Un-resourced work from secondary care
Practices are currently facing a significant challenge as capacity is reduced by the need to adhere to infection control measures and pent up demand from patients staying away from practices during the early stages of the pandemic has been released, with these people now seeking appointments in large numbers. Against this difficult background we are hearing more cases of hospitals passing non-contractual work to GPs, we understand the pressures on hospital colleagues, but it is in everyone’s interests that general practice capacity is not pulled away from keeping people well in the community.
We have prepared a template letter for LMCs, PCNs and GPs to send to their local trust CEO/CMOs urging them to follow the example set by Barts Healthcare in ensuring that consultants and clinical teams directly request the blood and diagnostic tests that they require, and directly prescribe hospital-only medications, rather than ask GPs to do either of these on their behalf.
You can download the template letter here.
We have also added a category for ‘referral management’ issues to our Beam to LMC app to make it even easier for you to report, and allow us to help you tackle, workload issues at the primary/secondary care interface. Find out more here.
Last updated : 21 Jul 2020End of life care - new online module for practice nurses from Londonwide LMCs (15 Jun 2021)
We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest blended learning module for practice nurses, "End of life care training for nurses in general practice". This module is...Update: Health Minister delays GPDfPR implementation until September (08 Jun 2021)
The Government has today announced to Parliament that the start of GP Data for Research and Planning (GPDfPR) will be delayed until later this year. The first collection by NHS...Londonwide reaction to GPC motion of no-confidence in NHS England Executive (20 May 2021)
Earlier today GPC England considered and voted on a confidence motion, following the publication of letter BO497 on 13 May 2021. Londonwide Response Dr Michelle Drage, CEO of...UK LMC Conference 2021 round-up (19 May 2021)
The UK LMC Conference took place on 11 and 12 May, the motions debated and voted on at the conference can be read here, including which were carried, or carried...LMC elections 2021 nominations now open – make your voice heard and stand for election (19 May 2021)
Only LMCs represent every GP practice in their area and every person working within each one. Standing for your LMC means giving a voice to your colleagues and personally developing...Tips of the Month May 2021 (19 May 2021)
We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for...Face to face access letter and your contractual obligations, 17 May 2021 (19 May 2021)
Further to my message on Friday, I am sure you will now be all too aware of the letter issued by NHS England on Thursday evening, purporting to...NHS England face-to-face access letter (19 May 2021)
On the evening of Thursday 13 May NHS England wrote to GP practices instructing them to provide face-to-face appointments upon patient request and allow walk-in patients into practice premises for...Weekend e-consults and online access (19 May 2021)
We are aware that many practices are receiving online consultations submitted over weekends and triaging these is creating significant workload, often running into several sessions of GP time each week....Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.