Integrated Care Systems, NHS legislation proposals and Standard Contract changes
Recent weeks have seen a number of NHS structural changes proposed and/or consulted on by NHSE and the Department for Health and Social Care.
On 11 February the Government published a White Paper, outlining their plans for new health legislation, including enshrining Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in law and potentially allowing them to become new NHS Trusts. The full paper is called Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all and the speech introducing it to the House of Commons can be viewed here.
The White Paper mentions having general practice representation on ICS boards, but representation at Board and other levels is yet to be finalised and is likely to differ from area to area. Other high-level plans include reforming health regulators, returning to the Secretary of State many of the powers handed to the CEO of NHS England in 2012, delegation of some commissioning functions, and the introduction of new powers and duties.
An NHS England consultation on changes to the Standard Contract closed at the start of February. Our response focussed on the need to resolve issues with the primary/secondary care interface, a greater GP role in new decision-making processes being introduced as part of the move towards ICS, and the need for an independent guardian or watchdog to provide counsel in the event that there are difficulties collaborating. Our full response can be read here.
The wide-ranging NHS England consultation on proposed legislative changes to facilitate the creation of legal structures for ICS closed on 8 January. NHS England’s overview of the consultation can be read here and Londonwide LMCs’ full consultation response is here.
A further consultation on the Provider Selection Regime closes on 7 April. Please do let us know your thoughts, via Sam Dowling, our Director of Communications and Marketing.
The King's Fund have recently published a report titled: Integrated care systems in London: Challenges and opportunities ahead.
Last updated : 25 Feb 2021Revised data collection regime (19 May 2021)
The General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) is due to be replaced by General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR), which will eventually unify all data extractions pertaining to health...DHSC consultation on proposals to reform regulation of healthcare professionals (19 May 2021)
The Department for Health and Social Care is currently consulting on proposals to reform the regulation of healthcare professionals. In general terms there are a number of positive proposals, particularly...Londonwide LMCs' May 2021 newsletter (19 May 2021)
Proof of vaccination status for travel (18 May 2021)
Patients wishing to prove their Covid vaccination status can do so in two ways, neither of which require the involvement of their GP. The first way is by downloading the...Londonwide LMCs response to NHS England Publication B0497, 14 May 2021 (16 May 2021)
Yesterday evening NHS England issued a letter, which instructs practices to open their receptions for walk in triage and provide in-person appointments unless there is a “good clinical reason”...Shining a light on London’s exceptional general practice nurses (12 May 2021)
To celebrate International Nurses Day 2021, Kathryn Yates, our Director of Nursing asked people for across London general practice to ‘shine a light’ on the contributions of their nursing colleagues...Be ready for unprecedented times – 31 years in NHS nursing (11 May 2021)
Oluwafunmilayo Elizabeth Ayodeji is a Registered General Nurse, an Independent Prescriber and holds a BSC in Clinical Nursing. Elizabeth retired last week and has written this reflection on her time...Being a nurse in GP land during a global pandemic (11 May 2021)
Karen Landi is a GPN at the Speedwell Practice, North Finchley, Barnet. The Coronavirus pandemic has been very challenging at times, meaning we have had to learn to work in...LMC elections 2021 – nominations now open (28 Apr 2021)
Nominations for the 2021 LMC elections are now open. Only LMCs represent every GP practice in their area and every person working within each one. Standing for your LMC means...Covid vaccination guidance – April 2021 (28 Apr 2021)
New guidance issued over the last month largely relates to changes in advice around the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and licensing of the Moderna vaccine. AstraZeneca Lots of guidance...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.
follow us on...
