WELCOME TO OUR MAY 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.

2025 Practice Manager Conference

We would like to thank everyone who attended this year's event which was once again held at the Lion Inn, Boreham.

A special thanks go to our guest speakers Dr Andy Cope and Samuel Lindsey from Mills and Reeve LLP.

We would also like to thank our sponsors for their much valued support to help the day run smoothly.

We hope that you enjoyed the day as much as we did and we cannot wait to host the event once again in 2026.

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.  

QOF Target Questionnaire

The LMC continues to be aware of the difficulties that some practices experience in achieving the Childhood Vaccinations and Immunisations QOF targets due to not being able to exception report because of parental refusal or missing the schedule deadline due to new registrations.

Although there is no change again this year to allow exception reporting, the BMA urge us to continue to collect this information. We have collated information in each of the past three years which has seen 264 responding practices confirm a total loss of circa £1.2millon. This is a significant number and highlights the real concern that we have in this area.

Therefore, we continue to be keen to understand the extent of the problem in Essex and, if you are a practice affected by this, we would be grateful if you could complete our short questionnaire in order for us to collate this information again that will be shared with the BMA to further inform ongoing discussions with NHS England.

We ask for all practices where possible to supply this information to us.  

Please note that the closing date is 30 June 2025.

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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