Briefing on GP Contract 2022/23 - message from Dr Michelle Drage

Thursday 10 March 2022

Dear Colleagues,

Briefing on GP Contract 2022/23

As you will now be aware, despite lengthy negotiation no agreement was reached on changes to the national contract for 2022/23. Negotiations between NHS England and GPC England were part of the five year ‘deal’ agreed in 2019 and on 1 April we will enter year four of that deal. Despite the challenges we have all faced over the past two years there has been no willingness from government, or its agency NHS England, with whom the GPC negotiates, to address any of the severe issues for GPs that have arisen during the pandemic - for them it is as if nothing has happened. A five year deal is a five year deal. And so the contract has been amended and imposed on the profession. You can see our comments and thoughts on the measures contained in the new contract update here:

This contract update has been forced on general practice despite the unparalleled success of the Covid vaccination programme; record-breaking appointments being delivered to patients; extraordinary workforce constraints, and workload concerns. Similarly global events and the stress of the current geopolitical threat resulting in migrants and asylum seekers reaching our shores in need of general practice care have not led to any change in approach.

In recent weeks we have seen an increase in GP-bashing in the media. One article in particular in the Sunday Times (not one of the usual suspects) has increased anxiety amongst our colleagues with bold statements about vertical integration and the future of general practice. Whether this is an innocent article, albeit raising the prospect of an existential threat to general practice as we know it (not just the partnership model, but the very philosophy of continuity care, holistic, relational and longitudinal), or kite flying and deliberate dis-information designed to make us feel threatened, there is a pattern developing of public facing messaging framing GPs as indolent, incompetent, or inconvenient.

The same week we saw NHS England unilaterally impose contract changes on general practice, right-leaning think tank Policy Exchange published a new report with a proposal to reform general practice and enable digital healthcare at scale, challenging the independent contractor model. It is unclear whether this represents Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP's “Independent Review of General Practice”, but Mr Javid wrote a warm foreword. Time will tell whether this is an innocent albeit “wonky” kite, or a vision of things to come. You decide. Both are nasty.

Regardless of what Ministers, think tanks or commentators think, one thing is clear: your elected LMC members are here to represent you and the Londonwide team are on your side. Please continue to let us know your thoughts on what this means for you, your practice, and your profession.

With best wishes


Dr Michelle Drage MBBS FRCGP
CEO, Londonwide LMCs

Last updated : 10 Mar 2022

 

Tips on submitting childhood immunisations (0-5) data to Open Exeter (19 Feb 2018)

At our recent finance event for GPs and practice managers NHS England London’s vaccinations and immunisations team gave the following advice to practices when submitting their childhood immunisations (0-5) data...
Read more »

Tips of the Month February 2018 (16 Feb 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 »

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – further guidance now available (16 Feb 2018)

The Information Governance Alliance (IGA), which includes the Department of Health, NHS England, NHS Digital and Public Health England, is in the process of producing guidance for GDPR ahead of...
Read more »

Practice resources for children and young people (16 Feb 2018)

Healthy London Partnership (HLP), brings together London CCGs, NHS England and other partners to assist with the delivery of better health and care for all Londoners. HLP has a range...
Read more »

Contacting the NHS England London premises team (16 Feb 2018)

At our recent finance event for GPs and practice managers, Sian Clapton from NHS England London’s premises team, provided us with contact details for the team. Any issues relating to premises...
Read more »

MP visit - Chuka Umunna meets with Lambeth LMC (16 Feb 2018)

On Friday 29 January 2018 members of Lambeth LMC met Chuka Umunna MP at the Exchange Surgery in his Streatham constituency. The LMC members covered the challenges around recruitment, retention...
Read more »

Influenza and the annual vaccine ordering challenge for practices (16 Feb 2018)

Kenny Gibson, Head of Public Health Commissioning (London) and NHS England London’s lead on flu vaccinations shares his tips for anticipating the cycle of winter illnesses and getting the best...
Read more »

It’s election year at Londonwide LMCs - make your voice heard (16 Feb 2018)

This year every LMC seat is up for election. Any GP working in one of the 27 London boroughs we represent may be nominated for election regardless of their contractual...
Read more »

Discount rates for flu vaccines for winter 2018 through Londonwide LMCs' Buying Group (13 Feb 2018)

Many practices are starting to plan for winter 2018 and are pre-ordering their flu vaccines. Londonwide LMCs' Buying Group, through our buying partner MidMeds, has negotiated a specially discounted rate...
Read more »

Securing practice finances - an easy guide to year end closure and managing future finances (30 Jan 2018)

On Tuesday 30 January 2018 over 200 GPs and practice managers attended our two 'Securing practice finances - an easy guide to year end closure and managing future finances' workshops....
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page