NHS England and CCGs investigating half-day closing sub-contracting arrangements
NHS England and various London CCGs have been carrying out analysis of practices’ opening hours based on the information provided in their E-Declarations. Some commissioners have identified practices who have declared that they close for half a day per week and have examined their sub-contracting arrangements in line with the guidance issued by NHS England in December 2017.
In the majority of the cases that we have seen so far, commissioners have determined that the practices’ sub-contracting arrangements are not satisfactory as they are not meeting their patients’ reasonable needs. Their definition of patients’ needs is derived from the 2017 NHS England guidance.
Practices in this situation be given three months to either terminate their current sub-contracting arrangements and open throughout core hours (8:00am to 6.30pm), or make alternative arrangements with a sub-contractor who is able to provide access to services as defined in NHS England’s guidance. Practices have been warned that failure to comply with this Contract Advisory Notice will result in contractual action against them.
As NHS England’s guidance was issued by their national team, we have escalated this issue formally to the BMA’s General Practitioners’ Committee (GPC), because they are responsible for national level negotiations.
If your practice receives a formal breach/remedial notice from NHS England/your local CCG, please notify our GP Support team as soon as possible at: gpsupport@lmc.org.uk.
You may also wish to refer to our Winter Planning Guidance.
Last updated : 25 Jan 2019Board update - April 2019 (15 Apr 2019)
Several key decisions affecting members were taken at the Londonwide LMCs Board of Directors meeting in March. These included: Increasing the hourly honoraria rate for LMC activity by £3...Sessional GP subcommittee election nominations (15 Apr 2019)
Nominations for all sixteen seats of the Sessional GP subcommittee for the 2019-22 session are open until 12pm Thursday 18 April 2019. To participate in the election, please log...Scrutiny of NHS spending and plans (12 Apr 2019)
Earlier this month the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee published a critical report on NHS financial sustainability and the NHS Long Term Plan, following evidence from NHS England, NHS Improvement,...UK LMC Conference 2019 update (12 Apr 2019)
The UK LMC Conference was held in Belfast on 19-20 March. A full list of the motions proposed and carried can be found here. Motion 22 from Tower Hamlets...CQC compliance - Wednesday 12 June 2019 - places still available (12 Apr 2019)
...An Overview of the NHS Pension Scheme - Wednesday 24 April 2019 - last few places remaining (12 Apr 2019)
...Londonwide LMCs' March 2019 Newsletter (20 Mar 2019)
Feedback sought on legal changes proposed for NHS Long Term Plan delivery (20 Mar 2019)
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...First statutory National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care appointed (19 Mar 2019)
Dame Fiona Caldicott has been appointed as the first statutory National Data Guardian (NDG) for Health and Social Care. This remit of this role is to ensure that the public...New Daffodil Standards and QOF: Supporting quality improvements in palliative and end of life care (19 Mar 2019)
March is the awareness month for Marie Curie’s Daffodil campaign. Part of this campaign includes the Daffodil Standards for palliative and end of life care, aimed at GP practices, and...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.