EMail Alerts - Archive
Jul 08 - Dec 08
LMC Update (12/12/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
1 GP Trainees Subcommittee E-bulletin - December 2008
The latest GP Trainees Subcommittee e-bulletin is attached for your and your GPs’ information. The bulletin will also be available on our website on Monday at www.bbolmc.co.uk
2 Christmas & New Year Arrangements
Please note that the Secretariat Office will close at midday on Wednesday, 24 December 2008 and reopen at 8.00 am on Monday, 05 January 2009.
During the Office closure, Dr Roblin will be contactable in an emergency on 07799 116597.
Seasons greetings and best wishes for 2009 from all at the Secretariat
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
LMC Update (28/11/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS – PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
1 GPC Guidance Note ‘Focus on Dynamising Factor – November 2008
The GPC’s guidance note ‘Focus on Dynamising Factor – November 2008’ is attached for your information.
The guidance note has been produced by the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) and the BMA’s Pensions Department to help GPs and LMCs to understand the arrangements for the dynamising factor (DF), which is applied to GPs’ pensions. This has been updated in November 2008 following the BMA's success in the Judicial Review and the recalculation of the dynamising factors.
2 GP Employment Law Courses 2009
The Secretariat has received the following information from the BMA re their GP employment law courses 2009:
Following the successful launch of our programme of employment law courses for GP Partners in 2008, BMA Regional Services are pleased to announce the dates for our programme of courses in 2009. Running throughout the year in venues across England, these courses will help you to keep track of employment legislation, best practice and human resources issues.
Managing Change will include recruitment and selection, contracts of employment, terminating employment, and redundancy and will help you to handle change among staff fairly and consistently.
Managing Performance will help you to get the most from your staff and will include performance management, dealing with staff grievances, handling disciplinary matters and absence.
For further information about the courses, including registration fees, please visit our website at http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/gpemploymentlaw09
Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Reduced registration fees are available for BMA Members, to whom priority will be given. Practice Managers are also invited to attend and will pay the same registration fee as their GP Partner, depending on whether they are a Member or Non-Member of the BMA.
If you should have any questions about the courses or are unable to access the website, please contact BMA Conferences on 020 7383 6605/6923 or by email at confunit@bma.org.uk
3 Recent LMC Website Updates
Information recently added to our website includes:
All the above, and more, can be found at: www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
QOF Prevalence (26/11/08)
To All Thames Valley Practices
A calculator allowing practices to assess the approximate financial impact of losing the Square root prevalence adjustment in 2009/10 and then the 5% cut off protection in 2010/11 is now available at http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/QOFPrevalence
Could practices enter their own data into it
and let me know the answers to the following questions
1. Practice list size
2. Income loss or gain
following the removal of the square root and the 5% buffer ie two figures
I would like to use the results supplied to approach PCTs with information on the size of problem some practices might face, and start to negotiate what income streams might be available to maintain income (recognizing also the need to be treat all practices fairly)Â
Early discussions suggest the student and young family workload is especially in the area of mental and sexual health.
Any ideas about a LES or local QoF?
Paul Roblin
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
Fax: 01628 487142
LMC dissemination of important information (25/11/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS
Dear All
The Secretariat disseminates the
following information to the nominated contact person in each ThamesValley practice:
Please ensure that you continue to
circulate this information amongst your partners and practice employees so that they are kept abreast of important developments.
Thank you for your help.
With best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
QOF Income Calculator (Prevalence changes) (21/11/08)
TO ALL THAMESVALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Please note a QOF Income Calculator (Prevalence changes) is now available on the BMA website
This allows individual practices to assess the impact on their future income of changes to the way QMAS handles Disease Prevalence.
PCTs might like to use it to identify which of their practices will be more affected by the change.
See http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/QOFPrevalence
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
Notice of changes to cremation forms and processes (17/11/08)
To all Thames Valley Practices
Please note the changes to cremation forms and processes detailed below
Changes to Cremation Regulations
The Ministry of Justice Coroners Unit has sent information
on the new cremation regulations which will be coming into effect on 1 January 2009.
The new regulations are available to download on
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20082841_en.pdf
The main policy changes to the regulations are that they now allow bereaved families to inspect the medical forms of a deceased family member before cremation takes place. Families will also be able to draw the medical referee's attention to any concerns about unexpected symptoms or discrepancies in the case.
There have been some changes to the forms, most notably cremation forms B and C (which two separate medical practitioners have to complete) are now called cremation forms 4 and 5.
The new versions can be found on pages 26-26 of the Regulation above
Whilst the Regulations are expected to come into force in January 2009, they are an interim measure and will precede longer-term Department of Health plans to create the role of a Medical Examiner, who will deal with all deaths.
Paul Roblin
Chief Executive
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
Fax: 01628 487142
Notice of BMA Business Support with hyperlinks to BMA website documents (17/11/08)
To all Thames Valley Practices
Please note the help
available on the BMA website for entrepreneurial GPs and GP collaboratives
Details and hyperlinks are given below under the heading BMA Business Support
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
BMA Business Support
BMA BusinessSupport offers members a one-stop-shop for specialist business services. The expert information, guidance tools, networking seminars and training workshops we provide will help you gain the business acumen you need to compete and survive in a changing health service.
Reforms in primary and secondary provision are presenting GPs and hospital consultants with new ways of delivering health services to patients. BMA BusinessSupport can guide you through the new ways of working in the NHS and help you develop the business skills you will need:
Whether you are simply looking for further information or you have already decided to kick start the process, as a BMA member, you have exclusive access to a wide range of Business Support services.
In developing this service, the BMA is not making any political statement about the merits of any particular system of provision or endorsing any specific government policies, however, the BMA is recognising that in order to survive in this increasingly competitive environment, doctors are having to become more business savvy. If you don’t know where to start, BMA BusinessSupport can help you.
Follow the lint to access the information on the website. http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/HubBMABusinessSupport?OpenDocument&Highlig ht=2,business,support
Members can log in to access and download these guides online or order print copies from our advisers 0870 60 60 828.
Top up Flu vaccines are available from Novartis (11/11/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICES
Top up Flu vaccines are available from Novartis for £1.99 per dose.
Details and order form attached and will also be available shortly via our website: www.bbolmc.co.uk
Paul Roblin
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
GPC Guidance Focus on how your practice is funded (07/11/08)
TO ALLTHAMESVALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
Please find attached, for your and your GPs’ information, the GPC latest guidance “Focus on how your practice is funded”.
The Guidance will also be available on our website shortly at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
List Server for Practice Managers (07/11/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICES - LIST SERVER FOR PRACTICE MANAGERS
The Secretariat is pleased to report that there has recently been an increase in postings on our practice managers’ list server, which makes it more relevant and worthwhile for practice managers to join it.
Below please find the original information that was circulated on the launch of the list server earlier this year.
Launch of a New LMC Resource for Practice Managers
The Secretariat is pleased to announce its provision of a new email resource primarily intended for practice managers. Â
Our new bbopractmgrs list server is being established to facilitate practice managers sharing experiences and problems and seeking advice across the whole of the Thames Valley region.
To sign up to the new list server,
for which there will be no charge, please email me giving details of your name, position, practice and preferred email address at:
pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Correction to GP funding formula 2009/10 (28/10/08)
To all TV practices and website
Please note the error in the original letter sent to you all by the GPC
See the red text below
On Tuesday 14 October announcements were made regarding agreements made with NHS Employers regarding a ratio formula for distribution of the DDRB recommendations for 2009/10, the changes to QOF and prevalence within the QOF.
All GPs have been notified of the position via a letter from GPC Chairman, Laurence Buckman:
It has come to light that there is some inconsistency in terminology in the letter to the profession and within the accompanying letter of agreement regarding the ratio formula. The factor in the formula which has been allocated two-nineteenths should be described throughout as global sum plus correction factor.
The correct version can be found at www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/gmsconletter14Oct2008
The table on page now reads as below:
The ratio that has been agreed is as follows:
Global sum 7
Global sum plus correction factor 2 (this was written as “Correction Factor 2”)
QOF 5
Enhanced services 5
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Explanation of Pension Dynamisation Corrections (27/10/08)
To All Thames Valley Practices
Explanation of Pension Dynamisation Corrections
The actual rise in GP profits for the 3 years 2003/04 to 2005/06 was 52%, resulting in a dynamisation factor (DF) of 1.52.
Before the successful judicial review, ministers had wanted to replace dynamisation of 1.52 over 3 years with an imposed 1.48 over 5 years (03/04 to 07/08)
Before the final 1.52 was calculated from average national GP profits, pensions, lump sums and pesnion pots had been uplifted by an interim 1.295 (29.5%)
A correction will now have to be made and backpayments made to those already retired, to bring the interim 1.295 uplift to the real 1.52.
Pension pots for those not retired will be similarly adjusted.
The DF for the 2 years 06/07 and 07/08 is 1 (most GP profits dropped).
After the 5 years 03/04 to 07/08 (ie from 08/09), dynamisation will be RPI + 1.5%Â
Since April 2008 many GPs are now paying 21.5% or 22.5 % pension contributions. Although the rise from 20% may have come as shock, the BMA pension department believes the NHS pension for GPs is difficult to beat and pensions for higher earners are still being subsidised within the NHS scheme.
For pension system explanations by BBOLMC
See http://www.bbolmc.co.uk/news1006.pdf and http://www.bbolmc.co.uk/news0107.pdf
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
Update (28/09/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS – PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
1 Updated GPC ‘Focus on extended access’ Guidance
The updated GPC guidance note ‘Focus on extended access’ is attached.
This new version will be on the BMA website shortly at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Hubmanagingyourpractice
2 Sessional GPs Summer Newsletter
The GPC have produced a Summer Newsletter for Sessional GPs. The aim of the Newsletter is to keep Sessional GPs up to date with the wide range of new and ongoing issues affecting salaried GPs and locum GPs (known collectively as Sessional GPs), as well as the hard work the GPC's Sessional GPs subcommittee undertakes behind the scenes on behalf of the Sessional GPs. The Summer edition of the Newsletter includes updates on the work being carried out on the changing climate for GPs, salaried GP pay, the flu pandemic and smart cards.
GPC have requested that the Newsletter – which is attached and is also available on our website at www.bbolmc.co.uk - be distributed as widely as possible.
3 GPC September 2008 News
The latest GPC News – M2 September 2008 – is attached.
NB: The updated guidance note, plus the GPC News and Appendices, will also be available on our website Monday at www.bbolmc.co.uk
4 BMA Business Networking Seminars
Please find below details received from the BMA re forthcoming Business Networking Seminars:
“If you are new to the world of business and you would like to get a feel for what opportunities and
challenges are ahead of you in a changing health service, the BMA’s business networking seminars are for you. These seminars are ideal for GPs, consultants and practice managers.
Our expert business speakers will give you plenty of food
for thought and you will also have the opportunity to network with like-minded doctors.
Cost:
£30+VAT, BMA members (50% discount)
£60 + VAT, non-members (or join today and get 50% off the standard event rate)
Date: 2 October 2008
Time: 16:00 start – 18:00 finish
Location: Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
Date: 7 October 2008
Time: 16:00 start – 18:00 finish
Location: BMA House, London.”
For more information and to book online, visit http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/BusinessSupportnetworkingeminars
5 Recent Website Updates
Information recently added to our website includes:
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
DES Guidance (09/09/08)
To all ThamesValley practices
The DOH has announced details of the 5 new DESs
See attachment or http://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/primary-893.cfm (right hand side under publications)
The DESs are listed below:
All are likely to be offered from 1.10.08 when the national DDRB/MPIG consultation ends
Laurence Buckman’s comment to LMC secretaries over the weekend was:
“I am not especially
proud of these DESs as they would have been in the pre-November 2007 QOF and better for it. They are not well funded and the guidance has come out 6 months late because of our legal fight over the 2008 DDRB recommendations. All I can say is that they are here and it is up to practices in England to decide if they like them. Other nations have their own DESs and I hope they fare better than England” Â
I have written to all TV Social Services and PCTs about the Learning Disability DES which requires
Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC
07799116597 or 01628 475727
NovaChannelAG and others (15/08/08)
TO ALLTHAMESVALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
For your and your GPs information, please see the email below from GPC re NovaChannelAG and others.
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
-----Original Message-----
From: GPC Local Medical Committees discussion list
Subject:
NovaChannelAG and others
We have received a number of letters
and emails recently in relation to the above company, which seems to have been sending communications to UK practices about their publication 'Physicians and Therapists Guide'. We believe there are other similar companies offering the same sort of thing. The NovaAG letter states:
'Please return this form in the enclosed business reply envelope, by doing so even you will be helping to keep the Medical Directory up to date'.
In the small print at the bottom of the form, it makes clear that
in returning the form you are signing up to pay for what is essentially an advertisement in this publication.
 Some practices have returned the form without noticing this, and have subsequently been invoiced for the cost (which is several hundred pounds).  When practices have tried to get out of this, the company has insisted that they have made a legal commitment and are obliged to pay.
Our legal advice is that, unfortunately, there is not much that can be done in this
situation. Â The small print does clearly state the position, and the legal view is that there is a binding contract. Â The company is based in Switzerland, and therefore both it and the contract is the subject of Swiss law. Â While our legal advice does not cover the law outside the UK, we believe there is a similar system for debt recovery there and it seems likely that this company will pursue it. Â We have advised members that the Swiss embassy, or the Law Society, may be able to offer more specific advice on the systems in place in Switzerland.
We are
asking LMCs to alert practices to this, so that they can be aware if they receive these letters what exactly is involved. Â For anyone who has already signed such a form, they must ensure that they cancel the contract formally so that it does not roll over for a further twelve months.
Many thanks
Contacts at the LMC (01/08/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - please circulate
Dear All
Unfortunately Jane Solomon, who as
you may be aware has been on long term sick leave for some months, has now left the Secretariat.
Other members of the staff team remain available to help with any queries/problems you may have and can be contacted by phone on 01628 475727 or as follows:
Paul Roblin: paul.roblin@bbolmc.co.uk
or mobile 07799 116597
Pauline Green: pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk
or mobile 07801 745626
Michelle Brownlie: michelle.brownlie@bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Prison Health Conference: ”Prison health: A Time for change”
(27/07/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
Prison Health Conference: ”Prison health: A Time for change”
As you may be aware there are significant changes taking place in prison health due to the transfer of prison health from HM Prison Service to primary care. This has implications for the delivery of service, funding, revalidation, training and accountability.
The above conference will be held at BMA House on Tuesday, 09 September 2008. It is hoped that it will be a key event for doctors working in prison healthcare. The purpose of the conference is to engage in a debate on the delivery of prison health policies as these affect you and your establishment. It is hoped that some of the main players in the formulation and review of these policies will be able to join the debate. The emphasis as in previous conferences will be on developing a learning experience for both the audience and the speakers.
The programme for the event is being finalised at present but please register your interest for the conference by contacting Sophie Armitage at sarmitage@bma.org.uk following which you will be forwarded the programme and booking form as soon as they are available. The conference will be available to members of the BMA at no charge, and to non-members at a charge of £25 (including VAT) to cover administration costs, lunch and refreshments. Please note that the BMA cannot meet travel, subsistence or accommodation costs.Â
Website Change
Our website has recently been extended to include a ”Hot Topics” section. The section can be accessed from our home page at www.bbolmc.co.uk and contains all the hot topic alert/information emails that are sent to practice contacts across our 3 counties.
Other information recently added to our website includes:
All the above, and more, can be accessed at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Briefing from the DH regarding childhood imms vaccine problems
(07/07/08)
To All ThamesValley practices
From Paul Roblin
Chief Executive, Berks, Bucks, and Oxon LMC
07799116597
For contact details see http://www.bbolmc.co.uk/contact/contact.html Â
Dear LMC Secretary
As
you will know we recently raised some questions with the DH about the childhood imms vaccine shortages. Please find attached a briefing paper they have sent us to cascade to LMCs.
Thank you.
Shona Blass
Senior Policy Executive
BMA GP Trainees Subcommittee Newsletter - Summer 2008
(04/07/08)
TO ALL THAMES VALLEY PRACTICE CONTACTS - PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear All
The latest GP Trainees subcommittee newsletter is attached - please circulate this to your GP trainers and GP Registrars. Thank you.
Should you encounter any difficulties in accessing the document, please note that it should also be available on our website by the end of today at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Latest Website Updates
The following items have been added to our website recently:
All the above, and more, can be accessed at www.bbolmc.co.uk
Any suggestions for additions or improvements to our website to pauline.green@bbolmc.co.uk are very welcome.
Best wishes
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs
Tel: 01628 475727
Movianto undersupplying practices with childhood vaccine stock
(03/07/08)
To all Berks & Bucks practices
I believe many practices are having difficulty getting adequate amounts of childhood vaccines.
Oxfordshire PCT has sent this out to all its practices, but I believe all Thames Valley practices would benefit from the advice it contains (see red text)
Paul Roblin
Chief Executive Berks, Bucks and Oxon LMC
07799116597
For contact details seehttp://www.bbolmc.co.uk/contact/contact.html
Dear all,
Sorry about the confusion but I afraid the DH have not informed the PCT either of the situation regarding the primary and pre-school booster vaccines. I spoke to the DH this morning and they told me they would send an update later today (I am still waiting).
They did tell me that practices who have been allocated insufficient doses
should:
1. E-mail vaccine.supply@dh.gsi.gov.uk stating their Movianto account number, how many doses they were allocated for the fortnight and how many doses they will need per fortnight.
2. I have attached an excel sheet which if you complete can be send directly to the e-mail address. Apparently they are 2 days behind in responding to their e-mails. This is being entered on a spreadsheet which is sent up to Movianto daily (happens at 3 pm each day). Movianto will then allocate the required number of doses with the next scheduled delivery. Have been told practices should get what they request. In the meantime I would recommend giving vaccines on a first come first serve basis.
Hope things get back to normal soon <<...>>
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