Premises update June 2018

LMC support with premises issues

NHS England/CCGs have a duty to consult with LMCs over issues that impact general practice, including premises/estates issues. Londonwide LMCs has set up a GP Premises Liaison Group with Surrey & Sussex LMCs and Barking & Havering LMCs to meet regularly with NHS England London Region, Community Health Partnerships (CHP) and NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to discuss strategic, policy and operational issues.  We are aware that there are ongoing issues where practices need individual support and we have agreed with NHS England London/CCGs, CHP and NHSPS that they should encourage any practice in need of support to contact GP support for confidential assistance and advice before they take action. They may also confidentially highlight to GP support outside of these meetings where a practice may need urgent individual assistance; this may result in you receiving a call from one of our GP Support team.

London policy for financial assistance with service charges and premises running costs

NHS England London region and London CCGs have developed a policy with input from London LMCs for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs. Please contact GP support on gpsupport@lmc.org.uk for more information. Please note, there is a gateway with eligibility criteria including: full disclosure of income and expenditure on an open book and annual basis; production of an action plan to demonstrate how you will optimise your income and reduce expenditure over the next 12 months.

Planning to relocate practice premises

Practices should be aware that before planning to relocate their premises or agree a new lease, they need to seek approval from NHS England London. Failure to do so contravenes NHS England’s regulations and may jeopardise the CCG/NHS England agreeing future investment and notional rent payments. All CCGs and STPs are required to have produced estate strategies so any planned development or relocation will need to be in line with these plans.

Please email gpsupport@lmc.org.uk for advice on how to manage this process, pitfalls to avoid, or support that may be available if a practice is in difficulties through failing to follow proper procedure.

Lease negotiations

It is vital that you do not sign any lease or Heads of Terms (including those purporting to be based on the national template GP lease negotiated between the BMA and NHSPS) unless and until you fully understand and are comfortable with your potential liabilities. You should carry out appropriate due diligence as to your potential liabilities. Please contact gpsupport@lmc.org.uk for advice when you receive your invitation letter. This will not replace the need to obtain your own independent specialist legal advice on your individual circumstances.

Please note:

  • NHSPS has advised that GP tenants can liaise direct with them rather than Montagu Evans.
  • Tenants in multi-occupancy premises may wish to consider engaging a single solicitor as a group.
  • Tenants can also act as a group regardless of whether they are in the same premises and commission a single solicitor to achieve economy of scale in costs.

Transitional funding

Such arrangements should only be entered into where you are entirely satisfied that when the transitional period ends you are not inadvertently left having to meet increased costs without the benefit of increased funding. In the view of the BMA and LLMCs, transitional arrangements should be avoided. More permanent solutions which align a practice’s funding to their costs are needed.

Current charges

In respect of current charges, practices should only make payments to the extent that they are both satisfied as to the legal basis upon which they are payable and their accuracy. If you used to receive a Primary Care Trust subsidy on your costs you will need to discuss this with your current commissioner.

Last updated : 15 Jun 2018

 

We know the challenges you face, join us on Wednesday 2 May to learn more about meeting them (18 Apr 2018)

It’s exactly two weeks until our annual conference. ‘London Calling’ reflects the fact that caring for Londoners’ complex health needs is more of a calling than a job for the...
Read more »

NHS England Windrush70 Awards (18 Apr 2018)

In celebration of the NHS’s upcoming 70th birthday, NHS England will host the Windrush70 Awards on Tuesday 12 June in Manchester. We are encouraging people to nominate NHS general...
Read more »

Harrow Council responds positively to LMC request regarding school sick notes (17 Apr 2018)

Drs Meena Thakur and Noreen Ryan of Harrow LMC recently wrote to Harrow Council regarding requests for sick slips from local schools, following a school’s claim that GP sick slips...
Read more »

GDPR latest news (13 Apr 2018)

The Information Governance Alliance (IGA) have released a guidance document called ‘the key points for GPs’. The document includes a myth busting section, information on the Data Protection Officer (DPO),...
Read more »

GP Trainee Subcommittee elections (13 Apr 2018)

Nominations are open for the BMA GP Trainee Subcommittee elections until 23 April. Two London constituencies are up for election: North East and Central and South London. More details can be...
Read more »

Tips of the month April 2018 (13 Apr 2018)

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...
Read more »

Home Office use of patient data: our first duty is to our patients and to do no harm (13 Apr 2018)

Dr Jackie Applebee, Chair of Tower Hamlets LMC, outlines her concerns about NHS Digital data sharing MOU with the Home Office and its implications for the doctor / patient relationship. ...
Read more »

LMC advice on SystmOne instant messaging service (13 Apr 2018)

In January 2009, TPP released new functionality to SystmOne allowing users to send instant messages to any other member of staff logged on to SystmOne at their organisation. This means...
Read more »

Responding to online comments about your practice (13 Apr 2018)

This is a reminder for practices about what they can do if they receive notification of negative comments posted on the NHS Choices website.  We understand practices are notified...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page