The LMC aims “to represent and support general practice; to ensure that GPs are properly valued, and their skills properly utilised; and that, while serving the public, they are able to uphold appropriate standards of practice, and enjoy a standard of living commensurate with their professionalism, commitment and training.”

The Local Medical Committee (LMC) is a statutory body representing all local general practitioners working within the NHS. Its boundaries must be coterminous with one or more Primary Care Trust (PCT). As the local representative committee of NHS GPs, it is recognised in the NHS Acts & Regulations as the body with whom PCTs must consult on issues affecting the administration of GPs’ contracts and remuneration. The LMC also has many other professional and statutory responsibilities including the provision of professional advice under the NHS Complaints Procedures.

The LMC represents the views of GPs to PCTs and a variety of local bodies including: local authorities, other NHS Trusts, other contractor professionals, patient representative bodies, MPs, and national bodies such the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA (GPC), the General Medical Council (GMC) and local and national media. The LMC’s relationships within the NHS are sketched out in the flow chart below:

Finally, the LMC has traditionally looked after the interests of individual constituents needing advice or assistance. This pastoral responsibility includes: assistance to GPs suffering ill health, or help in responding to complaints and conciliating in intra or inter-practice disputes.

The elected members of the LMC remain at the heart of the organisation but, acting under their direction, our expanded secretariat enables us to play a proactive role in visiting and assisting practices, helping resolve their problems, representing their concerns and those of the LMC generally to the PCTs, and providing and circulating information and ideas.