EMail Alerts - Archive

Jul 10 - Dec 10

 

CMO letter re expansion list of patients potentially eligible for Flu antivirals                                                                                       (22/12/10)  

The attached letter came in a CAS alert today.

Please note especially the text below.

Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

Second paragraph
General practitioners (and other prescribers) to exercise their clinical discretion so that any patient who their GP feels is at serious risk of developing complications from influenza may receive oseltamivir  and zanamivir on the NHS.

Fourth paragraph
Prescribers are reminded to endorse all prescriptions  for flu treatment with the reference SLS.

 

BMA GP Employment Law Courses 2011                           (16/12/10)  

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the BMA’s email below re their 2011 Employment Law courses for GP Partners and Practice Managers.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

Managing Staff, Managing Performance,  Managing Change
Employment Law courses for GP Partners and Practice Managers

New course dates for our three popular one-day seminars on Managing Change, Managing Performance  and Managing Staff are now available on the BMA website. These courses are  suitable for GP Partners and Practice Managers and cover the essentials of  employment law, giving you an understanding of the principles of employment  legislation and practical management of people issues. Helping you to ensure a good working environment, handle change fairly and consistently and get the most  out of your team by effective management, these courses offer an invaluable  introduction to the key issues that you need to be aware of as an  employer.

Courses are available throughout the year, and reduced registration fees are available for BMA Members and their Practice Managers.

Don't miss out - book your place today.

http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/employment_related_courses/gplaw11.jsp

Please share this information with colleagues, and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the courses on offer or need any further  information.

Kind regards
Caroline Eason
Deputy Head of Conference Unit

 

Current LMC Vacancies                                                             (14/12/10) 

I would be very grateful if you could please distribute the information below to all the GPs in your practice. Many thanks. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

YOUR LMC NEEDS YOU
Come and join us!

We are looking for LMC representatives to fill vacancies in the following  areas: 

County

Constituency

No of Vacancies

Berkshire:

Newbury

0

 

Reading

2

 

Wokingham

1

 

Windsor Ascot & Maidenhead

3

BracknellForest

0

 

Slough

1

 

Buckinghamshire:

Milton Keynes

3

Vale of  Aylesbury

1

 

Chiltern & South Bucks

1

Wycombe

1

 

 

Oxfordshire:

Cherwell Vale

1

 

North East Oxfordshire

0

 

OxfordCity

0

South West Oxfordshire

2

 

South East Oxfordshire

0

WHY BECOME AN LMC  REP?

  • Personal involvement in shaping the local  NHS.
  • Constant exposure to how the NHS works, so you can make it work for you.
  • The thrill of problem  solving.
  • Playing a bigger part in the GP  community.
  • Early warning of initiatives that might affect you.

Self nominations to paul.roblin@bbolmc.co.uk are invited.

 

BMA course: Developing your skills as an Expert Witness - Civil Procedures                                                                                   (14/12/10) 

I would be grateful if you could please circulate the information below re the BMA’s forthcoming  “Developing your skills as an Expert Witness - Civil Procedures” 2-day course to be held on 1st and 2nd March 2011 all the GPs in your  practice. Many thanks.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

Developing your skills as an Expert Witness: Civil Procedures Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March 2011 BMA House, London

Would you like to improve your skills as an expert witness?  Our intensive two-day course is designed to support you in the challenging role of expert witness: giving you a solid awareness of procedures and courtroom etiquette to increase your confidence, the course will help you to polish your reports and courtroom appearances.

The first day will ensure that your knowledge of your role and responsibilities as an expert witness is up to date, before focusing on written skills, including ensuring that your reports are objective, reasoned and well-presented. The second day will focus on courtroom skills, including procedures for giving evidence, preparation and practice and constructive feedback.  

Led by Kate Hill, an Associate Partner in the Healthcare team at RadcliffesLeBrasseur, the course will be limited to a maximum of twelve participants, ensuring that you have the opportunity to gain detailed feedback and tips for improvement.  

For full details, including the course programme and details of the reduced registration fees for BMA members visit our webpage - http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/employment_related_courses/ewcp10.jsp  

If you have any further queries, please contact BMA Conferences on 020 7383 6422 or confunit@bma.org.uk

 

BMA Conference for Sessional GPs                                     (10/12/10) 

Please can you circulate the information below re a forthcoming BMA one-day educational conference entitled “Sessional GPs: Your pathway to success” to all the Sessional GPs in your practice? Many thanks.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs 

Be sure book yourself a place on the BMA's one-day educational conference "Sessional GPs: Your pathway to success".  This important event takes place on Friday 11 March 2011 at BMA House in London.  

We will provide you with expert advice, support and information on key issues affecting your career as a sessional GP as well as offering the opportunity to network with colleagues and discuss shared issues and concerns.  Key themes will be:  

  • How to develop your career as a salaried or locum GP
  • How to meet the challenges of appraisal and revalidation
  • The different issues to consider when setting up and working as a locum GP
  • The impact of the NHS reform White Paper on sessional GPs, and the opportunities it provides
  • Employment rights for sessional GPs
  • How to get access to professional support, and the differing roles of organisations that provide this
  • Representation of sessional GPs

Reduced registration fees are available to BMA members.  Get full details, the conference programme and book your place online today.

Please contact BMA Conferences on 020 7383 6137/6923 or at confunit@bma.org.uk if you have any further queries.

 

Latest Information Roundup                                                   (08/12/10)  

Please find attached BBOLMC’s latest  bi-monthly Information Roundup. I would be grateful if you could please  circulate it within your practice and hope that you, and your GPs, find it of  interest and value. Many thanks.

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

 

The Secretariat's Christmas & New Year Office Arrangements  
                                                                                                         (07/12/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information, please find below details of The Secretariat’s Christmas and New Year office arrangements 

24 December 2010 - closed from 12 noon
29 December 2010 – 31 December 2010 closed
04 January 2011 onwards - normal office hours (8.00 am – 4.30 pm)  

NB: When the Office is closed Dr Roblin will be available in an emergency on 07799 116597.

Seasons Greetings from all at The Secretariat

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager

 

An Information Revolution and Greater choice and control engagement event invitation                                               (01/12/10)  

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the letter below from South Central  Strategic Health Authority re “Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution and Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control engagement event, Friday 10  December 2010” and the attached registration form.

NB:  The 26 November 2010 deadline mentioned in the letter has been extended to  3rd December 2010. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

Dear colleague
Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution and Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control engagement event, Friday 10 December 2010 

I would like to invite you to a South Central  engagement event on Friday 10 December to discuss the “Liberating the NHS: An  Information Revolution” and “Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control”  consultation papers.

Launched on 18 October 2010, the two papers  explore in further detail proposals highlighted in the NHS White Paper, “Equity  and excellence: Liberating the NHS”, which set out a commitment to seek the views for people to have more information and control and greater choice about their care.

The event will be hosted by South Central  Strategic Health Authority and will provide an ideal opportunity to find out  more about the vision, commitments and implications of the two papers and what  these mean for you in the workplace. To set the scene and help support  discussions, we will be joined by two key speakers from the Department of Health, Kathy Mason, Director of Strategy and Planning (Informatics) and Androulla Michael, Choice Policy Team, System Management and New Enterprise.

Please note that you have the opportunity to attend either a morning or afternoon event, dependent on which is easier for you to travel to.

Morning  event
The morning event will be held at The Centre in Slough and will start with registration at 9.30am,  finishing promptly at 11.30am. This venue is situated at Farnham Road, Slough, SL1  4UT, near to the M4 and Slough train station.

Afternoon  event
The afternoon event will be held at The Wessex Conference  Centre and will start with registration at 2.30pm, finishing promptly at  4.30pm. This venue is situated at SparsholtCollege, Sparsholt, Winchester, SO21  2NF, near to the M3 and about eight miles from Winchester train station. 

Both venues have free onsite parking and tea and coffee will be available upon arrival. 

To confirm your attendance, please complete  the attached registration form, which should be returned via email to informationandchoice@southcentral.nhs.uk by Friday 26 November. If you have any questions regarding this event or would  prefer to register by phone, please call the Events team at South Central  Strategic Health Authority, on 01635 275543.

We look forward to welcoming you on Friday 10  December and hearing your views on the questions and proposals in the consultation documents.

 

Sanofi Pasteur Flu vaccine prices for 2011/12                   (30/11/10)  

Please note that Sanofi Pasteur has  notified BBOLMC of its prices for Flu vaccines for  2011/12 

The pricing structure  is

Product

NHS List Price

Cost to  practice

Inactivated Flu  Vaccine

Ł6.59

Ł3.30

Intanza

Ł9.05

Ł5.76

Sanofi Pasteur calculate that the  difference between the cost to the practice and reimbursement is Ł6.07

Practices may like to check this using the BBOLMC calculator on www.bbolmc.co.uk  

Interested practices can contact Ping Low on 07976 543412

As part of the offer practices will  receive the following benefits

  • Up to 10% sale or  return
  • Extended credit
  • Top up doses
  • Flu Clinic materials

Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC 

 

Information from GPC about new set of Pharmaceutical Services Regulations                                                                                   (23/11/10) 

We have been working with the Department of Health, NHS Employers and PSNC on the drafting of a new set of NHS Pharmaceutical Services Regulations, which will be introduced in spring 2011.  

As far as GPs and LMCs are concerned, these will preserve the existing rules around dispensing doctors. In the course of the work, and in relation to the current round of Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments (PNAs) which PCTs should now be drafting and consulting on, we have considered the issue of historic rights to dispense by GPs. We have agreed joint explanatory guidance which can be found at the links below. The second refers to the Clothier Report of 1977 (the old GMSC had representatives on the committee which drafted the report) which gave rise to many of the issues which were finally resolved in the 2005 Pharmaceutical Services Regulations.

If anybody has any questions about this guidance, or the work we are doing on the 2011 regulations, please contact Matt Isom on misom@bma.org.uk  

Rurality, controlled localities and the provision of pharmaceutical services by doctors - an explanation of the history can be found online.
http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/rurality-controlled-localities-and-the-provision-of-pharmaceutical-servi ces-by-doctors

The Clothier report can be found online.
http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/the-clothier-report  

Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

 

GPC Guidance - The form and structure of GP-led commissioning consortia                                                                                     (11/11/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the attached Guidance “The form and structure of GP-led  commissioning Consortia - GPC Guide to the NHS White  Paper”.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

 

Training & Buying Services                                                     (09/11/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information please see the email below, and attached documents, re training and  buying services provided by the Surgery Network for Practices Ltd.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

We have had some interest recently from surgeries in Hungerford and Newbury and we wondered whether some of our training sessions might be of general interest to practices within striking distance of Swindon, Trowbridge or Devizes where we base many of our courses. We’re a subscription based not-for-profit with 62 surgery members in  Wiltshire and Swindon and we’ve been operating for 3 years, endorsed by Wessex LMCs.  Average subscription is around Ł175 per  annum. We provide non-clinical as well as some clinical training for Practice  Nurses, and run an NVQL3 in Health & Social Care (transferring to QCFs next  year) for Healthcare Assistants. We also act as a Buying Group, negotiating for  seasonal flu and providing other buying group services (Hygiene Waste Management, Portable Appliance Testing, Pension Advice & Support from  Fairway Training, Asbestos Surveys, some pharmaceutical and medical equipment deals and an online office supplies catalogue with Accord of Swindon).

I’m attaching our current calendars which includes a Staff Development Programme for Senior Staff. Our website is www.snfp.org.uk and calendars can also be downloaded from the website (nb calendars are  currently being updated). Our non-clinical Training Calendar includes Medical Terminology, Understanding Prescription Medicine, Understanding Diagnostic Tests as well as a range of staff induction workshops.

If you require further information, let me know.
Look forward to hearing from you. 

Viv
On behalf of
Surgery  Network for Practices Ltd

 

Latest BBOLMC Website Updates                                         (29/10/10)  

  • Please note, for your and your GPs’ information, that the following are all available on our website: 
  • Latest Secretariat Hot Topic and Information Alert emails to practices*.
  • BBOLMC’s latest Information Round Up.
  • Draft Minutes of the most recent Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire County LMCs and LRC/PCT Liaison meetings.
  • Latest job vacancies across the 3 counties.
  • GPC News - October 10
  • Flu Vaccines Discount Scheme 2011
  • Dispensing Doctors’ Feescale England & Wales from 01 October 2010
  • LMC Medical Director takes up post.

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 Aler” link on our Home Page - www.bbolmc.co.uk

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

 

Social Enterprise –  Driving innovative health and social care now and in the future                                                                         (29/10/10)  

Social Enterprise –  Driving innovative health and social care now and in the future, Wednesday 10th November at the Victory Services Club, London. 

This motivational, informative event is open to anyone interested in new and emerging social enterprise in the health and social care sector.   

The event is now two thirds full and we expect the event to be fully booked. Attendees can expect a broad range of motivational presentations, including hearing directly from successful health and social care social enterprises, the Department of Health and first and second wave national "Right to request" adopters. Interactive sessions and seminars throughout the day will provide opportunities for attendees to learn from and network with leading experts in the social enterprise field. 

To view the full programme and secure your place please visit: www.pcc.nhs.uk/events/all/1889 or alternatively call 0113 3984052 for further information. 

We have some sponsorship opportunities remaining, to get involved please contact Ria Bunce, event & operations manager at ria.bunce@pcc.nhs.uk or 0113 398 4032

 

Update on Appraisal Toolkit after 31 October                     (27/10/10) 

Please see attached pdf letter from Gavin Larner, Director of Professional Standards at  DOH

The text of this is  also copied in the box below.

Dr Paul  Roblin
CEO  BBOLMC

NHS APPRAISAL  TOOLKIT (ATK)

I wrote to you on  23 July advising that the contract between the Department and SCHIN for the  provision of the ATK will expire on 31 October 2010. As we approach the expiry  date, I am writing to update you on the ongoing and future arrangements.

Discussions have been continuing with SCHIN in order to agree how to facilitate the contract expiry while providing continuity for doctors.

The  agreement we have reached is as follows.

  • SCHIN will be able to continue to  make the ATK available until 31 March 2012 and we understand that this is their intention.
  • Doctors who wish to download their forms and uploaded documents from the ATK will be able to do so free of charge up to and beyond 31 October and for as long as the ATK is available.
  • The underlying blank forms used in the ATK will be available in MS Word format for use by any doctors who do not  wish to continue with the ATK or other electronic appraisal systems, to exchange with their appraisers via secure electronic  communication. 

For those  individual doctors who wish to use the ATK for their appraisals from November 2010 onwards, SCHIN has confirmed that there will be an associated subscription  cost. The details can be viewed at the ATK website. http://www.appraisals.nhs.uk/funding.html 

Individuals who do not subscribe to the ATK from November 2010 will be able to download their  appraisal forms and uploaded documents free of charge at anytime that the ATK is  available. Individuals who choose this option are also advised to discuss with SCHIN the transfer of their data to other systems if that is their intention.  They may also wish to instruct SCHIN to delete their records from the system once they have retrieved their documentation.

Detailed instructions will be available on the ATK website from 1 November 2010 at the  following address: https://www.appraisals.nhs.uk/. 

We are aware that  a number of PCTs have reached agreements with providers of electronic appraisal  systems to enable these to be used by GPs in their area. Other NHS organisations  and individual doctors may wish to consider the various electronic appraisal  systems available and dependent on local need enter into discussions with SCHIN  or alternative providers.

As referred to above, SCHIN has made available to the Department blank templates of the forms that appear on the ATK, in MS Word format. These have been attached to this communication. I would be grateful if you could make them available, as  appropriate, to any of your doctors that request them, to use in a secure  way.

We believe that these arrangements should enable doctors to access their data and continue with their annual appraisals with the minimum of disruption and we  would be grateful if you could help us to communicate these arrangements as widely as possible.

If there are any further queries for DH relating to the ATK then please do contact  the Business Management Team at the Department
(email:atkvalidation@dh.gsi.gov.uk ).

This notification  and attached templates can also be found on the NHS Revalidation Support Team website at http://www.revalidationsupport.nhs.uk/

 

Clinical waste pre-acceptance audits: GPC news this weekend
                                                                                                         (19/10/10) 

There has been some confusion over the responsibilities of practices in completing Clinical waste pre-acceptance audits

Here is what the GPC told me this weekend

Dr Paul  Roblin
CEO  BBOLMC

Clinical waste pre-acceptance audits

As you will be aware, we contacted the Environment Agency (EA) for clarification following the confusion about whether or not GP  practices had to fill in Clinical Waste pre-acceptance audits by 1 October 2010. The confusion appears to have stemmed from the fact that there are two main disposal routes for clinical waste - incineration and treatment (disinfection),  and the deadline of 1 October only referred to those using treatment facilities rather than incineration.

Following this update, the EA has been in further  discussions with the waste collection trade associations and it has been decided that an interim additional six month period has been agreed for undertaking  pre-acceptance audits for General Practices to enable their discussions with the industry to continue. These discussions are likely to produce a revised  timescale for implementation which will be shared with us once it is finalised.  

Therefore, the previous deadline of 1 October to fill in the pre-acceptance audits for those using alternative treatment facilities no  longer applies, and practices will have until 1 April 2011 to fill the audit in. This also gives us additional time to finalise the self-audit tool with  the assistance of the EA, which will be sent to LMCs to pass on to practices when finalised

 

Latest Information Roundup                                                   (14/10/10) 

Please find attached BBOLMC’s latest  bi-monthly Information Roundup. I would be grateful if you could please  circulate it within your practice and hope that you, and your GPs, find it of  interest and value. Many thanks.

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

 

Novartis has flu vaccines for sale                                         (13/10/10) 

Novartis contacted LMC today about vaccines they still have for sale to practices

They can be contacted at 08457 451500

Their main extra stock is Agrippal at Ł4.51 ex vat, but they also have some Fluvirin at the same price 

Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

 

Surrey and Sussex LMCs - Medical Director Post             (06/10/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the email below from Surrey & Sussex LMCs and the attached advert for a part time LMC Medical Director. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

From Dr Julius Parker

Dear Paul

Would you be kind enough to re-circulate this advertisement to all your practices; I want to ensure a transparent process in  which all local GPs have the same opportunity to apply for this post as I can now anticipate moving towards an interview.

Many thanks
Julius

Sent by:
Liz Perry
Executive Assistant
Surrey & Sussex LMCs

 

Formal BMA response to the White Paper                           (01/10/10) 

Please note the formal BMA response to the White paper (attached and at hyperlink  below)

LMC believes that practices need to  understand the proposed changes and the GP role in forming and managing GP  Consortia.

However limited your eventual role in the successor organisations to PCTs, you all need to be involved now in the current planning and decision making.

I therefore hope you will spend time reading what the BMA has to say.  

http://www.bma.org.uk/healthcare_policy/nhs_white_paper/index.jsp  

Paul Roblin
BBBOLMC CEO

Read on if you wish

The BMA newsletter has the following commentary. I have highlighted in red a view I strongly agree with. 

BMA response to the health White Paper

The BMA has now submitted its formal response to the Government's proposals for major reform of the NHS in England and we wanted to let you know directly what we have said, and how we can work together to ensure the best possible outcome for doctors, patients and the public.

In July, we likened the White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS to a curate's egg, and it has become  increasingly clear that these proposals are simply too complex to afford the  luxury of straightforward ‘support' or ‘opposition'. Our response reflects this  complexity - showing cautious support for some of the proposals, highlighting areas of serious concern, reaffirming our priorities for the NHS and seeking more detail where necessary. The full response is available at:  www.bma.org.uk/nhswhitepaper.

Overall, three key themes emerged in our response:

1) Co-operation - we place considerable emphasis on the crucial  role co-operation will play in GP-led commissioning. Success will be dependent on close working between GPs and doctors in secondary care, public health and medical academia, with input from other healthcare professionals, patients and the public. GPs and other doctors involved in commissioning will value the support and expertise of managers and non-clinical staff currently working in PCTs and SHAs.

2) Integration - the BMA has consistently stressed the need for better integration across primary and secondary care. However, the Government's proposals to encourage further competition threaten to fragment and destabilise services. We need to be able to work collaboratively with colleagues  across organisations in order to provide seamless care cost effectively.

3) Maintaining a national approach to the NHS workforce - while it is  important to enable greater flexibility and responsiveness locally, the quality  and stability of our future medical workforce depends on careful oversight and planning of medical education and training at a national, UK-wide level. As your trade union, we will lobby hard to protect national terms and conditions,  guarding against the inefficiency of local negotiations.

As GPs, you  will be at the heart of the Government's proposed reforms. We would urge you to engage in discussions with those PCTs which that are beginning to work towards establishing consortia, to ensure that all GPs are comfortable with these  arrangements and can have appropriate input. We are currently discussing with the Government how practices might be supported to engage with commissioning. We recognise that much remains unclear, and that this lack of clarity is  causing concerns.

Since the publication of the White Paper, the BMA's  General Practitioners Committee has produced a number of pieces of guidance to support GPs and practices that are beginning to consider and discuss how the new  arrangements might work locally. These can all be found on the BMA website at  www.bma.org.uk/whitepapergpguides. The GPC aims to support GPs and practices  through the production of tailored guidance as the key issues develop,

The White Paper consultation is only the first step in the process. We expect the Government to publish a Health Bill shortly, setting out the legislation it wants passed in Parliament. The BMA will continue to work  hard at every stage during the passage of the legislation to represent your  views. You can keep up-to-date on developments through BMA News, our weekly electronic newsletter, and the White Paper pages on the BMA website. More than ever, we welcome and want to hear your views and comments and you can tell us  what you think by emailing: info.whitepaper@bma.org.uk.

Best wishes,

Dr Hamish Meldrum
Chairman of Council, British Medical Association

Dr Laurence Buckman
Chairman,  BMA General Practitioners Committee

 

Dispensing Doctors' Feescale from 1 October 2010 in England & Wales Only                                                                                   (29/09/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the attached updated Dispensing Doctors Feescale in England & Wales effective from 01 October 2010. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

 

SCR record section of last week's GPC news                   (22/09/10)  

Could practices please note the  current GPC view on the SCR. 

Dr Paul  Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

Summary Care Record: GPC Position  

The GPC has informed Simon Burns, Minister for Health of the motions that were passed at the July GPC  meeting, and reiterated our position that all uploads should cease whilst the  review of the Summary Care Record took place. We received a response from the Minister confirming that Public Information Programmes (PIPs) had halted.  However he maintained the position that the decision whether to proceed with  uploads rests with individual GP practices and PCTs. If a GP practice decides to  proceed with uploads, smart cards must be used to ensure that the SCR is routinely updated. NHS Connecting for Health has stated that no practice should  feel coerced into uploading

SCRs and any incidents of GP practices being placed under pressure to upload patient records should be  reported to the GPC. The BMA is playing an active part in a review of the  Summary Care Record. The review comprises of two parts; the first focuses on the  information sent to patients and the process by which patients record their  consent preferences and the second explores the content of the SCR. We will  disseminate further information once available.

 

The Law now requires Practices to audit their Clinical Waste
                                                                                                         (16/09/10) 

Could practices please note the GPC email below, particularly the text I have highlighted in red  

Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

Since  the introduction of the Environment Agency (EA) guidance for waste management companies in 2007, there has been a change in the way that healthcare waste is regulated in England and Wales. All healthcare waste producers, including GP practices,  must provide audits of their waste to their waste management contractors if they  are to continue to have their waste accepted at a clinical waste alternative treatment facility. The treatment facilities are required by their permits to obtain additional detailed information on the composition of a waste before they receive it, which forms part of their “pre-acceptance” checks.

This audit is an Environmental Agency legal requirement and failure to provide an audit report by 1 October 2010 could result in the EA prohibiting  waste collecting companies from collecting the waste from GP  practices.

The Environmental Civil Sanctions  (England) Order 2010 came into force  on 6 April and gives the EA the power to invoke civil sanctions, such as  monetary penalties, if companies do not comply with the environmental laws. From  December 2010, the EA will start using their new Civil sanction powers (brought in by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008), which will enable the EA to impose sanctions if failing to comply with the Act.

Further information can be found in  section A6 2.1.1 of Appendix 6: Sector Guidance Note IPPC S5.06 – Supplementary PPC for clinical waste:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/appendix_6_sgn_506_1 738716.pdf

See also the attached briefing from the Environment Agency.

Kind regards
Cat
Catharina  Ohman-Smith
Senior Policy Executive
NHS GPs Division

 

Non-payment of GP reports for coroners                           (14/09/10)  

Could practices please note the  following from the BMA website
http://www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/fees/coronerreportsgp.jsp
(BMA user name and password  needed)

Dr Paul Roblin
CEO BBOLMC

BMA website: 06  September 2010

GPs have raised  their concerns to the BMA’s Professional Fee Committee (PFC) regarding the  non-payment of fees for Coroner reports which the Coroner pays and then reclaims funding back from the Local Authority (LA).

Prior to 2008  the BMA held a national fee agreement with the Local Government Employers (LGE)  for this work. When the national agreement ended in March 2008 the LGE  circulated guidance stating "payment of fees to doctors would be for local  determination". Whilst the BMA understood this to mean fees would be negotiated  locally between the GP, Coroner and Local Authority, a number of local authorities interpreted the guidance to mean they were now able to determine whether or not to continue funding payment for this work.

The BMA have made it clear to all parties concerned that payment is required as this work is not covered within a GPs contract, and importantly GPs have no choice but to undertake this work as refusal can result in being summonsed to give evidence at the Coroners Court.

The BMA met with the Ministry of Justice and the Coroners’ Society to try to resolve this issue  and the MOJ are currently in discussions with the Local Government Association  about issuing clearer guidance to Local Authorities.

 

Medical Director takes up post                                               (07/09/10)  

We are delighted to announce that Dr James Kennedy joined The Secretariat as part time Medical Director on  1st September 2010.

James will be available on Monday  and Wednesday each week and is looking forward to helping the team assist our  constituents.

He can be reached via email at jim.kennedy@bbolmc.co.uk or by phone at 01628 475727.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

 

Better Support for Carers                                                         (07/09/10) 

For  your and your GPs information please see the email below and attached brochure. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon LMCs

Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services, has recommended that I write to you regarding an important resource to support carers.

The time for needing to care can come without warning and unless the carer has been involved professionally with caring and has some skills, there will be little opportunity to prepare. Through either a lack of knowledge, skills, information or support many carers  can become ill or injure themselves as a result of their caring activities.

In June 2008, the then Government published a Carers’ Strategy which set out an aim that by 2018:

  • carers will be respected as expert care partners and will have access to the integrated and personalised services they need to support them in their caring role;
  • carers will be able to have a life of their own alongside their caring role;
  • carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role;
  • carers will be supported to stay mentally and physically well and treated with dignity

The NHS Information Centre for health and  social care (NHS IC) recently published “Survey of Carers in Households -  2009/10 England - Provisional Results”  a survey of carers in the population. The provisional results indicate that in 2009/10, 12 per cent of people aged 16 or over were caring for a sick, disabled  or elderly person. This equates to 5 million carers in England.

RelativeCare Limited has produced the DVD - Do you care? - which provides a simple, easily understood and comprehensive guide on how a number of caring tasks may be  completed by an able bodied person.  This DVD has been produced with the assistance of consultants  and health care professionals to ensure the most up to date techniques and safe practice are demonstrated.  It is the only one of its kind to  date and supports a number of health policy initiatives. More importantly it helps carers to develop new skills and avoid injury and illness in themselves and those they care for and helps to maintain their  own wellbeing and independence as well as the cared for person.

The Government White Paper, “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” acknowledges that GPs know their patients and understand their communities better than anyone, so are  best placed to decide how money should be spent on healthcare. It makes clear  the Government values GPs’ professionalism and passion for providing patients  with the best possible care.

The DVD offers a number of obvious and important potential benefits to the commissioners of and providers of health and care services:

  • Efficiency savings through reduced hospital admissions, lengths of stay and readmissions
  • Supporting effective discharge from hospital or community care  packages
  • Improved outcomes for patients
  • Supporting initiatives to care for people in their own homes
  • Reduced  reliance on NHS and local authority resources enabling resources to be directed to those in greater need
  • Fewer carers becoming patients and fewer cared for people  returning to the NHS as patients
  • Improved understanding between carers and healthcare professionals
  • An easily implemented and cost effective early intervention  scheme for carers

A brochure about the DVD is attached, but  should you wish to obtain a copy of the DVD for evaluation or require further  information, please contact Martin Allen:
Tel: 01258 818252
Email: Martin.Allen@relativecare.co.uk
Web: www.relativecare.co.uk    

 

Latest BBOLMC Website Updates                                         (03/09/10)  

Please note, for your and your GPs’ information, that the following are all now available on our  website:

  • Latest Secretariat Hot Topic and Information Alert emails to practices*.
  • Draft Minutes of the most recent Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire County LMCs and LRC/PCT Liaison meetings.
  • Latest job vacancies across the 3 counties.
  • BBOLMC’s latest  Information Round Up - July 10.
  • Sessional GPs  Subcommittee Elections.
  • GPC Guidance - Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions in General  Practice.
  • New Vetting &  Barring Scheme – Guidance for GPs in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.
  • GMC to simplify and  streamline revalidation; Revalidation pilots to be extended in England.
  • Local Awareness and  Early Diagnosis Initiative in ThamesValley Cancer Network (LAEDI).

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

 

Cytology guidance: vault smears, training requirements, age flexibility, patient opt outs, exclusion from QOF               (18/08/10)  

Please see the following report of GPC contact with the National Screening Committee over Cervical Cytology issues. 

Dr Paul  Roblin
CEO  BBOLMC

Cervical screening 

GPC representatives met with Professor Julietta Patnick, Director of NHS Cancer Screening Programmes on 28 July to discuss a number of longstanding issues related to cervical screening.  

Vault  cytology

It was confirmed that the responsibility for follow up care of women who required vault cytology lay with their gynaecologist, not GP. GPs do not have the skills or the equipment to be able to provide failsafe care  for these women, of whom there will only be a minute number per practice.  

Full guidance can be found in “Colposcopy and Programme Management - Guidelines for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme,  Second edition”. We raised the point that these guidelines could be  interpreted ambiguously on the follow up of women who had undergone hysterectomies, with the risk of inappropriate delegation to GPs.  This was  accepted and the NHS Cervical Screening Team will amend them accordingly.  

Cervical cytology re-training  requirements

The NHS Cervical Screening Team will not budge from their belief that it is necessary for GPs to update in cervical cytology every three years.  However, they accept that  “re-education” in the process of taking smears should not be necessary unless  the sampling method changes, and the updating is more around some of the other issues that change with regard to screening.  They seem open to discussion with the BMA on how to make such training more appropriate for GPs, including the use  of e-learning modules.  It is hoped that we can work together in order to press  for national standards for GP updating.  The Screening Team will also send  suggested training topics to PCTs on an annual basis, appropriate for  experienced smear takers in general.  The Screening Team has no direct influence  on PCT training requirements or content.  

Patient age and processing of smears by  laboratories

There should be a leeway of 3 months in age for  laboratories to accept smear samples for processing. Therefore, they should accept screening samples from women aged from 24 years and 9 months, and those  aged up to 66 and three months. Similarly, smears taken a few weeks early should be accepted, but those taken way outside the screening program guidance will  continue to be rejected.  The guidance for laboratories analysing smears was in  the process of being re-written, and should make these tolerances clear. 

The minimum age for  smear taking will remain 25 years in England, as per the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer recommendations. An audit is underway to examine the cases of  women under the age of 30 who have developed cervical cancer, in order to identify any distinguishing features between the cases.  It is thought that most  will have had other symptoms. 

Opt-outs from NHS Cervical Screening Programme

We have received some reports of patients being asked to complete substantial forms in order to opt-out of the cervical screening programme.

  • If a woman truly does wish to opt-out of the programme, then she must give written consent, making it clear that she has been made fully aware of the potential implications of this decision i.e. that she will never be recalled for a smear in the future.
  • However, a woman who simply does not wish to undergo a smear during one recall period does not need to provide any written consent. If she remains happy to be invited for smears in  the future then she will remain within the screening  programme.

It is important that audits are carried out to ensure  that no women eligible to be screened for cervical cancer have been  inadvertently removed from the programme. GPs could opportunistically discuss  this with any women who fall into this category.

Smear  invitations

When a practice is participating in the national screening recall programme, a letter and reminder will be sent out via the  national system. It is therefore only necessary for participating practices to send out one final invitation letter, in order for patients to have received three invitations.  Practice invitations for smears should include full  information about what a smear would involve and why it was necessary – for  example, by including an information leaflet.

QOF Cervical Screening indicator - CS1

The advice that women could be removed from the  denominator if they have failed to respond to three invitations to have a smear taken should not be confused with the removal of a woman from the cervical screening programme altogether; nor is it necessary that the three invitations  be sent by the practice (see above). This matter will be discussed by the QOF  subgroup.

 

Elections to GPC Sessional GPs Subcommittee               (18/08/10)  

Dear All
We would be very grateful if you could please circulate the GPC’s email below to all the  sessional GPs in your practice. Thank you.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

Dear LMC,
Nominations are now open for election to the GPC Sessional GPs subcommittee. Please pass this on to all your sessional GP  colleagues.

The subcommittee represents all salaried and locum/freelance GPs. Major changes have been made to the subcommittee this year, following the report of the Sessional GPs representation working group. The  subcommittee is now much larger, with sixteen members, instead of eight, it will meet more frequently, have an executive committee to handle day to day work, and  will have a much stronger presence on the General Practitioners Committee (GPC).

Completed nomination forms should be sent to the GPC office to arrive by 5pm on Friday 17th September and if elected, candidates will take up their seats on the subcommittee in November 2010 and serve for three BMA  sessions, until summer 2013.

You can find out more about the elections  and download a nomination form here - www.bma.org.uk/sessionalgpselections.

Best wishes,
Faye
Faye Bunch
Executive Officer
NHS GPs  Division
British Medical Association

 

New vetting and barring scheme - guidance for GPs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland                                                     (13/08/10)  

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the GPC’s email below re their Guidance for GPs on the new vetting and barring scheme.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

Dear colleagues
This guidance explains the steps that GPs need to take individually and as employers to ensure that they comply with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. It applies only to GPs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with separate guidance being prepared for GPs in Scotland.

http://www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/doctors_performance/vettbarringscheme.j sp

Regards
Karen Day
Division Secretarial Assistant
NHS GPs Division

 

Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions in general practice                                                                                         (13/08/10)  

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the GPC’s email re Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions in General Practice below. 

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

Dear colleague
In response to enquiries on this issue, the GPC has reviewed the complex legislation surrounding the administration of medicines and has clarified the advice on the use of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) in general practice. Note that this guidance will be updated as and when further issues are raised. Please email info.gpc@bma.org.uk if you have further queries on this issue.  

The guidance is available on the BMA website.

Regards
Karen Day
Division Secretarial Assistant
NHS GPs Division

 

Latest Information Roundup - July 2010                             (06/08/10)   

Please find attached BBOLMC’s 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. Many thanks.  

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

 

Medical Director Vacancy - Surrey & Sussex LMCs       (03/08/10) 

For your and your GPs’ information, please see the attached advert from Surrey and Sussex LMCs for a part time Medical Director.

Best wishes
Pauline
Pauline  Green
Administration & Information Manager
Berks, Bucks & Oxon  LMCs

 

Latest BBOLMC Website Updates                                         (30/07/10) 

Please note, for your and your GPs’  information, that the following are all now available on our  website:  

  • Latest Secretariat Hot Topic and Information Alert emails to practices*.
  • Draft Minutes of the most recent Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire  County LMCs and LRC/PCT Liaison meetings.
  • Updated County LMCs and LRC/PCT  Liaison Committee membership lists.
  • Latest job vacancies across the 3  counties.
  • BBOLMC’ Information Round  Ups.
  • GPC Revised Tax Guidance following the Emergency Budget.
  • GPC News - July  2010.
  • Dr Laurence Buckman’s 19 July 2010 letter to all GPs in England.
  • City of London Migraine Clinic 2010  Autumn Masterclass Series.
  • HPERU Summary of the White Paper.
  • Sessional GPs Newsletter Summer  10.

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

 

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, HPERU’s 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 Ł1697 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 GPC’s 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:

  • GPC Sessional GPs  Representation Working Group report
  • Annual Conference of Local Medical Committees 2010
  • Salaried GPs’  Pay
  • BMA Salaried GPs’  handbook - 2010 edition
  • Revalidation
  • Locum GP pensions
  • Contacting the Sessional GPs Subcommittee
  • ‘Making the most of  being a salaried GP’ seminars
  • Devolved nations updates


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.

 

 

 

 

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