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WELCOME TO OUR JANUARY 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.
LMC Elections 2024
The following LMC constituencies are due for re-election in March 2024.
Constituency
Basildon
Billericay, Brentwood & Wickford
Colchester
Epping
Tendring
Thurrock
Nomination letters were e-mailed to practices on 23rd January. Copies of the nomination letters and nomination forms are available to download from the LMC website: Election Timetable - Essex LMC
Nominations must be supported by two GPs working in the constituency and sent to annette@essexlmc.org.uk by 23rd February 2024. If the number of nominations for any constituency exceeds the number of places available, an election will be held.
If you have any questions please contact annette@essexlmc.org.uk
2022/23 End of Year Pensions Process
NHS Pensions will shortly be publishing the 2022/23 Type 1 Annual Assessment of Pensionable Profit and Type 2 Medical Practitioner Self- Assessment forms, along with guidance notes here.
New submission deadline
NHS Pensions have extended the deadline for Pension Scheme Members to submit their 2022/23 end of year pension forms. The new deadline for submission of the 2022/23 Type 1 and Type 2 certificates is now 31 March 2024.
Our website has been updated with details of webinars that you can attend for guidance as to how to complete your 2022/23 certificates.
Support for GPs and Primary Care
When you work in Primary Care and you’re seeking support, it can feel overwhelming to know where to look or even know what it is you’re looking for. With this in mind, Primary Care Careers have worked with the national team to ensure everything included on their new ‘support for people working in primary care’ page is accessible to all working in primary care. The new page is available for all to view, and people can access it whenever they want on any mobile device or PC that they feel comfortable using. The page has three main sections: coaching, training, and health & wellbeing to give you a start point for support. It’s easy to use and we would encourage you to take a look at the page and bookmark it so you can return to it easily.
An LMC document has also been produced to summarise the support available to GPs.
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.
Best Practice London Show - February 2024
The next conference and exhibition within the Best Practice brand is around the corner on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th February at Olympia, London. It is the largest gathering of general practice HCPs from within London and the South-East, and it is FREE to attend! Now over 2,000 HCPs registered to attend.
Visitors to the event will have free access to more than 100 keynote, clinical conference and workshops sessions, delivered via six dedicated content theatres for GPs, Practice Managers, Practice Pharmacists and other ARRS roles.
The show is tailored to meet the CPD requirements of healthcare professionals with clinical content closely following the GP curriculum spearheaded by the Royal College of General Practitioners and your attendance will earn you up to 12 CPD points.
Consultation on GP Incentive Schemes
Incentive schemes based on clinical indicators have been part of practice income for almost 20 years. Feedback is being sought as to whether these schemes are working, and, if not, what the alternative mechanisms are that could encourage proactive care, outcomes and clinically led quality improvement.
There is an open consultation by the government on the Role of incentive schemes in general practice, which we think will be of interest. The consultation was launched on the 14 December 2023, and is due to close at 11:59pm, on 7 March 2024.
National Audit Office’s Financial Study
The National Audit Office (NAO) are doing a value for money study entitled Financial management of the NHS in England. The link takes you to the full terms of reference their last interim report from 2020.
In short, the NAO are looking to examine the extent to which the NHS in England is managing its resources well day-to-day. Herts and West Essex ICB has been chosen as one of their case studies, and this would usually involve talks with ICB and trust leads, due to them being public bodies. However, they are also keen to get the voice of Primary Care due to its core part in the health service.
Membership of the Council of Management
The 54th AGM of the Cameron Fund will be held on May 2, 20242 at BMA House, Tavistock Square, London.
Dr Sarah Rann, the member of the Council of Management who jointly represents Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, will be retiring as a Trustee and nominations are sought for a replacement member.
To be eligible for nomination, GPs must already be registered members of the Cameron Fund and nominations should comprise a letter or email signed by the nominee indicating his/her willingness to stand for election.
Forthcoming Finance Webinars For GPs
On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Chase de Vere (part of BMA Services) will be delivering the fourth of five webinars between October 2023 and May 2024 on behalf of Essex LMCs in regards to Pensions, Achieving Financial Goals, Getting Financially Fit for 2024, Pre-Tax Year Considerations, and Financial Considerations for GP Transitions.
All GPs working in Essex are welcome to attend these webinars. A summary from Chase de Vere of what will be covered is included on our website.
Practice Manager Supporter Scheme
The Practice Manage 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 Practice Manager 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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