GP Support Offer
A core part of the role of Wessex LMCs is pastoral support.
The LMC offers one to one support for GPs and Practice Managers. Like everyone they might face a range of situations from both challenges in the practice to those in the rest of life. The LMC aims to support and develop individuals as they progress through their careers to support your practice and YOU.
For practice manager support including coaching, mentoring and appraisals please see our dedicated page: Practice Manager Support
For whole Primary Care Team offers follow this link to the LMCs dedicated Team Support page: Primary Care Team Support
In 2018 Wessex LMCs set up a GP Support and Development Scheme, recognising the lack of support on offer to GPs as they went through their careers. This provided local GPs with a place to go when needed it most. This scheme has been recognised as a standard of excellence, and a variety of other institutions now provide this to GPs and their teams. We have shown that strong and clear support during periods of stress and strain can help GPs and Practice Managers remain in their jobs. This ensures the GP and Manager workforce remains strong and resilient. We continue to offer ongoing GP Support and a signposting service to the other areas where NHS staff can now go.
Initially you would receive a one-to-one meeting (either virtually or face to face) with one of our Medical Directors, and we can then help you find the right support for your individual needs. This might include helping you find mentorship, coaching, counselling, or other appropriate support.
The GP Support offer is open to all GPs working as either a Partner or Salaried within our membership Practices located in Hampshire, IOW, Dorset, Wiltshire, Swindon, Bath & Northeast Somerset and the Channel Islands.
For locum GPs practicing in our area, we are able to offer membership at a cost of £50 per year which will enable access the GP Support Offer scheme alongside many other great benefits. Wessex LMCs: What can the LMC do for Locum / Sessional GPs
There are other services out there which may be able to offer free support and/or coaching and the LMC will endeavour to make people aware of the lowest cost option they are aware of if it is deemed an appropriate fit for the needs.
The LMC will also provide a pastoral support role before, during and after performance issues, involving either NHS England and local performance procedures or the GMC. These processes can be extremely stressful, and GPs need to know that they can turn to the LMC for confidential support whatever the problem. Those under performance procedures will not be eligible for the LMC subsidies but we will still endeavour to help support individuals to meet requirements set by PAGs or PLDPS.
If you feel you would benefit from this offer of GP Support, simply email the LMC at our confidential email address GPSupport@wessexlmcs.org.uk . Alternatively, contact the office on: Tel. 023 8025 3874 and ask for ‘Wessex GP Support’ to arrange for a discussion with a Medical Director at a mutually convenient time. The LMC team are used to dealing with highly confidential situations and information shared with us does not get shared outside of the LMC members of staff you discuss your situation with unless with the permission of the individual or if there is a risk to self or others or GMC rules require otherwise.
For mental health, distress, stress, burnout or addiction issues please see the Practitioner Health service, which is a national, confidential service for GPs – it is free to access for all GPs and GP trainees: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
The Practitioner Health service will help GPs with:
• Common and more complex mental health conditions
• Mental health conditions relating to a physical health issue
• Substance misuse including support for community detoxification
• Rehabilitation and support to return to work after a period of mental ill-health.
We have produced the book below that summarises the support available. Please click on the image.
