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 2017Places going fast at Londonwide LMCs’ annual conference on 20 April 2016 - don't miss out, book your place today (04 Feb 2016)
Mword - Issue 27 - February 2016 now available (04 Feb 2016)
4 February 2016 Dear Colleague, If not now, when? Saturday’s Special Conference of LMCs effectively declared...Junior doctors industrial action (20 Jan 2016)
The junior doctors’ strike on Tuesday 12 January drew widespread support from the public and across the medical profession. At the time of writing the 26 January strike has...Special LMC Conference motions (20 Jan 2016)
The motions for the Special LMC Conference 2016 are now public and can be found in the agenda for the day. The conference is on Saturday 30 January at...Queen’s Nursing Institute survey of GP nurses (20 Jan 2016)
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) launched a major new report on general practice nursing on Monday 18 January. The report is based on an online survey completed by over 3,400...Londonwide LMCs' January 2016 Newsletter now available (20 Jan 2016)
Londonwide LMCs NewsletterNational record movement trial by Primary Care Support England (19 Jan 2016)
Primary Care Support England (PCSE) is conducting a national record movement trial using a blank document in place of a medical record. This is in preparation for a new system...RCGP North and West London events coming up (19 Jan 2016)
Minor surgery including DOPS refresher course – one day course: 10 February at the Medical Society of London This one day course designed by GPs, plastic surgeons, dermatologists and GPwSIs...Health Select Committee highlights confusion among Ministers regarding primary care (19 Jan 2016)
On Tuesday 13 January Alistair Burt MP, primary care Minister at the Department of Health, appeared before the Health Select Committee to give evidence as part of their Inquiry into...Practice Manager Leads Forum (PMLF) – 28 January 2016 (19 Jan 2016)
The next forum will take place on Thursday 28 January 2016 at 9.30am. If you are a lead practice manager and currently represent practice managers at a LMC, Federation or...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.