WELCOME TO OUR JUNE 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. 

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.

Save The Date - 2025 PCN Conference

We are pleased to confirm that this year’s PCN Conference will be held on Tuesday 21^st October 2025 at The Lion House, Boreham. Further information and details of how to register will be circulated in due course.

The event is open to all PCN Clinical Directors/Managers, GPs, Practice/Business Managers, and any other staff involved in the management/administration of PCNs.  

PCN Success Stories Sought

We are pleased to invite Primary Care Networks to take part in this year’s Share Your PCN Success Stories campaign.

We know there is outstanding work taking place across our PCNs, and we want to highlight your innovative approaches, outcomes, and learning. This year, selected submissions will be invited to present their success stories at our PCN Event which will be held on Tuesday 21^st October 2025 at The Lion House, Boreham.

We welcome stories across a range of themes, including, but not limited to:-

• Improving patient access
• Workforce development and retention
• Digital transformation
• Population health initiatives
• Collaborative working

Please submit your story via this form. The closing date  is Friday 26^th  July 2025.

All submissions will be reviewed and a number will be selected to be presented at the October event. Others may be showcased in a digital campaign and publication, with permission.

We look forward to celebrating your work.

Should you have any questions regarding the campaign, please do not hesitate to contact the LMC office

Online Portal Coming Soon...

Further information will be shared by email to Practice Managers in the coming weeks.

Phase One:
All Essex GPs will be asked to register on the portal in order to access LMC resources and be eligible to stand and/or vote in all future LMC elections. Next scheduled elections will take place in March 2026.

Phase Two:
Practice and PCN Managers will be asked to register on the portal and confirm practice/PCN information.
 

Update On Our Recent Events

We greatly appreciate everyone who participated in the LMC facilitated evening events on 2^nd April and 1^st May. These events provided a valuable opportunity for local GPs and Practice Managers to connect with the LMC team and representatives, engage in discussions on key challenges, exchange insights, and explore strategies to enhance collaboration between primary and secondary care. The presence of several hospital consultants contributed to very productive discussion, highlighting a range of shared concerns and priorities.

Primary Care Workload Pressures:  GPs are facing growing pressure due to inappropriate workload transfers, especially in mental health, and a lack of understanding from secondary care about primary care limitations. Unfunded expectations, inadequate communication, and administrative inefficiencies are making the workload increasingly unsustainable.

Systemic Communication Failures:  Poor coordination between primary and secondary care, confusing referral processes, and a lack of leadership are contributing to disjointed services. Advice and Guidance systems and DNA follow-up processes often shift responsibility unfairly back to GPs.

Secondary Care Challenges:  There are structural issues in secondary care, including unclear responsibilities, poor consultant communication, and a blame culture that undermines effective partnership with primary care. Services like weight management and shared care lack clarity and coordination.

Opportunities for Change:  Improved collaboration through regular GP-Consultant meetings, clear role definitions, and LMC advocacy could help re-balance workloads and strengthen joint accountability in patient care.

Feedback from both events was overwhelmingly positive, with most delegates expressing a strong interest in holding similar meetings twice a year. Due to other commitments, we aim to schedule six- monthly meetings from 2026, with the next event planned for early Spring.  Further details will be shared with practices in due course. In the meantime, the LMC office will continue to liaise with consultant colleagues across local hospital trusts to support ongoing collaboration.

Updated Zero Tolerance Guidance 

North & South Essex LMCs operate a zero-tolerance policy to abuse and violence directed to General Practice.

Abusive, aggressive or threatening behaviour includes verbal and other means (such as letters, emails, and social media postings). It also includes unacceptable use of language, such as swearing or inappropriate sexual references or actions.

Practices are seeing an increasing rise in abuse and violent behaviour from their patients. Dealing with such behaviour puts a huge strain on time and resources and causes unacceptable stress for staff. When GP practices have a patient who is violent or exhibiting behaviour that makes them fear for their safety, the patient should be immediately removed from the practice list.

We have created a guidance document to reflect NHS Regulations which also includes guidance from both NHS England and the BMA.

GPCE Guidance on Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

From 23 June 2025, Tirzepatide must be implemented in primary care. Tirzepatide represents a new therapy for weight management, but requires structured implementation, appropriate monitoring, and clarity around responsibilities.

Full guidance can be found on our website as to what this means for General Practice. 

BMA Focus on Advice & Guidance

The use of Advice and Guidance remains optional for GPs.

NHS England published a national specification for the enhanced service and has confirmed that this must be followed across all systems. Where a local system is requesting a process over and above the national specification, this needs to be flagged to the LMC, or raised directly with GPC England by emailing: info.gpc@bma.org.uk

The BMA has produced a Focus on Advice & Guidance document too.

Ten Top Tips for Financial Wellbeing

Cameron Fund Treasurer, Dr Simon Parkinson, has written an update letter regarding the Cameron Fund’s ‘Ten Top Tips for Financial Wellbeing‘. A document in this respect has also been produced.

Both the letter and the document can be found on our website

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

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.

GP Practice Workforce Data

Using data from NHS Digital, we now provide monthly workforce data for Essex GP Practices, Male/Female GP Ratios, and GP Ethnicity documents. 

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