July Newsletter 2016 now available

July 2016 Newsletter

Londonwide LMCs' workforce survey

Our latest survey of London GP practices, conducted by ComRes, found that 35 are considering closure, half have a vacancy and two-fifths expect a GP to retire in next three years.

Department of Work and Pensions appeals template letter

We have produced emergency guidance for practice teams on how to manage requests for records in support of appeals against Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) decisions, including PIP (Personal Independent Payments).

Election results

Elections took place in June and July in Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hounslow, North East Enfield and Redbridge.

Capita / PCSE update

The BMA and our sector teams are collecting feedback on the performance of Capita's records transfer service for the period from 18 July to 1 August.

Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) Update

We have produced a map matching the new STP footprints to LMC areas. We also have our usual round-up of STP news.

Patient engagement

Beryl Cross is our new patient engagement manager. She would like to hear what makes an effective patient group.

Speakers' Corner

It’s a good time of year to be in the garden, Ed Rosen explains how the Lambeth GP Food Co-op got started.

SNAP POLL
Have you experienced bullying by contracting/commissioning organisations to do things that divert/distract from providing patient care?
	Yes	No

Guidance Updates

•	Sessional GP newsletter
•	BMA GPC newsletter
•	Cervical screening direct referral responsibilities
•	Reminder: doctors may sign friends’ passport photos, but may not sign patients’
•	Henrietta Hughes appointed as CQC National Guardian for the NHS
•	New DH heatwave guidance
•	HSJ European Staff Award
•	Female genital mutilation (FGM) guidance

Londonwide Diary

July

27	GP Transitions: Leadership Development Day, London - REGISTER
31	Accessible information standards deadline

August

05	NCEL BMA GP trainee subcommittee nominations close
12	National Diabetes Audit data collection closes

September

22	Leadership Through Change: Making The Most Of Your Staff - Londonwide LEAD practice manager conference

Also this month...

Westminster update

Following the appointment of Theresa May as the Conservative leader and de jure Prime Minister, her Cabinet reshuffle was widely covered at the weekend. News about junior Ministerial appointments has followed, including details of the new Department of Health Ministerial team.

Data security consultation

The Government’s data security review, run by Dame Fiona Caldicott - the National Data Guardian for Health and Care, has now produced a report containing ten proposed standards. The online survey is open until 7 September 2016.

Londonwide LMCs' jobs board

Our recent workforce survey shows that 49% of responding practices have a vacancy. If yours is one, our free to use jobs section can help practices advertise vacancies, and can help GPs seeking employment advertise their availability. We also partner with the BMJ Careers' website which also has a jobs board.

NHS birthday

To mark the achievements of NHS general practice as it turned 68 on Tuesday 5 July, our Londonwide leaders highlighted why they valued general practice and Dr Michelle Drage wrote a piece for the Huffington Post looking at what general practice has accomplished and the challenges it now faces.

Media Round-up
	Our main media activity recently was around the workforce survey, which was covered in the Evening Standard, Pulse, The HSJ, GPOnline and Primary Care Today on 15 July. Our CEO, Dr Michelle Drage, represented London GPs at the College of Medicine’s ‘Food the Forgotten Medicine’ recently. After the event she was part of a specially invited group to a private meeting with HRH Prince Charles. Our Medical Director, Dr Tony Grewal, was quoted in Pulse’s coverage of list cleansing on 20 July.

Got a story? Email us at comms@lmc.org.uk. Deadline for next month's submissions is 10 August.	Downloaded your resources from our GP State of Emergency website.