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GP Representation – The role of the LMC

Are you familiar with the roles and responsibilities of Wessex LMCs? Dr Gareth Bryant, our former Chief Executive, gives us an overview including:

Watch the recording here or listen to the audio podcast version here. Download the accompanying slides here.

The issue of who represents GPs, practices, and the profession, is a subject that is frequently raised and there remains uncertainty about the role of the GPC, RCGP, local Faculty of the RCGP, the LMC office, the LMC Committee, the ICB and Federations. The following information offers clarity:

The Local Medical Committee (LMC)

The LMC is the only body that has a statutory duty to represent GPs at a local level. This statutory duty was first enshrined in Law in 1911 and has been included in the various NHS Acts over the recent past and is included in the Health and Social Care Act.

The LMC has a constitution that ensures it is representative of GPs, this is updated regularly following consultation with GPs and NHS England. In every area of the country there is a local representative committee called a Local Medical Committee whereby GPs are nominated by their peers. Elections to these roles take place regularly (normally every 2 – 4 years). The committee also ensures there is a balance in terms of representation (contractual status and other factors).

Whilst recognised by statute and having statutory functions, unlike ICBs, LMCs are NOT themselves statutory bodies, they are independent. It is this unique status as independent representative bodies recognised by statute that allows them to be so effective in standing up for and supporting their GPs. They are accountable to the GPs they represent, unlike ICBs who are answerable to NHS England and the Department of Health leaving LMCs free to speak up on behalf of GPs, practices and their patients when others cannot.

The Health and Social Care Act reinforces the requirement for NHS Bodies to consult with the LMC on issues that relate to general practice. It is important to understand that the LMC is not a trade union and cannot act as such, this is the role of the British Medical Association (BMA).

The LMC would therefore consider itself the voice of general practice at a local level. We work for, and support, individual GPs and practices and are also the wider professional voice of general practice.

The current confusion occurs when people consider the role of the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), primary care networks (PCNs), federations or GP provider companies, the Royal College of General Practice (RCGP) and the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA.

Locally the 3 Local Medical Committees that function under the umbrella of Wessex LMCs are:

These are the recognised bodies that represent general practice and these committees have been recognised by NHS England and the ICBs as the local body that represents all GPs.

The LMC, when representing the profession, will try to ensure there is openness, transparency, fairness and equality of opportunity.

The LMC will represent and advise on all matters concerning GPs, whether they are partners or sessional GPs, working in a GMS, PMS or APMS Practice or as a locum, Out of Hours GP or in a different setting that is ever evolving e.g. GP A/E streaming.

The LMC represents the profession in many different ways, for example:

National representation

The LMC represents local GPs' views nationally through representation on and to the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) and by submitting proposals to the annual conference of LMCs.

Communications

LMCs regard communication between representatives and constituent GPs as essential. LMCs communicate with GPs in many ways including:

Links with other bodies

LMCs maintain an extensive network of formal and informal contacts on behalf of GPs with bodies such as:

Helping individual GPs

The LMC will provide help to all GPs on matters relevant to general practice including:

The LMC works very closely with Practice Managers and often attends their local meetings to provide information but also to listen to the local issues that may be affecting general practice.

Education and Training has become an important issue for general practice. In 2012 the LMC established Wessex LEaD which provides an extensive range of events aimed at Practice Managers, Practice Nurses and other staff working in General Practice. The LMC also provides some educational events for GPs.

How do you become a member of the LMC?

Each practice pays a levy to the body that represents them. If you work in a practice, whether that be as a partner or a salaried GP you are a covered by the practice levy. The LMC represents the profession at a local level and this includes all GPs whether they are members of the LMC or not. For locums can access support and representation as individuals by becoming members of the LMC for a small annual fee.

The Committee

Each area has a constitution which defines the geography covered and the constituencies that exist within those boundaries. There are elections held every 2 years for GPs to represent their peers on that committee, each tenure lasts for up to 4 years. It is important to satisfy the true nature of representation in that there is a balance within the committee of ages, sex and contractual types. The committee can co-opt people onto the committee if they believe someone has expertise that would enhance the committee or if it would help in terms of balance in representation.

The committee, once elected, then elects a chair and vice-chair(s).

The individual who is elected to represent their peers is expected to attend LMC meetings and their role is to provide a voice for their constituency, it is not to promote their own issues or that of their practice.

Committee members must be careful in terms of giving advice as an LMC member, as they are not insured to do so.

The Board

In the 1990s there were 6 committees in our area all working independently. Dorset and Wiltshire had a Lay Secretary and Hampshire was divided into 3 committees (Southampton and SW Hants, Portsmouth and SE Hants, North and Mid Hants and the IoW) the 3 Hants committees shared a Medical Secretary and the IoW also had a Medical Secretary.

During the late 1990s and early 2000’s the role of the LMC dramatically changed with the end of the Red Book and the old contract and the introduction of the new GMS Contract, PMS regulations and performance procedures. Greater regionalisation of NHS structures resulted in the various LMCs establishing an organisation that worked on behalf of each LMC and was accountable to them.

Wessex LMCs Ltd was formed – this is a Company Limited by Guarantee; each practice has a liability of £1. The Directors of the company are the chairs and vice-chairs of the 3 LMCs within Wessex. The Board has appointed Joint Chief Executives and a Company Secretary, and they are Dr Laura Ewards and Dr Andy Purbrick

Wessex LMCs Ltd is the body that works on behalf of each committee and holds Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance to undertake that role.

The LMC Office

The Joint CEOs are responsible and accountable for the staff employed by Wessex LMCs and currently this includes:

The LMC Office works with other LMCs and also links with the GPC directly as well as through their representatives.

The Wessex Faculty of the RCGP has a co-opted place on the Hants & IoW LMC.

There is a SW Regional LMC group which includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire and Wessex.

The Directors of Primary Care also belong to a group called LADs which includes the Directors of Primary Care from a similar geography.

The question has been raised about what is the role of a committee member and how this enables them to have a two-way relationship with their constituents. In addition, some will question how the office is accountable to GPs and practices.

The Committees' role currently is therefore to hold Wessex LMCs Ltd to account for delivering the service that the committee wish it to. This is undertaken by the chairs and vice-chairs sitting on the Board who are the employers of those who work for Wessex LMCs.

The Royal College of General Practitioners

Each speciality has a Royal College and these bodies are responsible for quality and professional standards. They also provide the framework for education and training for those who are employed in a specialist training programme.

The RCGP has local Faculties and within our LMC area there are two – Wessex and Severn.

The British Medical Association (BMA)

The BMA is the Trade Union and professional association that represents all doctors in the UK with the sole negotiating rights for most doctors. The BMA is therefore our national body that has a political dimension as well as a trade union one. Within the BMA each branch of practice has its own committee which includes for example Consultants, Juniors, Public Health, Medical Students and General Practice (called the GPC). Other committees include such areas as Medical Ethics, Pensions, International as well as the Board of Science.

The BMA can provide individual member representation and advice in employment matters and also a wide variety of help and guidance on all aspects of professional life. Members also receive the BMJ and have free access to BMJ Learning and other resources.

The General Practitioners Committee

This is a committee that represents GPs and the profession at a national level. It is part of the BMA and has now been divided into GPC UK and GPC England (there has always been a GPC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

The GPC’s role is to represent the profession with any issues relating to contracts, terms and conditions, and has a broad role in terms of the representation of the profession.

The GPC has many regional representatives that are elected every 3 years.

The regional representatives generally attend LMC meetings to gain an understanding of local issues and feedback on national issues where relevant.

The GPC also has several representatives that are elected from the annual LMC Conference and from the Annual Representatives meeting of the BMA.

Most branches of practice will meet 4 times a year. The GPC meets more frequently, and this is because the breadth of coverage in terms of complexities of GPs being both salaried and independent contractors means that there are far more issues to discuss – for example the annual negotiations about the GMS/PMS contracts.

The BMA funds 4 meetings a year of the GPC (the same for the craft committees) and the GP Defence Fund (GPDF) funds the additional GPC meetings and also the officers of the committee. The GPDF is funded by the national levy raised by the LMC every year from practices (currently between 3-5p).

Within the GPC there are several policy groups which include:

The GPC and the RCGP work closely together but have different roles which can often get confused.

The LMC believes that all GPs should be aware of the roles and functions of the LMC.

It is essential that GP Trainees become aware of the LMC early on in their career and therefore with agreement with Health Education England (the Deanery) any GP Trainee would be welcome to attend an LMC Committee meeting in order to get a greater understanding of the issues that face general practice.

For those who want to attend please contact Lisa Taylor – lisa.taylor@wessexlmcs.org.uk

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Updated on Wednesday, 5 July 2023 14846 views