Premises update July 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 arrangements
- Current charges including historical subsidies
London policy for financial assistance with service charges and premises running costs
NHS England London region and London Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have developed a policy for accessing financial support for service charges and premises running costs. Please contact our GP support team 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.
Premises relocation approval from NHS England
Practices should be aware that before planning to relocate their premises or agree a new lease, they need to seek approval from NHS England. Failure to do so contravenes NHS England regulations and may jeopardise your CCG/NHS England agreeing future investment and notional rent payments.
Our GP support team can give advice to practices 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. They can be contacted on gpsupport@lmc.org.uk.
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 NHS Property Services) unless and until you fully understand and are comfortable with your potential liabilities. To this regard appropriate due diligence as to your potential liabilities should be carried out. 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 legal advice on your individual circumstances.
Please note:
- NHSPS has advised that GP tenants can liaise direct with them rather than Montagu Evans
enants 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 PCT subsidy on your costs you will need to discuss this with your current commissioner and provide evidence.
Last updated : 18 Jul 2017GP volunteers needed for Grenfell Tower residents (22 Jun 2017)
Over the last few days we have seen a fantastic response to the Grenfell Tower fire from London GPs and practice teams, working in very difficult circumstances both practically and...Londonwide LMCs' June 2017 newsletter (21 Jun 2017)
...May 2017 workforce survey – thank you for responding (20 Jun 2017)
Our latest workforce survey closed on Tuesday 20 June, we received over 750 responses, representing over 550 practices. Thank you to those who took the time to provide us with...HR in general practice: recruitment and selection (16 Jun 2017)
Londonwide LMCs recently ran a recruitment and selection workshop for GPs and practice management colleagues. The day was full of lively discussion as delegates considered all aspects of the recruitment...Guest blog: Engaged patients boost your practice (16 Jun 2017)
This week (w/c 19 June) is patient participation awareness week. East London GP and LMC member Dr Naomi Beer tells us about the benefits of patient engagement and how it...General election 2017 – Summary of London results (15 Jun 2017)
Election night ended with a hung parliament and in London those boroughs represented by Londonwide LMCs saw Labour gain three seats from the Conservatives, Kensington, Battersea and Enfield Southgate. The...Fire at Grenfell Tower - assisting with relief work (15 Jun 2017)
Following on from the tragic events in Kensington yesterday morning, Londonwide LMCs is here to support you and your practice staff at this difficult time. Please remember look out for...CQC plans changes to inspection regime (15 Jun 2017)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a consultation on proposals to change the general practice inspection regime to include practices providing annual written evidence on how they intend...Obituary: Dr Chris Jowett 19 August 1952 – 27 May 2017 (14 Jun 2017)
Last month we lost Dr Chris Jowett, the treasurer of our board, former vice-chair of Hillingdon LMC and a prolific advocate for London general practice for over three decades. This...Use our patient engagement waiting room video to inform your patients of the challenges you face (05 Jun 2017)
Our new waiting room video is designed to encourage patients to learn about the challenges practices face. We have contacted most providers of waiting...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.