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WELCOME TO OUR SEPTEMBER 2024 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.
2024 PCN Conference
On Tuesday, September 24, we held our annual PCN Conference at the Lion House Boreham. The event was kindly supported by our sponsors for the day and we welcomed guest speakers Dr Krishna Kasaraneni - GP Partner, Steel City General Practice, Dr Michael Harrison from Beds and Herts LMCs, Louise Dean from Larking Gowan Accountants, and Tara Humphrey, CEO and host of The Business of Healthcare Podcast.
We were also pleased to welcome Dr Riswan Khan of Benfleet PCN and Sally Medd of Chelmsford West PCN who shared details of initiatives that have made a tangible difference within their communities.
We hope that all who attended enjoyed the day and we look forward to hosting this event once again in 2025.
Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration: 2024
The 52nd DDRB (Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body) report is available. The Government accepted the recommendations of the report, and for the first time since 2018/19, the DDRB made recommendations in relation to both GP contractors/partners and salaried colleagues. NHS England/DHSC have now finalised how the DDRB award of 6% for contractors will be implemented, and practices should receive backdated sums to April 2024 in this month’s pay run from ICBs.
The aggregate rise in the 2024/25 GS (Global Sum) payment per weighted patient will be 7.4%, resulting in a new GS payment per weighted patient of £112.50 – an increase of £7.77 compared to 2023/24. The OOHs deduction remains at 4.75% and in absolute terms this will change from £4.97 to £5.34, aligning with the total uplift of 7.4%.
The value of each QOF point in 2024/25 will therefore be £220.62 compared with £213.43 in 2023/24 (an increase of 3.4%). The DDRB has also recommended a 6% increase to GP sessional colleagues’ salary scales from 1 April 2024. GPC England has drafted a focus on document which includes:
- what uplift the DDRB has recommended this year
- the mechanisms used to apply it to the Global Sum
- how this affects the Global Sum payment per weighted patient and;
- why not every practice always gets enough to pass on the full pay uplift to their practice-employed staff.
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
GP Collective Action
GPC England is inviting GP partners/contractors to take at least one of ten actions with effect from 1st August 2024. Further information and the list of actions can be found at: GP contract 2024/25 changes (bma.org.uk) 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.
BMA Safe Working Guidance Handbook
The BMA has produced a Safe Working guidance handbook which is designed to help GP practices make decisions that will allow them to prioritise their limited capacity to deliver safe, high-quality care.
GPC England recommends you can do this by reviewing your currently offered services. Decisions will need to be individualised to the needs of your patients and practice. This approach recognises practices are operating within limited resources, but also the need to stay within the requirements of the GMS/PMS contract.
LMC Vacancies
There are currently a number of vacancies for LMC representatives on both North and South Essex Local Medical Committees. Representative places are open to GP Partners, Salaried and Locum GPs.
The committees meet monthly with the majority of meetings held via Teams, although several face-to-face meetings are held each year - North Essex in Boreham, South Essex in Rayleigh. Further details on being an LMC member can be found here.
If you have any questions regarding LMC membership, or to find out if there is a vacancy in your area, please contact annette@essexlmc.org.uk
A ‘deeply sobering’ assessment of a ‘severely’ broken NHS, says BMA
This month saw the publication of the Darzi review. The review was commissioned by health secretary Wes Streeting to undertake a rapid investigation of the state of the NHS, assessing patient access, quality of care and the overall performance of the health system. The BMA has been clear in its response that the review echoes many of its own concerns and recommendations.
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.
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