Feedback sought on legal changes proposed for NHS Long Term Plan delivery
NHS England are seeking changes to the Health and Social Care Act, including the competition rules affecting CCGs, who can sit on their boards and how closely they can work with trusts. We have submitted initial comments to the Parliamentary Health Committee currently considering this, and want your feedback to inform our responses to both the scrutiny Inquiry, and NHS England’s consultation.
NHS England’s consultation closes on 25 April and the Parliamentary Health and Social Care Committee will be considering the proposals through the latter stages of the consultation period and beyond, and are seeking comment on the changes and their impact. The consultation document can be viewed here.
Early comments were requested by the Select Committee by Monday 18 March for consideration during the first evidence session in early April. The early Londonwide LMCs submission can be seen here.
We would appreciate your thoughts and comments on the recommendation to inform our final response. You can provide your response to us via this short form.
If you would prefer to send a response in directly, we would be grateful if you could share a copy with us via info@lmc.org.uk.
Key points from Londonwide LMCs’ summary response
The prospect of investment going directly into frontline care, rather than having it split up into different funds with bureaucratic application processes, is to be welcomed.
However, there are some key concerns about the legislative changes outlined by NHS England as essential in order to deliver their goals as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan:
- Better Value for Money (p7): we are concerned by proposals to revoke regulations made under section 75 of the HSCA2012 and replace them with a best value test. Such a test would not have consideration for staff well-being. See: https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/24/10/608 and http://www.annfammed.org/content/12/6/573.full.
- Increasing Flexibility (p9): removing NHS commissioners and providers from the scope of the Public Contracts Regulations would allow NHS commissioners to choose either to award a contract directly to an NHS provider or to undertake a procurement process entirely at their own discretion.
- Integrated care provision (p11): the assumptions made about future bodies and roles appears to run counter to the developing collaborative approach being pursued by London commissioners and providers.
- The NHS working together (p16): we are sceptical about the impact of proposals to amend legislation to enable CCGs and NHS providers to make joint appointments and removing important governance checks when managing public funds and critical decisions.
- Shared responsibility for the NHS (p19): we believe that the stated aims should be quadruple and include consideration of staff well-being.
- Planning services together (p20): we welcome the goal of coordinated planning but are concerned about progressing pooled budgets until further consultation has been conducted about which elements of primary care budgets might be affected.
- Joined up national leadership (p23): the appointment of a single CEO for London’s NHS England and NHS Improvement bodies is one that we welcome.
Seasonal Flu Campaign 2020-2021 (07 Sep 2020)
In view of the risk of co-circulation of seasonal flu and Covid-19 this winter, the 2020/21 national flu campaign will be essential in protecting our vulnerable patients and reducing clinical...Tips of the month August 2020 (19 Aug 2020)
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...Summary for General Practices - Sir Simon Stevens’ Phase 3 NHS Response Covid-19 Letter (31 July 2020) (19 Aug 2020)
The letter is written to CEOs of trusts and foundation trusts, CCG accountable officers, GP practices and PCNs, community health providers and NHS 111. It sets out the ‘third...Londonwide LMCs' August 2020 Newsletter (19 Aug 2020)
...Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) phase 4 roll out (18 Aug 2020)
Phase 4 of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) will be enabled automatically for all TPP SystmOne and EMIS Web practices that use EPS (including dispensing practices) from 7 September 2020....Accessibility requirements for your website – deadline 23 September 2020 (18 Aug 2020)
All practices have a legal duty to make sure their websites meet accessibility requirements by 23 September 2020. The accessibility regulations aim to ensure online public services are...GP Professional Support Network now offering online help for Coronavirus and other pressures (03 Aug 2020)
Londonwide LMCs' new GP Professional Support Network provides a single point of online access to match GPs with the most appropriate form of professional support...Patient face covering exemptions (23 Jul 2020)
From Friday 24 July people are required to wear face-coverings in several environments including public transport, shops and supermarkets, practices may get an increase in requests from patients to provide exemption letters....Londonwide LMCs' July 2020 Newsletter (23 Jul 2020)
Inclusivity and diversity in general practice (22 Jul 2020)
The disproportionate mortality rate from coronavirus in Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as reported by Public Health England, alongside international events and awareness protests, have seen a...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.