GPC report 21 April 2016

GPC Report
For East and West Sussex LMCs
Dr Russell Brown
21st April 2016

The GPC held its latest meeting on 21st April.

NHS England published its "General Practice: Forward View" on the morning of GPC and it formed the major part of the morning session.  It can be found on the NHSE website.   There has been significant input from GPC and work that has been ongoing has been incorporated into the document by NHSE. Nevertheless, although there is much in it which is of promise, the devil is in the detail which is apparent by its absence and the money, though seemingly a large amount, would seem to be inadequate for what is needed.  For this reason, the BMA and GPC declined to "cobadge" the document, a position at variance with that of the RCGP.  It is certainly a starting point and an acknowledgement of the crisis that exists but it is not a rescue package that would be recognisable to most GPs. GPC will engage with NHSE to thrash out the necessary details.  An email has already gone out from Chaand Nagpaul to GPs which is available on the BMA website.  As you might imagine, I have my own views on the document but I would be interested to hear your views so I can properly represent them during discussions at GPC.

The afternoon was taken up considering a report by the GPC reform task group, chaired by previous GPC chair and chair of BMA council Hamish Meldrum. You may recall an extensive and lengthy piece of work has been going on to consider reformation of GPC and how it interacts with and answers to LMCs. This work is near completion and the report will be published next week, with a commentary from the GPC executive team generated by this afternoon's debate, in time to go out with the documents associated with the forthcoming Annual Conference of LMCs. Many of the recommendations require discussion at Conference or by the wider BMA before moving forward.  Some require changes to standing orders and bylaws of the Association. However, several are in the gift of GPC and were decided on at the meeting.  Details are currently embargoed until the paper is formally published. That being the case, there may be a short addendum to my report next week with more details. If anything more illuminating is released from the centre before then, I will let you know.

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

Dr Russell Brown