WELCOME TO OUR MARCH 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. 

Save The Date For Our 2026 Conference

We are pleased to confirm that registration is now open for this year’s Essex Practice Manager Conference which will take place on Tuesday 19^th May 2026 at The Lion House, Boreham. 

Bookings are via Eventbrite where you will find further details and the link to register is here:-  Essex LMC Practice Manager Conference 2026 Registration

The Conference is open to Practice Managers, Deputy/Assistant Practice Managers and any other practice staff that you think will benefit from attending.

Ticket rates are as follows:-

Advance Purchase Tickets are available until 19^th April 2026

First delegate                                                 £75.00

Second & subsequent delegates               £65.00  

Bookings made from 20^th April 2026

Standard rate (all delegates)                     £99.00

Numbers are limited and therefore please book early to secure your place.

If you have any questions regarding the event please do not hesitate to contact the LMC office via events@essexlmc.org.uk

We look forward to welcoming you back in May.

Nominations Closed - Elections Taking Place

The nomination process has now concluded.  Elections are taking place in two areas:-

·       Witham, Braintree & Halstead – voting closes at midday on 6^th April 2026.

·       West Essex Locum GP Representative – voting opens 30^th March and closes   at midday on 17^th April 2026. 

Please  Login - Essex LMC  to the Essex LMC portal and navigate to the “Elections” tab.

If you have not yet registered, you can do so here:  GP Registration   Further information on the LMC portal can be found on the LMC website:  Online Portal - Essex LMC

Details of LMC membership for all constituency areas will be published once these elections have concluded.

If you have any questions regarding LMC membership or registering on the portal, please contact events@essexlmc.org.uk

Local Medical Committee Funding

The Essex LMCs are funded entirely by a population levy on practices. This levy is a Statutory requirement for GMS practices and can also be paid on a voluntary basis by APMS contractors. The Committees representing North and South Essex have recently approved an increase in the levy to 46.67p per patient for North Essex and 46.83p per patient for South Essex for the financial year 2026-27.

LMCs were established in 1911 and records in Essex date from just after this time. The Committee has been recognised under NHS Acts since 1948 as having the Statutory responsibility for the representation of GPs working in the NHS. The specific roles carried out by the LMC are summarised as follows:

• Representing, supporting and promoting the interests of all NHS GPs and practices in the County. From April 2026 this will align with the new Essex Integrated Care Board.
• Providing an independent voice for general practice.
• Advising and advocating on behalf of GPs and practices.
• Providing pastoral and wellbeing support to individuals.
• Liaising with NHS and other bodies.
• Negotiating and developing treatment pathways and agreed shared care agreements.

Much of our current work involves promoting the role of general practice in the new “10 year plan” Neighbourhoods, and the need for GPs to be central to all reforms which involve the transfer of work into primary and community settings.

LMC members generally represent geographic areas with additional seats for locums and co-opted special  interest doctors. Our offices are outside Hatfield Peverel in Mid Essex.

LMC Portal Update

Thank you to all who have registered so far. We currently have approximately 850 users registered signed up. If you have not yet registered, you will find the links below. We kindly ask that you also share these with colleagues and encourage them to register.

Practice/PCN Manager Registration

GP Registration

A brief overview of the portal can be found in this short video: www.Essexlmc.org.uk/online-portal

EMIS postpones dispensing module charge, as pressure mounts on NHSE

EMIS has postponed the introduction of the dispensing module user charge from 1 April, following representations by the DDA.

The DDA met with EMIS to discuss the new charge to be implemented following the withdrawal of NHS funding for this service from 1 April. 

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.

Cameron Fund Spring Newsletter and Annual Review and Impact Report 2025

Both the Cameron Funds' newsletter for Spring 2026 and their Annual Review and Impact Report for 2026 have now been released and can be viewed on our website.

10 Year Plan - LMC Document

The LMC has produced a 10-Year briefing plan document which summarises the plan and provides some useful links for further reading. 

GP Practice Appointments Data - January 2026

Our briefing document synthesises the operational data and patient engagement metrics for General Practice (GP) services across Essex for the period of January 2026.

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.

Despite this high throughput, efficiency is impacted by over 31,000 "Did Not Attend" (DNA) appointments, resulting in thousands of wasted clinical hours. Access remains a priority, with nearly half of patients contacting practices receiving same-day appointments, and a substantial portion of the patient population continuing to be seen in person.

GP Practice Workforce Data - January 2026

The Essex LMC workforce data as of January 2026 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 - approaching 2.02 million patients by late 2025 - the primary care workforce is currently experiencing a decline.

Between December 2025 and January 2026, every key workforce metric for permanent GPs (both Partners and Salaried) saw a reduction in both headcount and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) capacity.

This reduction indicates a tightening of primary care resources at a time when the regional population requirements are at an all-time high.

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

Please remember to follow us on Facebook and/or 'X', and connect with us on LinkedIn. Please click on any of the icons below to connect with us on your preferred platform(s).