Practice Management
Written: 02 April 2025
We are writing to update colleagues now that the national Advice and Guidance Enhanced Service has been published: it is available at:
Enhanced Service Specification – General Practice Requests for Advice and Guidance 2025/26
ICBs have also been sent a guidance...
6th September 2024
I am writing to highlight the latest amendments to the Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE) as below:
The General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) Directions 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Global Sum: As noted in my earlier letter of...
Dr Julius Parker wrote to colleagues on the 18th of December 2024 to clarify the contractual position in relation to the use of the BMA Model Contract when employing Salaried General Practitioners, following a number of queries the Office has received.
The LMC cannot provide formal HR Advice...
Written: 06th March 2025
Update: 2024/25 Capacity and Access Improvement Payment (CAIP) Online Access Component
I am writing to update all colleagues now the final month of the 2024/25 financial year has arrived.
As colleagues will recall the three components of the 2024/25 CAIP, collectively...
Written: 24 February 2025
I am writing to all colleagues to advise on a change to the recommended maternity leave policy within the BMA Model Contract, applicable to GMS/PMS practices employing general practitioner colleagues.
This extends the number of weeks for which half maternity pay can...
We are writing to advise colleagues of the forthcoming changes to the list of notifiable diseases all colleagues are required to report. This will take effect from 6th April 2025.
In addition to the existing infections the following diseases should be reported if a patient is suspected of...
Patients Recording Consultations
Patients are legally allowed to record consultations with their GP for personal use, and this does not breach GDPR rules. While covert recordings can feel intrusive and undermine trust, practices cannot legally prevent such recordings. Patients may even share...
NHSE SWL has released some Cyber Guidance notes for practices, these considerations may be useful for any practice wishing to review or update a practice policy:
What to do now:
Ensure all devices are switched on regularly, left on during the day (at least once per week) and rebooted when...
30th October 2024
I am writing to highlight to all practices the required completion of the annual eDEC submission to NHS England.
The final deadline for submission is Monday 25th November 2024.
Many colleagues will be familiar with the eDEC process, based on previous years, using the...
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not legally recognised in the UK, though some individuals may find therapeutic benefit from their presence. NHS GPs are not contractually obligated to provide letters of support for ESAs.
If a GP chooses to provide a letter, this is considered non-NHS work,...
Written: 03rd of March 2025
I am writing to all colleagues to provide details of the arrangements for the GP Contract in 2025/26.
The LMC will also provide a number of webinars for colleagues, additional guidance papers, and I would like to invite colleagues to a F2F evening roadshow in...
The employment of GPs under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) continues to be a topic of considerable discussion among GPs and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across England. There are ongoing concerns about the implications of this scheme, particularly with the structure and pay...
The employment of GPs under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) continues to be a topic of considerable discussion among GPs and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across England. There are ongoing concerns about the implications of this scheme, particularly with the structure and pay...
This guidance outlines the LMC’s position on the provision of smoking cessation services and the prescribing of related medications.
Contractual Offers to Provide Smoking Cessation Services
When a practice receives an offer to provide a smoking cessation service, it is essential to:
Review...
This guide is designed to provide GP practices with the support and guidance required to offer patients online access to their detailed coded record. It is intended as a generic guide as there may be differences in the actual process according to the clinical system that the practice has in...
GMS/PMS Regulations and guidance do not make any reference to an age at which patients become eligible or entitled to view their own records independently.
However, it is generally accepted that:
“Fraser/Gillick-competent” children are entitled to access their medical records (or authorise...
Online access by patients
Online access to health records by patients appears to have much wider associated risks and potential workload for practices than the transactional on-line services of appointment booking and prescription ordering.
NHS England has confirmed that practices are not...
Guidance Note/Checklist for Practice Managers
This checklist is designed to guide practice managers in managing the process of a GP partner's retirement in a UK GP surgery, ensuring all necessary actions are taken to manage the transition smoothly.
1. Notice and Initial Preparations
Provide...
Welcome!
As a newcomer to general practice management (NTPM), the sheer amount of information to find and absorb may seem overwhelming. This page is dedicated to offering some signposting that should assist you in navigating your initial months in the role.
Should you have any particular...
Written: 20 January 2025
I am writing to all colleagues regarding the letter sent by NHS England to remind all PCNs about their 2024/25 GP in ARRS funding.
Colleagues will recall that from October 2024, the ARRS was amended and additional funding provided to allow the recruitment of GPs under...
Written: 15 January 2025
Update: Prospective Access to Medical Records
I am writing as a number of practices have contacted the LMC noting they had received recent communications from their ICB about their provision of Prospective Access to Medical Records.
Colleagues will recall the furore...
Written: 6th October 2024
We wished to highlight the need for practices to accurately record Residential Institute (RI) Codes for patients who reside in either a care home or residential home, in order to ensure an accurate Global Sum weighting is applied to such patients.
Many colleagues may...
Guidance for practices in regard of staff members who decline to be vaccinated
--- Download a copy of this guidance (to access the flowchart links) here
Background
Since 1 October 2023, there has been an increase in measles cases across England though so far not many in the south of England....
Just as the seasons follow a regular cycle, so too does NHS England, in issuing Standard GMS Contract Variation Notices to practices. These occur after 1st April, and, if any changes have occurred in-year, after 1st October. Colleagues should start to receive an email from your commissioners...
Guidance on Using SSLMCs Template Letters for Collective Action
The Surrey and Sussex Local Medical Committees (SSLMCs) have developed these template letters to support GP practices in addressing inappropriate workload transfers and other non-contractual demands. These letters are designed to...
Written: 06th March 2025
Following final confirmation from NHS England, I can confirm the 2025/26 Global Sum will be £121.79, representing an uplift of £9.29 [8.26%] on 2024/25 Global Sum value of £112.50.
The OOHs deduction remains at 4.75%, representing £5.78.
The QOF point value in 2025/26...
