Scrutiny of NHS spending and plans
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, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and others.
Highlighting the significant disparities in financial performance of individual trusts and CCGs, they were not convinced that funding is reaching the right parts of the system. They further concluded that The NHS will not be able to deliver on the Long Term Plan unless it addresses staffing shortages. The Committee’s report also notes that the long-term funding settlement for the NHS was not accompanied by funding announcements for capital, social care, public health and education and training. They go on to point out that despite the uncertainty in funding for these areas, sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and integrated care systems (ICS) have been asked to develop five-year plans by autumn 2019, to show how the priorities of NHS Long Term Plan will be delivered locally.
They have asked that DHSC write to the Committee by July 2019, setting out how issues with the recruitment and retention of NHS staff will be addressed and reflected in the workforce strategy. They further ask that when reporting back, DHSC, along with NHS England and NHS Improvement, clarify the assumptions that STPs and ICSs need to be working to while developing their long-term plans. These include the assumptions on capital, social care, education and training, and public health funding.
Further information is requested by September 2019, setting out how they will: help local bodies better understand the demand for services, what is driving that demand and how demand could be better met; ensure that a better understanding of how demand is reflected in resource allocation; and ensure that activity plans of local bodies are realistic and take account of the needs of patients.
Interestingly, they note that “STPs are designed to bring together CCGs, trusts and local authorities, to plan and address local challenges in their area.” With no reference to primary care providers or general practice.
Londonwide LMCs’ concerns
As advised last month, Londonwide LMCs also has concerns regarding the implementation of the NHS Long Term Plan, and some of the legislative changes proposed by NHS England in order to deliver the Plan.
We have submitted comments to the Parliamentary Health and Social Care Select Committee, which is currently considering NHS England’s proposed 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. Our formal comments to the NHS England online consultation echo these concerns.
NHS England’s consultation closes on 25 April. If you decide to comment we would be grateful if you could share a copy with us at info@lmc.org.uk.
The key points from Londonwide LMCs’ summary response can be seen here.
Last updated : 12 Apr 2019Medical records one-off payment (19 Jul 2017)
Practices should have received a £250 payment alongside their contractual payment by the end of June 2017. If you have not received this payment or you have any queries relating...Violent patients – a step-by-step guide to safeguarding staff (19 Jul 2017)
After a mental health inpatient made a death threat against a GP in a London practice. Londonwide LMCs' medical director Dr Vicky Weeks shares the advice she gave the team....Premises update July 2017 (18 Jul 2017)
This month’s update include advice on: London policy for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs How to plan a premises relocation Lease negotiations Transitional funding...Vacancies on BMA committees (18 Jul 2017)
There are vacancies on the following: Armed forces committee Civil and public services committee Private practice committee Forensic and secure environments committee Committee of medical managers ...Flu campaign preparation and best practice (18 Jul 2017)
Ellie Roberts, a practice manager on secondment to Londonwide LMCs, looks at why practices need to bite the bullet and get started on their flu campaign now. The flu campaign...Ballot on willingness to consider closing lists as industrial action (18 Jul 2017)
At May’s LMC conference the following motion by Tower Hamlets LMC was passed: That conference believes that the GP Forward View is failing to deliver the resources necessary to sustain...Locum and salaried GP handbooks (18 Jul 2017)
The locum GP handbook provides advice and guidance on all aspects of locum work, including on starting out as a locum, setting up as a business and establishing a contract for...New primary-secondary care interface guidance (18 Jul 2017)
GPC (England) has produced new guidance on the interface between primary and secondary care in collaboration with NHS England, NHS Improvement, NHS Clinical Commissioners, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal...CCG proposals for GPs to restrict access to OTC prescriptions (18 Jul 2017)
This page has been updated to remove advice which stated schemes proposed by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which involve GPs assessing patients’ ability to pay for over-the-counter medicines and asking...What they said about the GP Essential Toolkit conference (05 Jul 2017)
Our first Essential Toolkit for GPs on Tuesday 4 July, 2017 was a huge success. See some of the top tweets from speakers and attendees below: ...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.