DDLMC WEEKLY UPDATE ISSUE 8/23
GP CONTRACT MEETING WITH MINISTER O’BRIEN
GP contract meeting with Minister O’Brien Further to GPC England’s rejection of the 2023/24 contract change proposals at its meeting on 2nd February, we have met with Neil O’Brien MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, to discuss the GP contract deadlock.
We also raised the issue of QOF and the impact of the end of year focus on unnecessary “box ticking” and stressed that less prescriptive quality improvement style approaches would be better, as this would ensure an improved experience for patients with GPs able to focus on the right aspects of their care. We also stressed that the current intended core practice contract funding uplift is insufficient to help cover the cost of practice expenses and we strongly urged the Government to identify additional financial support for 2023/24 to ensure practices are not forced to reduce their workforce and thus patient access, to cut costs or, even more worryingly, cease operating altogether. As we stated in the last newsletter, if the Government and NHS England refuses to negotiate an improved offer, and a contract is imposed on practices, we would be forced to consider all options, including the potential for industrial or collective action.
2023/24 GP CONTRACT UPDATE WEBINARS
The BMA are organising five webinars to ensure that every GP has an opportunity to hear about this year’s contract changes, ask questions, and share their feedback, at no cost.
The GPCE officers will deliver the same presentation at each webinar, meaning that attendees need only attend the event most convenient to them. These webinars will replace the roadshow events familiar to many from pre-pandemic times. The unusual lead up and consequent delay to this year’s negotiations has rendered that approach impractical. It will also free up more time for in-person engagement with the officers regarding the future shape of the contract.
The BMA encourage as many members to attend these events as possible, as they will use these as an opportunity to explain our next step options and hear member feedback. Further details and registration will be available via the BMA’s Events page in due course, and will include the registration links in the next bulletin/update.
The planned dates and times are:
- Tuesday 21st March 19.00-20.30
- Wednesday 22nd March 12.30-14.00
- Wednesday 29th March 19.00-20.30
- Thursday 30th March 12.30-14.00
- Thursday 30th March 19.00-20.30
The presentation will be delivered first, with questions answered afterwards, so that those who cannot stay for the full 90 minutes will still have the key information.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital ICE Order Comms system update
Chesterfield Royal Hospital are upgrading their ICE Order Comms system on Monday 27th February starting at 06:00am and to be completed by approx. 10:00am. During this period the ICE Order Comms system, including viewing results and requesting tests will be unavailable.
GP Practice monthly update - February 2023 (pcsengland.co.uk)
Deadline reminder
GPs and non GP Partners who are members of the NHS Pension scheme are reminded that the deadline for submitting 2021/22 Type 1 and Type 2 End of Year certificates is 28 February 2023.
Using PCSE Online to submit a Type 1 or Type 2 form saves time compared to downloading a form from NHS Pensions’ website to complete and submit to us, and helps to avoid any errors or delays.
PCSE have recently hosted a number of webinars to help GPs and non GP Partners complete their End of Year forms on PCSE Online.
- To view the webinar for Type 1 Annual Certificates, please click here
- To view the webinar for Type 2 Self Assessments, please click here
They have also created an easy-to-follow Type 1 and Type 2 Step by Step Guide to help members complete the end of year process successfully. You can find this guide here.
Improvement to practice statements
We have enhanced the information in the Pensions Contribution section of the practice statement to make it clearer which process and Pension Scheme Member an adjustment relates to.
Please see our new Information Sheet found here for more details
WEBINAR INVITE FROM THE EVENT DIRECTOR FOR BEST PRACTICE SHOW
‘The Fuller stocktake: next steps for integrating primary care’
Wednesday 1st March at 12:30-13:15
To register for the webinar, click here:
Please note this is a pre-recorded webinar and there won't be the opportunity for live Q&A.
In May 2022, Professor Claire Fuller finished her report on integrating primary care and what can be done to accelerate integration across the four pillars of general practice, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry.
Now nine months on (and after unfortunately having had to cancel her appearance at October’s edition of Best Practice) she is on hand to talk to Liam Richardson, Content Director at CloserStill Media to reflect on the report and what’s been happening since its publication.
Agenda:
- What is the vision for integrating primary care?
- What’s currently blocking progress being made?
- How does the integration of primary care align with the work at system level, in ICSs?
- What are the main opportunities and how do we harness them?
- Since publication, is there anything else that’s emerged or what actions are being taken?
To register for the webinar for FREE, click here:
Message sent on behalf of NHS England
As you will be aware from previous communication, Silicon Practice have notified us that their business is currently being restructured due to the retirement of the founding partners. Silicon Practice supply the ‘Footfall’ online consultation product and also supply practice websites.
Discussions continue with a third party in respect of its acquisition of Silicon Practice. NHSE has undertaken due diligence to confirm that there are no objections to the sale, and the parties are now working through the remaining legal points. We hope to be able to provide further details this week, but we can confirm that it is the intention that existing Silicon Practices services will continue without disruption.
ICB colleagues, please ensure that this latest update is cascaded to GP Practices within your area.
If you have any immediate questions, please email the NHSE Commercial & Procurement Hub commercial.procurementhub@nhs.net.
CONFERENCE | INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL | 17 MAY
We would like to make practices aware that bookings are now open for the annual Darling Bugs of May Conference – Infection & Prevention Control. This will be held at Trent Vineyard on 17 May. This conference includes numerous speakers from the Infection Prevention and Control Industry.
A wide range of subjects will be covered including IPC and human factors, IPC in mental health settings, community and acute focus.
NHS HEALTH CHECKS STUDY DAY | 28 JUNE
Derbyshire County Adult Social Care and Health are holding an NHS Health Checks Study Day on 28 June. This is for any member of staff who is new to delivering NHS Health Checks OR staff who may not have delivered NHS Health Checks for some time and require a refresher session.
To register for this course please contact Jo Perkins on jo.perkins@derbyshire.gov.uk
For more information see this flyer.
‘Which’ PODCAST – WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET A GP APPOINTMENT
The BMA media team set up an interview with ‘Which?’ on the topic of GP appointments and access to GPs. They have made this podcast and shared it via Spotify. The link is below for the podcast.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PQD8WcrfnmpPGEWJt0a9o?si=0c88f1eb65334cdd
It has also been shared on social media - https://twitter.com/grace_forell/status/1622992048923066369?s=61&t=984GS5rzVHILnsodmOI6hg
NHSE PRIMARY CARE WEBINARS
MAKING GENERAL PRACTICE WEBSITES HIGHLY USABLE AND HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE
Thursday 16 March 2023 from 12:30 to 13:30
Hear about the user research on what patients are seeking from practice websites and how this learning can be used to improve the usability of practice websites to the benefit of patients and practices.
To register click here
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WORKFORCE: MATCHING WORKFORCE TO DEMAND How do you design a role to better match the demand in your general practice / PCN? Where can you start? Join this webinar to know more and hear about practical approaches to building your workforce. Webinar hosts will explore how to use QI tools to design and create new ways of working, guided by workforce redesign principles to ensure they are safe, effective, and sustainable. They will encourage the sharing of experiences, as well as thinking about how we help our workforce become a team. |