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WELCOME TO OUR JULY 2026 NEWSLETTER
This publication is sent to all Essex GP Practices via their Practice Managers. However, we encourage anyone who would like to receive this communication directly, to subscribe below.
LMC Digital Portal Update
Functionality is being introduced in phases and in the near future we will begin to send LMC communications via the portal. Additional functions will include 24/7 access to LMC resources and an AI knowledge bot.
If you have not yet registered, please do so using the following links:
Practice/PCN Managers: Practice/PCN Registration
GPs: GP Registration
GP Registrars: Kindly note that the process for GP Registrars is currently slightly different. If you are a GP Registrar, please e-mail your name and GMC number to events@essexlmc.org.uk as your details currently have to be added by the LMC office manually prior to registration.
Once registered, you can log in using this link: Login - Essex LMC
If you have any questions or issues with registration, please contact Annette or Sarah via the LMC office
FP69 Financial Impact Briefing
The LMC Support Network has produced a Financial Impact Briefing Report. This report has been prepared for practices and their local media, including newspapers and other regional news outlets.
To support media engagement, a “Notes for Editors” section has been included. We encourage you to share the report as widely as possible to maximise media coverage and raise awareness of the significant financial pressures facing your practices
Cameron Fund Summer Newsletter 2026
The Cameron Fund Summer 2026 newsletter is now available to read.
2026 Report
We continue to be aware of the difficulties that some practices have experienced in achieving higher thresholds for Childhood Vaccinations and Immunisations QOF targets as a consequence of not being able to exception report because of parental refusal or missing the schedule deadline due to new registrations etc.
We recently sent a survey out to practices and thank you to 63 of you who responded with your figures for this QOF domain. We have now concluded our exercise in this regard and have prepared a report for GPC England to use in future negotiations with NHS England.
QOF Business Rules v51 2026
The latest version of the Datasets and Business Rules (V51) have been issued by NHS Digital and for Obesity, they include an exception code for no secondary care service commissioned.
Practices can add a Personalised Care Adjustment (Exception Reporting) by using the code 999037061000230108 to except patients from the Obesity areas.
Practice Manager Supporter Scheme
Support for Practice & PCN Managers in Essex: You’re Not Alone!
The Practice Manager Supporter Scheme (PMSS)
Offering free, confidential support for:
- Practice Managers
- PCN Managers
- Deputy & Assistant Managers
What You’ll Get:
- One-to-one support from experienced managers
- Peer-to-peer Personal Development Reviews (PDRs)
- Guidance tailored to your role
- A safe, confidential space to share
- Advice from people who understand your challenges
Your Supporters
A team of 5 Practice Managers and 1 PCN Manager, actively working across Essex, ready to support you wherever you’re based.
100% Confidential | 100% Free
Everything you share stays between you and your chosen supporter. No judgement. No pressure. Just practical support and encouragement when you need it most.
Help shape national policy on NHS patient data sharing
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is running a programme of national engagement with GPs and practice managers on the use of patient data. Further details can be found in the message below from Ipsos.
LMCs are being asked to share details of the programme, which runs until October, with constituent practices.
Help shape how health data is used across the NHS
Important decisions are being made about how patient data is used across the NHS - and you can help shape them.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has commissioned a national programme of engagement to understand the views and experiences of GPs and practice managers on the use of health data. This programme is being delivered independently by Ipsos and Kaleidoscope Health and Care.
This is not a tick-box consultation. Your input will genuinely influence national policy and legislation.
What is this about?
The engagement covers the use of patient data across three key areas:
· Individual patient care: When and how other health professionals can access and add to the GP patient record (with a current focus on the Single Patient Record).
· Planning and population health management: How patient data is used for routine planning at regional and national levels.
· Health research: How GP patient data is used for research into new treatments and medications.
Why your voice matters
GPs and practice managers will be at the centre of delivering these changes - as decision-makers, trusted professionals, and the people who explain data choices to patients. Participating does not require you to take any particular position on data sharing. DHSC simply believes that hearing from professionals with a variety of perspectives, experiences, and concerns is critical.
We are looking to hear from all types of GPs (salaried, partners, locums at all career stages) and practice managers/senior staff. We are especially keen to hear from those in rural, coastal, and deprived areas, as well as single-handed or small practices.
How to get involved (Flexible options)
We know your time is precious. The programme runs from July to October 2026, and you can choose the level of involvement that works for you:
· The Survey (10 mins): Share your immediate views and preferences on patient data sharing.
· Inside View (60 mins): Get up to speed with a recorded expert briefing from DHSC policy leads, available on-demand.
· In-depth Workshops (By invitation): The survey acts as a registration link. You can opt-in to be considered for a structured deliberative process (online and in-person sessions) working directly with policy leads to develop recommendations.
Take the 10-minute survey here: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91120146/DataEngagement
Read more about the programme here: https://dataengagement.kscopehealth.org.uk/
If you have any questions, please contact: DataEngagement@kscopehealth.org.uk
Your participation is entirely voluntary. All data is handled in strict accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Your personal details will never be shared without your explicit consent, and all outputs will be fully anonymised.
National Document Repository: Webinar Dates and Links
The Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service is free to use and has features to help your practice remove the need to manage paper records at registration and deduction.
· Receive and view records sent from another practice
· Zoom into, rotate and free text search records stored in the service
· Store scanned paper Lloyd George records
· Upload electronic health records where GP2GP fails or in scenarios it can't work
· Upload records for patients that have left your practice and need to be made available to a new practice
· Reassign pages in a patient’s scanned paper notes where the wrong patient's information has been included
· View version history of scanned Lloyd George records
· Add and manage staff access restrictions for specific patient records
Full guidance is available here: Help and guidance - NHS England Digital
What this means for you:
· No more printing electronic records to paper
· Spend less time and money on printing
· Faster access to the patient records you need
This is a big step towards simpler, smarter, paperless record management.
Action: As you will start to receive less paper records and more records for review within the service from other practices we recommend you build the Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service into your records management processes and check it at least once every two weeks.
Join NHS England's Patient Record Management team in August for one of their webinars where they will explain all the features and how to use them:
12pm - 1pm 11th August: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4923b7f9-562b-4a04-8e32-df4dbef64a7e@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
12pm - 1pm 27th August: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/03eeeaf8-8d95-45cd-9c65-bddc58e5c8d9@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
Looking for help and guidance on the Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service? https://digital.nhs.uk/services/access-and-store-digital-patient-documents/help-and-guidance
Next Generation GP Essex, is an Essex-wide leadership programme for GP trainees and early career GPs with leadership aspirations. Fully funded places on this programme are available.
The programme will run from September 2026 to January 2027. This scheme offers one evening a month with inspirational healthcare leaders, in a mix of face to face and virtual formats.
The scheme is open to any GP from GPST1 to 7 years post CCT, with leadership aspirations or interests.
The programme dates are:
15 September 2026
13 October 2026
12 November 2026
8 December 2026
26 January 2027
The closing dates for applications is midnight, on the 2nd August.
Consultation on proposed Multi-Neighbourhood Provider (MNP) and Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) contracting models
Please find below a link to a consultation on proposed Multi-Neighbourhood Provider and Single Neighbourhood Provider contracting models:
The consultation is now open and closes on 10th September 2026.
GP Practice Appointments Data
Our briefing document synthesises the operational data and patient engagement metrics for General Practice (GP) services across Essex.
The data reveals a high-volume healthcare environment, with total appointments exceeding one million for the month. Key trends include a significant month-on-month increase in both total and GP-specific appointments, as well as a sharp rise in online consultations, which reached an all-time high for the year-long tracking period.
GP Practice Workforce Data
Our workforce data regularly reveals a critical divergence between patient demand and General Practitioner (GP) availability.
While the registered patient list size has seen consistent, significant growth since October 2022 - the primary care workforce is currently experiencing a decline.
Do you need help with PCSE cases?
Have you waited for more than 40 days for a response from PCSE for a case raised with them? Are you experiencing financial hardship as a result? Or, is there a risk to patient safety? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then the LMC can help you.
Essex LMCs on Social Media
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