GPC Report 16 October 2014

GPC Report

For East and West Sussex LMCs

Dr Russell Brown

16 October 2014

The GPC held its latest last week.   The latest official GPC news can be found at the BMA Communities web site.  The meeting this time was in two parts, with GPC proper held in the morning session and subcommittee meetings in the afternoon.  I was elected for a further year as Deputy Chairman of the Commissioning and Services Development Subcommittee.

Unfortunately, almost everything we discussed in the morning was confidential.  Consequently, I can’t say very much at all.

However, the new Dementia Identification Scheme was discussed.  I understand the BMA is unable to advise GPs not to do this work as this would be tantamount to inciting improperly formulated industrial action.  My personal viewpoint is that this is work which is verging on unethical in the way the scheme has been devised and that this money, which has been located from the back of a sofa somewhere in the otherwise allegedly financially moribund Department of Health, would have been much better used towards a properly negotiated and structured package of work which might actually made a difference to those families suffering from the effects of a member with dementia.  But that is politicians for you.  I fully expect many practices to sign up to this in an effort to get at least some funding through the door.  I am also fundamentally unsurprised at the press coverage on this, most of which seems focussed on the erroneous impression that a GP will be paid £55 just for making a diagnosis.  

The CSD meeting in the afternoon discussed networks and federations, co-commissioning and integration.  There is much work going on in many places in the country.  Again, much of this discussion is and was confidential.

I hope you have found this report helpful, though given it’s structure and the dearth of information in it this month..…  Please feedback so that I can ensure my reports are useful.  

Dr Russell Brown

GPC report 18 September 2014

GPC Report

For East and West Sussex LMCs

Dr Russell Brown

18 September 2014

The GPC held its latest meeting a couple of weeks ago.   The latest official GPC news can be found at the BMA Communities web site.  The meeting this time was in two parts, with GPC proper held in the morning session which predominantly involved the executive team presenting the details of the proposed contractual changes and breakout groups in the afternoon to discuss them in the afternoon.

This report is, as a result, rather shorter than usual.  Anyone audibly celebrating this fact will be looked at sternly.

As you will no doubt be aware, the negotiations for changes to GPs’ contracts have concluded and been announced.  Chaand Nagpaul has sent out one of his regular updates and the details can be found on the BMA website at http://bma.org.uk/gpcontract2015.  

I know this is usually trotted out, but I have such a grumpy reputation that I hope my reassurance that this is the best deal that could have been achieved is sufficient.  It would be fair to say that, this year, neither side came away from negotiations happy.  Perhaps this reflects a successful process.

However, this is barely the beginning of the work that is needed to protect General Practice and put it on a sound footing.  If you like, the contract negotiations are simply a box that needed to be ticked so we can get on with the more important work.  With this in mind, GPC is already engaging with the DH and has proactively suggested several ways forward.  Details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/mvry8yw but there are 8 suggestions which we hope to base urgent discussions upon.

The next meeting is to be held on 16 October 2014.  It would be very helpful to hear your feedback on the contractual changes before then, if you feel able to.

I hope you have found this report helpful.  Please feedback so that I can ensure my reports are useful.  

Dr Russell Brown