London GP Leader Calls for Recognition, Not Grand Schemes
Dr Michelle Drage, CEO of Londonwide LMCs - the representative body for GPs in London, has commented on the Secretary of State for Health's recent remarks about general practice:
Statement from Dr Michelle Drage, CEO of Londonwide LMCs
"The hospital-centric policy goals reflected in Mr Hunt’s speech to Conservative Party Conference are simplistic and show a comprehensive lack of understanding of the value that general practices bring to their local communities.
"Bold statements about seven day working when GPs and practice nurses are already stretched to capacity do not wash with health workers on the ground. For GPs in London, exhausted after a 10 hour day providing full-on care to patients at 10 minute intervals, the prospect of spreading diminishing energies and resources over a further 2 days each week is unwelcome and demoralising.
"What general practice in London needs is real recognition - not grand schemes. GPs and practice nurses need adequate time for meaningful consultations with patients; supported by multi-disciplinary services; and accessible diagnostics.
"There are better solutions to London’s health and social care challenges than those we’ve heard recently. We hope that General Practice survives long enough in the Capital to enact them."
Dr Drage is available for comment. For further information please contact: Alex Orton, PR and Media Manager, Londonwide LMCs, 07768 139 704, alex.orton@lmc.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
- For further information please contact: Alex Orton, PR and Media Manager, Londonwide LMCs, 020 3818 6239, alex.orton@lmc.org.uk
- Londonwide LMCs is the only independent body in London representing 7000 GPs and over 1300 Practice Managers and the wider practice team across London.
- Local medical committees are the statutory body representing GPs and practices; every London borough has a local medical committee, supported by Medical Directors working for the umbrella organisation (Londonwide LMCs) covering NW, NCE and South London.
- Further information on Londonwide LMCs can be found on our website; via Twitter @londonwidelmcs ; or on our GPResilience campaigning website.
Winter health watch summaries (26 Jan 2017)
The Government’s weekly updates on the prevalence of winter illnesses and weather conditions in England can be found on the gov.uk website The data for the reports comes from four...Requirement to use your GMC number on Death Certificates (26 Jan 2017)
Registry Offices and certificates are refusing to accepted Medical Certificate of Cause of Deaths (MCCDs) without GMC numbers on them. GPs working using old books of blank death certificates should write...Jeremy Hunt MP questioned on Brexit impact by Health Select Committee (26 Jan 2017)
On 24 January Jeremy Hunt MP appeared before the House of Common’s Health Select Committee to answer questions on the impact of the UK leaving the European Union (EU). Highlights...Sessional GP engagement (26 Jan 2017)
We will provide real-time Twitter updates from our Ealing, Hammersmith and Houslow sessional GP open meeting on 31 January, to allow those who are interested but cannot attend to follow...Patient engagement roundtable (26 Jan 2017)
Our Patient Engagement Project hosted a successful roundtable event last month which focussed on building working relationships with third sector stakeholders to benefit practices in their work with their patient...EHH sessional open meeting, Tuesday 31 January 2017 (26 Jan 2017)
Engage and Connect – Catch up with what all Sessional GPs MUST know Are you salaried? Who could be employing you if MCPs potentially take over GMS and PMS?...Guest blog – Dealing with online patient comments (26 Jan 2017)
Our GP Support team’s Jan Swannell shares how she managed online complaints during her time as a practice manager in North London. After 15 years as a practice manager I...MP engagement - Jeremy Corbyn MP practice visit (26 Jan 2017)
On Friday 13 January Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP visited the Andover Medical Centre in his Islington North constituency to hear about issues affecting the practice and its patients, particularly...January 2017 newsletter (26 Jan 2017)
NHS England clinical pharmacist funding scheme (19 Jan 2017)
NHS England has rolled out the next phase of its clinical pharmacists in general practice programme, which offers to partially fund the recruitment and first three years of employment for clinical pharmacists....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.