BMA update on NHS Property Services and Community Health Partnership
The BMA have advised that practices in NHS Property Services (NHSPS) and Community Health Partnership (CHP) premises may receive a letter demanding payment of outstanding invoices, in fact many practices have already received such letters. The BMA advise that if you receive this letter and continue to have concerns over the basis and level of the service charges incurred, you should respond asking NHSPS to provide some specific details; namely:
- Details of the specific legal basis upon which they believe the charges are payable, with reference to the terms of occupancy of the premises.
- Details and/or evidence to prove that the charges reflect the services used by the practice or in connection with their specific building.
- In so far as not answered by points 1 and 2, and to the extent relevant, a detailed explanation of why the practice is being asked to pay increased service charges compared to previous years.
The BMA are escalating the problems with NHSPS and CHP with a view to quickly bringing this issue to a sensible resolution. Their information and guidance can be found here.
Last month the BMA issued a freedom of information request to NHSPS and CHP to extract central information over their charging policies with a view to fully understanding why many practices are receiving invoices which appear to bear no resemblance to services used. The CHP response is expected in the new year and the NHSPS response has been received, but the BMA are seeking clarification on parts of the NHSPS response.
Speakers Corner - New scheme to register offenders (16 Aug 2016)
This month Leighe Rogers explains how various agencies are coming together to support offenders to register with GPs. Leighe works in the justice system on behalf of NHS England London. The...Sustainability and Transformation Plans - August 2016 Update (11 Aug 2016)
Dr Michelle Drage responds to LMC exclusion from STP process On 10 August Michelle Drage was quoted in Pulse’s article on GPs being excluded from STP discussions in some...Our Travel Health Update was a great success (22 Jul 2016)
With summer holidays looming on the horizon it was unsurprising that our Travel Health Update held on the 30 June 2016 proved very popular. It covered many important updates on...Dr Michelle Drage meets HRH Prince Charles (21 Jul 2016)
Our CEO Dr Michelle Drage represented London GP’s at the College of Medicine’s ‘Food the forgotten Medicine’ recently. After the event she was part of...July Newsletter 2016 now available (21 Jul 2016)
Cervical screening direct referral responsibilities (20 Jul 2016)
NHS England have issued an update to clarify what a practice should do when they receive a cervical smear result. There is now a system in place to directly refer...Government data security consultation (19 Jul 2016)
The Government has been conducting a data security review, run by Dame Fiona Caldicott, the National Data Guardian for Health and Care. A report has now been produced with...#GPStateofEmergency update - July 2016 (19 Jul 2016)
In April 2016 GPs in London and across the country declared a #GPStateofEmergency. To help practices manage their increasing workload during this state of emergency we have producedLondonwide LMCs’ jobs board (19 Jul 2016)
As part of our service to our GPs and their practice teams, we provide a free to use jobs section where practices can advertise vacancies or GPs who are...New Department of Health ministerial team announced (19 Jul 2016)
Following the appointment of Theresa May as the Conservative leader and de jure Prime Minister, her Cabinet reshuffle was widely covered at the weekend. The Secretary of State for Health,...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.