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THE LMC LINE
No.109
February 2015
CONTENTS:
Page
Page
BMA/GPC Guidance
3
Care Certificates
2
Email Communications
2
Publication of Mean GP Net Earnings
2
GPC Roadshow
1
Reducing GP Practice Workload
3
Locum GPs – Flu Vaccinations
1
Regional GPC Representatives
NHS Counter Fraud – South Coast
1
Sessional GPs Newsletter
3
Travel Immunisation
1
Workforce Minimum Data Set
1
Audit/TIAA
Practice Vacancies
4
Publication of NHS Payments to General
2
Practice
GPC Roadshow
The GPC Roadshow is coming to Surrey and Sussex on 11 March 2015. The venue will be the Arora Hotel
Gatwick-Crawley, time 7.30 to 9.00 pm.
This Roadshow will provide an opportunity to hear from one of the GPC executive team about the current issues
affecting general practice and discuss these issues with them.
Workforce Minimum Data Set
Further to last month’s LMC Line, we can report that the GPC has now held an urgent meeting with the DH,
where areas of concern were highlighted and discussed. The meeting was apparently very positive and the GPC
will be meeting with the DH again soon.
However, pending the outcome of the GPC negotiations, our advice remains that practices should await further
guidance before proceeding with the preparation of the data. As a reminder, the first data submission will be due
at the end of May, so further guidance will be published as soon as possible.
NHS Counter Fraud – South Coast Audit/TIAA
Colleagues will be aware that in many of the SSLMCs areas, NHS counter fraud services have been undertaken by
South Coast Audit. Our attention has been drawn to the fact that from 1 January 2014, South Coast Audit has
merged with TIAA Ltd, and the new organisation now trades under the name of TIAA.
You may, therefore, receive counter fraud enquiries from TIAA. As previously, we would advise you not to
provide confidential patient information directly in response to any telephone enquiries. When you receive a call
from someone at TIAA, always ask the caller to send a confirmatory faxed request on their headed paper. If you
are uncertain about the nature of the call, or are unhappy with the response you receive, don’t hesitate to
contact the LMC office for advice.
Locum GPs – Flu Vaccinations
Colleagues are reminded that the specification for routine seasonal influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccinations, running from 1 August 2014 to 31 March 2015, specifies that locum GPs are included in the at-risk
groups, and are, therefore, eligible for vaccination, and are to be vaccinated at the practice where they are
registered as a patient. All other GPs and primary care staff are the responsibility of their employer as part of
occupational health arrangements.
Travel Immunisation
Practices need to bear in mind that, whilst many travel vaccinations do not fall within the remit of the GMS
contract, a number are included within additional services and are, therefore, contractual.
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The following immunisations for travel fall within Additional Services under GMS and PMS: Hepatitis A (first and
second booster dose), combined Hep A and B, Typhoid, combined Hep A and typhoid (first dose), combined
Td/IPV vaccine and, finally, cholera. No fee may be charged to a registered patient for the provision of these and,
failure to provide them when requested may be classed as a breach of contract.
Email Communications:
The LMC would like to remind all colleagues of the importance of ensuring comments relating to GP and other
professional colleagues remain respectful and courteous, and in line with the guidance in Good Medical Practice,
Para. 36: “You must treat colleagues fairly and with respect”, noting that colleagues may include those who are
not medically qualified.
In terms of email, the risks are the potential rapidity of response and the wide circulation. All nhs.net mail users
have signed up to an email access policy which is available at: http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/nhsmail/policies/aup.pdf
Care Certificates
During March 2015, the government is introducing a ‘Care Certificate’ which will apply to those giving support to
clinical roles within the NHS, and also to those giving similar support within Social Care. Within General Practice
such staff will collectively be described as ‘Healthcare Support Workers’ although most GPs would use the term
HCA [Healthcare Assistants]; other colleagues include phlebotomists.
The Care Certificate has been developed following the Francis Enquiry and covers staff whose training is not
regulated by another professional body.
It only applies to newly appointed staff; it does not represent an accredited qualification and requires no external
validation. The training associated with the Certificate is the responsibility of the employer, and will overlap very
largely with current training or induction processes within the practice. It is expected CQC will expect to see
evidence of this process.
Publication of NHS Payments to General Practice
The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published NHS payments to individual providers of general
practice services (including practices, walk-in centres and health centres) in England for 2013/14. This starts an
annual publication process. Practices do not have to do anything in relation to this publication as data is taken
from the HSCIC GP payments system. The report breaks down payments by category including Global Sum,
MPIG, QOF, enhanced services etc.
GPs should use their Area Team contact for any queries related to the published figures.
If publication of these figures generates media interest the GPC will support practices. Please do let the LMC
office know if you need help in this regard.
Publication of mean GP net earnings
From April 2015 it will be a contractual requirement for GMS practices to publish on their practice websites by
31 March 2016 the mean net earnings of the partners, salaried GPs and any locum who has worked in the
practice for over six months.
This includes income from NHS England, CCGs and local authorities for the provision of GP services that relate
to the contract or which have been nationally determined. All earnings to be reported are pre-tax, National
Insurance and employee pension contributions. For contractors the figures are net of practice expenses incurred.
Income and costs related to premises will not be included in this figure.
Alongside the mean figure, practices will be required to publish the number of full and part-time GPs in the
practice. The information must be published on practice websites before the end of the financial year following
the financial year to which that information relates. Practices must also make available the information in hard
copy on request – recognising that not all patients will be able to access the website.
NHS England has undertaken to publish guidance for GPs and their accountants on how mean net earnings should
be calculated. Practices, or their accountants, will have to generate the report themselves. NHS England has
acknowledged that it can be difficult to disaggregate income and expenditure lines precisely and will recommend
that practices should work within the reporting guidelines as far as is reasonably practicable.
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Reducing GP Practice Workload
NHS England has commissioned two pieces of work from the Primary Care Foundation, working with NHS
Alliance, to look at ways in which practice workload might be reduced.
The Primary Care Foundation has developed an audit tool to collect information on shaping demand to reduce
avoidable appointments. Notwithstanding that GPs are already overloaded with paperwork, we would encourage
as many GPs as possible to take a little time to engage in this work, as we are confident it will help to
demonstrate the excessive pressures facing general practice. The results will also be an important lever to achieve
system and commissioning changes to reduce inappropriate demand and workload. If three or more members of
a practice complete this audit, the Primary Care Foundation will prepare a report for the practice, comparing
results.
Practice managers are also invited to respond to the survey on reducing bureaucracy.
You can find out more about both the audit tool and survey here:
http://www.primarycarefoundation.co.uk/audit-tool.html
Sessional GPs Newsletter
The third monthly e-newsletter for sessional GPs has been published and is now available via the SSLMCs website.
It focusses on appraisal and revalidation, and aims to encourage sessional GPs to get involved in their LMC.
Regional GPC Representatives
Nominations are sought in the election of voting members of the GPC as regional representatives for a number
of constituencies including the following LMC areas:
Merton, Sutton & Wandsworth/Kingston & Richmond
E Sussex/W Sussex
Candidates must be:
• GPs who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency and who provide personally or
perform NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months
in the year immediately before election (5 March 2015); or
• GPs who are on the doctors retainer scheme and who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the
constituency; or
• Medically qualified secretaries of an LMC in the constituency.
Nominations should be made on forms available from the GPC at the British Medical Association, BMA House,
Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP (tel: 020 7383 6375) and on the BMA website,
www.bma.org.uk/gpcelections
Each nomination form must be signed by the candidate, five proposers and a representative of the LMC who can
confirm that the candidate and proposers contribute to the voluntary levy.
Nomination forms and statements in support of candidature should be returned to: Holly Higgs, GPC, British
Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP by no later than 5pm on Thursday 5
March 2015. Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that GPC have received their
completed nomination forms and statements.
BMA/GPC Guidance
The following guidance notes have been published since the last edition of the LMC Line and can be found via our
website:
Guidance on CQC inspections for GP practices - Since the beginning of October 2014 a new inspection model has
been used by the CQC. This guidance has been produced to help practices through the new inspection model
and help you prepare for when the CQC visits your practice.
Collaborative GP Networks : Guidance for GPs on the Basic Legal Structures – In producing this guidance, the GPC is
not endorsing or supporting any specific model, but is merely highlighting the different ways that GPs can and do
organise themselves.
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Med1web forms and The European Medical Directory – The GPC has updated its guidance on the European Medical
Directory. It appears that the organisation behind the Directory has now moved from Switzerland to Portugal
and is operating in the same way, chasing payment via United Directors Lda.
Practice Vacancies
If you would like a vacancy in your practice to be advertised on the SSLMCs website (free of charge), please
send details to Liz Gosman at liz.gosman@sslmcs.co.uk.
Full details of the posts, including how to apply, can be found on the SSLMCs website and current vacancies
include:
GPs with special interest in Dermatology Intermediate Sussex Dermatology Clinics
GP Partner or Salaried GP – Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex
GP Partner – Farnham, Surrey
GP Partner – Bentley, Hampshire
GP Partner - Uckfield, East Sussex
GP partner or salaried GP – Hailsham, East Sussex
GP Partner – Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
GP Partner/Salaried GP – Eastbourne, East Sussex
GP Partner/Salaried GP – Henfield West Sussex
GP Partner/Salaried GP (p/t or f/t) – Littlehampton, West Sussex
Locum GP – Upper Norwood SE19
Locum GP – Newhaven, East Sussex
Maternity Cover Salaried GP (p/t) - Brighton
Maternity GP locum – Addlestone, Surrey
Maternity GP Locum (short contract) – Walton-on-Thames,
Surrey
Maternity Locum GP - Tadworth, Surrey
Maternity Locum Required – Guildford, Surrey
Maternity Locum – Chichester, West Sussex
Maternity cover GP(s) - Staines-Upon-Thames, Middlesex
Salaried GPs(2) – Sunbury on Thames, Surrey
Salaried GP – Heathfield, East Sussex
Salaried GP with view to Partnership - Lancing, West Sussex
Salaried GP – Thames Ditton, Surrey
Salaried GP – Camberley, Surrey
Salaried GP – Portslade & Hove, Brighton
Salaried GP – Burwash, East Sussex
Salaried GP (f/t) - Crawley, West Sussex
Salaried GP or GP Partner – Selsey, West Sussex
Salaried GP (p/t) – Ewell, Surrey
Salaried GP – Kingston Upon Thames/Surbiton, Surrey
Salaried GP (6 session) with view to Partnership – Pirbright,
Surrey
Salaried GP – Godalming, Surrey
Salaried GP – Yapton/Middleton, West Sussex
Salaried GP (f/t) and Locum for Maternity Leave – Warlingham,
Surrey/Selsdon, Croydon
Salaried GP – Crawley, West Sussex
Salaried GP – Woking, Surrey
Salaried GP - Bognor Regis West Sussex
Salaried GP with view to partnership – Lewes, East Sussex
Salaried GP - Lancing West Sussex
Salaried GP – Farnham, Surrey
Salaried GP for 6-8 sessions
Salaried GP – South Norwood SE25
Salaried GP with view to partnership – St Leonards-on-Sea, East
Sussex
Salaried GP – Wonersh, Guildford, Surrey
Salaried GP with a view to partnership - Littlehampton, West
Sussex
Salaried GP (p/t) – Camberley, Surrey
Salaried GP - Ashtead, Surrey
Salaried GP – South Norwood SE25
Salaried GP post with a view to Partnership - Stone Cross,
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Salaried GP – Pulborough, West Sussex
Salaried GP (p/t) – Tolworth, Surrey
NHS Coastal West Sussex CCG – Named GP for Safeguarding
Children
Practice Manager – West Byfleet, Surrey
Business/Strategy Manager – Littlehampton, West Sussex
Assistant Manager (Contracts) – Sheen, SW London
Reception Services Supervisor – Portslade & Hove, Brighton
Receptionist (p/t) – Saltdean, East Sussex
Locum Receptionists - Crawley, West Sussex
Receptionist/Administrator – New Malden, Surrey
Receptionist/Administrator – Cranleigh, Surrey
GP Receptionist – South Norwood, SE25
Medical Secretary (p/t) – Hove, East Sussex
Scanner, Clinical Coder and Notes Summariser – Horley, Surrey
Practice Nurse - Stone Cross, East Sussex
Practice Nurse - Merstham, Surrey
Practice Nurse – Portslade & Hove, Brighton
Practice Nurse (p/t) – Woking, Surrey
Practice Nurse (p/t) – Richmond, Surrey
Nurse Practitioner (p/t) – Guildford, Surrey
Lead Practice Nurse (f/t) – Kingston-on-Thames
Practice Nurse – Saltdean, East Sussex
Practice Nurse – East Preston, West Sussex
Nurse Practitioner – East Preston, West Sussex
Practice Nurse – Purley, Surrey
Practice Nurse (f/t or p/t) – Cranleigh, Surrey
Research Nurse – Addlestone, Surrey
Practice/Treatment Room Nurse – Purley, Surrey
Practice Nurse – Hailsham, East Sussex
Practice Nurse – Wonersh, Guildford, Surrey
Practice Nurse - Bagshot, Surrey
Advanced Nurse Practitioner(s) – Peacehaven, East Sussex
Nursing Assistant (p/t) – Lancing, West Sussex
Maternity Locum Nurse – Thames Ditton, Surrey
Diabetes Specialist Nurse – Crawley, West Sussex
Health Care Assistants/Phlebotomists (f/t or p/t) - Cranleigh,
Surrey
Surrey and Sussex LMCs issues the LMC Line bulletin which combines frequently asked questions, issues raised at the GPC
and information about LMC activities.
If you wish to make a brief contribution, please send it to Mrs Liz Gosman or
Dr Richard Brown at the LMC office:The White House, 18 Church Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8BB
Tel. 01372 389270 Fax. 01372 389271 E-mail: liz.gosman@sslmcs.co.uk or Richard.Brown@sslmcs.co.uk
Visit our website for further information:
www.sslmcs.co.uk
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