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WELCOME TO OUR SEPTEMBER 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.
LMC communications function now live
The communications function on the LMC portal is now live.
With effect from January 2027 all bulk e-mails and the LMC Newsletter will cease, at which point those who do not have an active account on the portal will no longer receive bulk LMC communications and resource materials.
In the interim, we will continue to send communications by e-mail in the usual way, and these will also be available to view within the portal, where they will be stored and remain available for you to access.
Please ensure that you have registered on the portal and encourage GPs working at the practice to also do so. Log In and registration links are included below:-
Practice & PCN Registration - Essex LMC
If you have any questions or issues with registration, please contact the LMC office
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.
And design the career you want
The Mid & South Essex (MSE) Portfolio Development Scheme offers a unique opportunity to support and shape the careers of GPs working within MSE.
Their programme is designed to help you build the career you’ve always dreamed of, with the resources to make it a reality.
By aligning with your individual passions and career goals, they provide support that allows you to specialise in areas that inspire you, unlocking both your potential and your purpose.
National Document Repository: Webinar Dates and Links
The Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service is free to use and has features to help your practice remove the need to manage paper records at registration and deduction.
· Receive and view records sent from another practice
· Zoom into, rotate and free text search records stored in the service
· Store scanned paper Lloyd George records
· Upload electronic health records where GP2GP fails or in scenarios it can't work
· Upload records for patients that have left your practice and need to be made available to a new practice
· Reassign pages in a patient’s scanned paper notes where the wrong patient's information has been included
· View version history of scanned Lloyd George records
· Add and manage staff access restrictions for specific patient records
Full guidance is available here: Help and guidance - NHS England Digital
What this means for you:
· No more printing electronic records to paper
· Spend less time and money on printing
· Faster access to the patient records you need
This is a big step towards simpler, smarter, paperless record management.
Action: As you will start to receive less paper records and more records for review within the service from other practices we recommend you build the Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service into your records management processes and check it at least once every two weeks.
Join NHS England's Patient Record Management team in October for one of their webinars where they will explain all the features and how to use them:
12pm - 1pm 6th October: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0c6e5958-94f3-40d5-979b-07b17f4985c8@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
12pm - 1pm 29th October: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e4884f69-846b-4672-9c8d-ab4a268350a5@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3
Looking for help and guidance on the Access and Store Digital Patient Documents Service? https://digital.nhs.uk/services/access-and-store-digital-patient-documents/help-and-guidance
GP Practice Appointments Data
Our briefing document synthesises the operational data and patient engagement metrics for General Practice (GP) services across Essex.
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.
GP Practice Workforce Data
Our workforce data regularly 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 - the primary care workforce is currently experiencing a decline.
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).
