this issue as soon as we have them.
Laurence
Maximising your points for patient survey part of QOF (02/02/10)
I wrote to you some while ago about the failure of appeals against the patient survey part of QOF across the Thames Valley.
I talked then of it being a patient perception survey, and how practices needed to advertise clearly what they offered to patients.
The GPC has now developed leaflets and posters which may help you do this.
Copies of the poster and leaflet were sent to all GP practices on 14.1.10.
These can also be found at:
http://www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/independent_contractors/general_medical
_services_contract/yoursurgyoursay.jsp
The poster and leaflet explain what the practice is doing to offer patients the best possible access, and also explains how patients can give their views directly to the practice.
The poster also reminds patients of the importance of completing the Government's patient survey, and explains directly what many might not understand - that their practice's funding depends on their responses.
Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Dec 09 - Jan 10 Information Roundup (29/01/10)
Please find attached BBOLMCs latest bi-monthly Information Roundup - I would be grateful if you could please circulate it within your practice and hope you, and your GPs, find it of interest and value.
Comments and suggestions for improvements and/or items for inclusion in future editions to pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk are very welcome.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Latest BBOLMC Website Updates (28/01/10)
For your and your GPs information, please note that the following are all available on our website:
All of the above, and more, can be accessed at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
*NB: Our most recent Hot Topic and Information Alert emails can be accessed via the red ‘Click for Latest Email Alert link on our Home Page - www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
Sibutramine licence suspended (22/01/10)
Please note the information on the following URL
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=35&storycode=4124812&cid=sibutra mine_210110#
The obesity drug sibutramine has had its licence suspended by the European authorities due to concerns over an increased risk of cardiovascular events with the treatment.
'Prescribers are advised not to issue any new prescriptions for Reductil and to review the treatment of patients taking the drug.
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Updated GPC Disability Discrimination Act for GP premises Guidance
(08/01/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please find attached the GPCs updated Guidance :
Disability Discrimination Act: Physical adjustments to GP premises required under the Act
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
2010 Wyeth Flu Vaccine Deal (08/01/10)
Dear All
For your and your GPs
information, please note that full details of the LMCs 2010 Wyeth Flu Vaccine deal are now available on our website via the following link:
http://www.bbolmc.co.uk/discgrp/discgrp.html#index01
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
www.bbolmc.co.uk
What I have sent to the media about GP practices coping with the freezing weather (07/01/10)
Please see below (and attached) what I have sent to the local and national media about GP practices coping with the freezing weather
I think general practice and its staff can be justifiably proud of how it has responded
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
GP practices coping with the freezing weather
To: Local Radio/TV/Newspapers
Many of you have asked for examples of what GP practices have done to deliver patient services during
the freeze
I attach some responses to my survey of how practices are coping.
There are many examples of staff going the extra mile to help patients (literally!!)
GPs and staff battle to keep general practice open during adverse weather conditions
GP leaders in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have praised the effort of doctors and practice staff in the region for continuing to operate normal, or near normal, services for their patients, despite the extreme weather conditions. With parts of the region experiencing temperatures of -18C almost all practices have stayed open for their normal contracted hours, with staff and doctors making special effort to get in to work.
Dr Paul Roblin, from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Local Medical Committee,
which represents GPs locally, said:
Weve heard of doctors bringing sleeping bags to their practices and staying overnight, of GPs and nurses walking miles through snow and ice, of staff staying locally instead of going home and of
some bringing their children in with them so they could make sure their surgeries remained open.
There are probably many more examples of GPs and staff going the extra mile that were unaware of and we want to say we are extremely
proud of the efforts that have been made by those working in general practice to ensure patients are not let down.
To be on the safe side we would advise patients who have routine appointments to check with their practices before
setting out, just in case their surgery has had to amend their timetable.
Extended hours cover during extreme weather conditions
(07/01/10)
I have been asked the following question and my reply may help others who feel disinclined to operate extended hours during the freezing weather
Q Do you know where we stand with extended hours cover during extreme weather conditions - we have a clinic booked for this Saturday and sure half the patients wont turn up. Have not asked the PCT as sure thy will say we have to stay open.
A I would ask the PCT as their permission to cancel extended hours is part of the agreement you signed. If they do not use common sense in their response then please let LMC know.
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
LMC would like to advertise how GPs stayed open when many closed on 6.1.10 (07/01/10)
I support the request from one of our Thames Valley GPC reps below
As a counter to many
critical media stories about GPs, LMC would like to advertise how GPs stayed open when many closed on 6.1.10
(eg walk in centres, pharmacies, local social services)
Can you let me know if you provided a normal or near normal service on Wednesday 6.1.10?
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Paul
There has been a discussion on the GPC listserver about the bad press GPs always receive. Could you ask your office to conduct a quick straw poll of how many practices provided a full or near-full service today despite the snow?
The only thing we were unable to do was take blood, because there was no transport to take the samples to the hospital. Four out of five pharmacies in town are closed, but all GP practices are functioning.
Prit
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