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WELCOME TO OUR JANUARY 2025 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.
Guidance from PCSE for submitting 2023/24 pensions forms
NHS Pensions has now published pensions forms and the associated guidance for 2023/24. The relevant form(s) must be completed by GP Pension Scheme Members who have undertaken pensionable work, between 01 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, and should be submitted to PCSE no later than 28 February 2025.
To meet the 28 February 2025 deadline, GP Pension Scheme Members and their representatives are advised to submit their 2023/24 Type 1 and Type 2 forms following guidance issued by PCSE.
BMA and PCSE webinars for 2023-24 type 2 pension forms for sessional GPs
A reminder of the change of form and upload process for type 2 pension forms for the year 2023-24.
As a salaried GP, out of hours GP or long-term locum within a practice, you are required to complete a type 2 self-assessment for each pension year, so that NHS England can ensure that all NHS pension contributions have been correctly paid and allocated correctly to the NHS Pension Scheme record.
The relevant forms must be completed by members who have undertaken practitioner pensionable work between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, and should be submitted to PCSE by 28 February 2025. PCSE has scheduled a webinar to explain the new form and the process to upload the forms. BMA pensions committee deputy chair Krishan Aggarwal, will also be attending the webinar to support member queries.
This will be held on:
The BMA is here to support you and you can find more details about these changes on our webpage
Update from Primary Care Careers - The Essentials of People Management Programme launch
Primary Care Careers have launched their 'Essentials of People Management programme'. Whether you’ve been managing people for a while or if managing people is a new responsibility for you, there is something in this programme to help you.
The Essentials of Managing People programme has been designed to support you in managing people, teams and leadership. The content has been broken down into seven modules and the programme is accessible via desk top PC, laptops, tablets and mobiles. Not only can you access the programme via your preferred device, you will also have a choice of videos, audio or reading text to learn with. The Essentials of Managing People programme supports you to work at your own pace, at a time that suits you, using the format you prefer. Whatever you choose, there will be some structure and practical tips to give you reference points that you can return to in the future.
The Essentials of People Management programme is fully funded so there is no cost to you for using it. The only eligibility criteria are that you are employed by a general practice or primary care network (PCN) located in one of the five integrated care boards (ICBs) that make up the Primary Care Careers (PCC) partnership.
Once you’ve signed up you will have access to the welcome and introduction and two of the seven modules, with the remaining five being released between now and April 2025.
GP Collective Action
GPC England is inviting GP partners/contractors to take at least one of nine actions with effect from 1st August 2024. Further information and the list of actions can be found at: GP partners collective action: 9 actions you can take GPC England has advised that none of the proposed actions will place GP partners/contractors in breach of their contract.
Specific guidance for Salaried and Locum GPs can be found: here
A suite of campaign materials are available from the BMA website and include a patient-facing animation that can be used on waiting room screens: GPs on your side animation
GPC England is gathering data on any actions that practices across England are taking in order to measure the impact of collective action. This “Local Action Tracker Survey” has now moved to a monthly, rather than weekly submission. No identifiable data will be gathered as part of the surveys.
Buying Group Recruitment Support
The LMC Buying Group understand that recruitment is often an expensive and time-consuming business, so they created an eye-catching, easy to use recruitment page where any registered member can post their clinical and non-clinical vacancies at no cost. They also offer practices the opportunity to feature their vacancies with a featured package which comes at a small fee.
What they offer
As well as posting the job on their website, they also highlight any new job posting at least once across their social media platforms. This is a free service to any member practice interested in expanding their vacancy reach beyond their region.
They have also introduced a ‘Featured Job’ option for those members that want to draw more attention to their advert. The featured role will appear at the top of the Jobs page in a bright colour and be highlighted on their social media channels each week for a month. This service only costs £50+VAT.
To place an advert, visit the Jobs page and upload your vacancy using the application form template here. If you choose the Featured Advert option, they will send you an invoice once the advert has been posted online.
Please Check Your Smartcard
GP practices are asked to check their smartcards for older versions and contact their Registration Authority team for replacements.
All Series 4,5 and 6 smartcards will no longer be able to sign electronic prescriptions from 31 March 2025. Please contact the Registration Authority (RA) to arrange replacement. Visit this page for help identifying smartcard series type and further information.
Prospective access to records GPC update
Following several reports that the BMA has had from GP practices feeling pressured to enable prospective access, the BMA has produced a paper outlining GPCs position on this matter for dissemination and reference.
BMA advice on dealing with NHSPS
We have been informed that there have been multiple reports of NHSPS pushing practices around the country for debt settlements and giving arbitrary deadlines. Unless there is a legal basis for issuing a deadline, it is only their hope and desire.
Although it is far from certain, it is unlikely that there will be appetite at DHSC and SoS to take practices to court. The financial, political and PR risks that this brings are very high.
Please also bear in mind that when BMA supported five practices in legal cases, they were able to negotiate substantial reductions. BMA have issued further advice in this regard.
An LMC request
Please may we remind all practices that when you send us an e-mail regarding a patient query, could all patient identifiable information, including NHS numbers, be removed from your query.
Thank you in advance.
Questionnaire reminder
Earlier this year we sent out a survey seeking information on requests received by practices which constituted inappropriate transfer of work. We would like to remind you of our survey which can be found on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/F2rMS9MLgS
We have now added a further seven questions to enable us to capture more information around the inappropriate requests that you are receiving. The LMC will use your responses in our continued discussions with ICBs as well as sharing data anonymously with other outlets, including the media.
Further information on managing inappropriate workload requests can be found on our website here: Managing Inappropriate Workload - Essex LMC
Practice Manager Supporter Scheme
The Practice Manager Supporter Scheme (PMSS) offers a dedicated support and advice service to Practice Managers/PCN Managers, recognising the unique challenges they face and helping safeguard their well-being. The supporters will be there to lend a helping hand, ensuring that Practice/PCN Managers have the resources and guidance they need to navigate the demands of their roles.
Initially set up to support Practice Managers, the scheme has been extended to offer the same support to PCN Managers. Advice, support, and peer to peer Personal Development Reviews are available for new, experienced and assistant/ deputy practice managers and PCN Managers in Essex. All interactions are treated with the utmost confidentiality. The information you share with your chosen supporter remains strictly between you and them.
There are six Practice Managers and one PCN Manager Supporter, who are actively working across different regions of the county. Practice/PCN Managers can benefit from this scheme without any associated costs. Our website provides further information and guidance on how to contact a Supporter.
GP Practice workforce data
Using data from NHS Digital, we now provide workforce data for Essex GP Practices, and male/female GP ratio documents, both commencing from November 2022.
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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