World Mental Health Day
We marked World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October) by sharing resources on social media, including perspectives on managing patients’ mental health and supporting good mental health among GPs.
Reflective Practice Masterclasses
- Our Reflective Practice Masterclasses are intended to help practitioners manage their mental wellbeing and find a state of equilibrium. The next session will be held on 10 November and places are still available.
- This is the second year we have run the Reflective Masterclasses. Dr Clare Gerada’s reflections on the aims of the masterclasses held last winter outlines why the sessions are so valuable.
Mental Health and Workload Pressures
We recently held a newsletter snap poll on whether workload pressures were affecting the mental health of practice staff, 93% of respondents said “yes”.
Mental Health Guest blogs
Over the last year some of our guest bloggers have considered mental health issues:
- In July Ed Rosen explained how the Lambeth GP food co-op use the experience of growing food to provide a positive outlet for patients with mental health issues.
- In June diabetes expert Dr Neel Basudev wrote about the importance of ‘breaking the cycle of despair’ associated with helping patients to successfully manage their weight.
- In December Dr Paul O’Reilly wrote about his work treating on the treating homless people in Westminster, who disproportionately suffer from mental illness and addiction.
- In November Dr Tony Grewal wrote a piece on ‘Movember’ and men’s health, including the importance of getting men to share their health concerns as soon as they think something may be wrong.
GPs and mental health in the media
- In May, a few months before joining Londonwide LMCs as one of our Medical Directors, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer talked to BBC Radio 5Live about GPs facing burnout.
- Dr Elliott Singer’s practice was featured in the BBC’s The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs last month, looking at ways of treating various conditions through lifestyle changes, including depression. Elliott is a Londonwide LMCs Medical Director.
- Dr Zoe Norris, GPC Sessional Sub Committee Chair, wrote a piece in last month’s Guardian on how she manages her own mental health while working as a GP.
October 2015 newsletter now available (15 Oct 2015)
Londonwide LMCs NewsletterTamiflu in nursing and care homes (14 Oct 2015)
In January the GPC sought legal advice on Public Health England’s (PHE) instructions to prescribe Tamiflu for the prophylaxis of influenza in nursing and care homes where there have been...Improving well-being and health for dementia patients workshop (14 Oct 2015)
WHELD Research Programme (Improving Wellbeing and Health in Dementia) have organised an Royal College of General Practitioners accredited workshop for GPs in London. It will discuss anti-psychotic medication and no-pharmacological...Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set - participation voluntary (14 Oct 2015)
Advice has been sought from the BMA General Practitioners Committee’s IT Subcommittee on the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set (CCG OIS) for 2013/14 and 2014/15. Practices have been asked to sign...Year-end deadline for agreement of GP Systems of Choice and GP IT services (14 Oct 2015)
NHS England has published an agreement for signature by practices and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) setting out the provision of GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) and GP IT services. The...Death in service benefits for locum GPs - are you covered? (14 Oct 2015)
You may already be aware that there are persistent current inequities regarding the entitlement to ‘death in service’ benefit for freelance/ locum GPs compared to their principal or salaried GP...Healthwatch ask General Practice Committee for transparency on additional charges (14 Oct 2015)
The General Practitioners Committee (GPC) recently met with Healthwatch England to discuss charges that GPs can make for work not covered by their contract. Whilst the patient group understands the...New London Ambulance Service proposals to introduce non-emergency transport (14 Oct 2015)
London Ambulance Service (LAS) have consulted with us about a new service which they are implementing to help them manage the need for emergency ambulances more efficiently. A letter outlining...Meningococcal B for infants – FAQs update (14 Oct 2015)
NHS Employers have updated their vaccs and imms FAQs in relation to meningococcal B for infants to explain the eligible age cohort (2 – 13 months), as well as a catch-up...Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation (14 Oct 2015)
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have introduced revalidation for all nurses and midwives in the UK: the most significant change to regulation in a generation. Revalidation means that everyone...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.