Mword - Issue 34

Mword Heading - Issue 34

21 December 2017

Thank you for what you do and still managing to do it

I want to say a personal thank you to all who have struggled so hard to uphold the values of general practice in what I can only describe as a year of unbelievable turmoil in our day-to-day GP and practice team members’ working lives. Without your tenacity and dedication to your patients, there can be no real NHS general practice.

In our city of nigh on 10 million, there are people young and old whose lives do not fit neatly into a selected number of clinical pathways, people who depend on your tenacity to enable them to receive the care they need from community, social, mental health and hospitals (yes, they still are a thing). In a politico-financial environment which seems hell bent on (sorry - getting best value by) prioritising want over need from a fixed funding pot under the cloak of choice (apologies again, I may have led you to think I meant votes).

When actually all we want and need is to be able to do our job properly and to get that sense of professional and personal achievement from doing it well (yes, we have feelings too). And lo, we call it Joy.

We’ve still got your backs
Through the year the team at Londonwide LMCs and each of our constituent LMCs have been working to give you some breathing space to do the day job, including:
  • Supporting practices and GPs with the CQC, NHS England and GMC.
  • Tackling Capita/PCSE, Community Health Partnerships and NHS Property Services over various demands, refusals and denials.
  • Reaching out to sessionals, salaried and locums.
  • Putting significant effort into preventing funding being pulled out of local GMS and PMS practices under the guise of the PMS review.
  • Supporting practices with contract issues, mergers and funding bids. Going through the fine print of LISes, DESes and numerous other types of contracts.
  • Representing London general practice to the NHS, politicians and the media.
  • Pushing to keep a level playing field as new technology changes how we work.
  • Continuing our GP State of Emergency campaign, providing resources and support.
Behold the future
Which is quite a timely sentiment as everyone (else) hits the final approach to Christmas. And so, it is in that spirit that I give you the latest announcement from NHS DIGITal’s ghost of Christmas Yet To Come:

NHS DIGITal (think about it)

The NHS GP On Foot is a new service where, simply by triggering a spring-like action on your shoe, you can instantly access a GP whenever you want, on your very own foot. Gone are the days of having to waste time downloading apps. With this new NHS service you simply click your heels and up from your own shoe pops a real life NHS GP. YES IT'S TRUE, your very own GP could appear from under your own foot. And this fully evidence-based service provides many extra health benefits - no more worrying while you’re busy out on a run, having to think ”What if I become ill one day, will I be able to get an appointment?”. Our new service transforms all that. Now you can actually see a GP on your own foot WHILE you run, worry-free.

Nobody says Michelle doesn’t embrace technology.

But trench humour aside, we take concerns about your practices’ stability extremely seriously. If you are concerned that your practice list is being destabilised then please do contact us via: gpsupport@lmc.org.uk.

And on behalf of the team and family at Londonwide LMCs I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


Michelle

 

Dr Michelle Drage FRCGP

Chief Executive, Londonwide LMCs

As ever - Please do let me have any views on these issues or others at mword@lmc.org.uk.
Last updated : 10 Dec 2018
 

M Word - Issue 24 - November 2015 now available (20 Nov 2015)

20 November 2015 Following my message earlier this week, I want to update you further on events over the...
Read more »

M Word - Issue 23 - November 2015 now available (17 Nov 2015)

17 November 2015 This week will see the arrival of winter with its crisp blue skies and the hope of...
Read more »

M Word - Issue 22 (11 Mar 2015)

I have three resilient and empowering things for you. The first is meant to be reassuring; the second is to urge you to...
Read more »

M Word - Special Edition - GP Resilience - Take Control campaign launched (10 Nov 2014)

Dear Colleagues. 
Read more »

M Word - Issue 19 (02 Oct 2014)

     
Read more »

M word - Issue 17 (13 Dec 2013)

Dear Colleagues, Three things to tell you right now: 1. Yesterday's CQC/media onslaught2. Christmas and New Year Opening3. Valuing...
Read more »

M word - Issue 16 - Securing the Future of General Practice in London (06 Sep 2013)

Dear colleagues, Londonwide LMCs’ General Practice Cares campaign – Securing the Future of General Practice in London I want to bring you up to speed with proactive work we have been doing over...
Read more »

M word - Issue 15 (30 May 2013)

Dear colleague, As we knuckle down after another week of media onslaught, I  have 3 topics to cover:
Read more »

M word - Issue 14 - MMR catch up Programme update - 8 May 2013 (08 May 2013)

Dear Colleague,Measles - MMR Catch up Programme UPDATEThank you for all your questions. Here are a few more answers from our GP and practice support...
Read more »

M word - Issue 13 - MMR catch up Programme update - 30 April 2013 (30 Apr 2013)

  Dear Colleague Measles - MMR Catch up Programme UPDATE - 30 April 2013 It has now been announced that there will be an MMR vaccination catch-up programme in...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page