Guidance
24 Hour Retirement for GPs
Introduction In 2006 the NHS Pensions Agency reviewed and clarified the arrangements that enable General Practitioners to take 24 hour retirement in order to trigger their pension benefits. This opportunity exists for GPs of any contractual status, but has particular implications for partners...
Accepting a Police Caution
Accepting a Police Caution (or being convicted of an offence in any country) requires you to let the GMC and NHS England know. ALWAYS take legal advice before doing this. We would like to remind you of a paragraph of the GMC's document 'Good Medical Practice', paragraph 75 which states: You...
Advanced Decisions & Advance Care Planning
Doctors are bound by professional and legal obligations in end of life decisions. They may wish to be actively involved in discussing these issues and helping patients to draw up an Advance Directive or an Advance Care Plan. They may wish to witness the resultant documentation, but they are...
Alphabetical List of Audio & Video Training and Educational Resources
This is a list of our AV resources only. Please see our events page for upcoming training & events. A Accelerated Access to GP-held Patient Records - Podcast Abnormal Bloods - Interpreting the Results - Recorded Webinar Abnormal Bloods: Top Haematology Tips - Recorded Webinar Accessible...
Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS)
Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) Contracts allow NHS England to commission primary care services. This includes essential and additional services from a wide range of providers, e.g. private health companies and social enterprises. Useful Guidance Links: GPC BMA - Alternative...
Aortic Aneurysm Screening
The following information is for guidance for GP Practices. Please do not contact the LMC concerning the screening programme as this is handled directly by the NHS. The NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme was introduced gradually across England from March 2009. The...
APHO - Practice Profiles
These profiles are designed to support GPs, PCNs, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities to ensure that they are providing and commissioning effective and appropriate healthcare services for their local population. In addition to viewing individual practice profiles, you can...
Blue Badge Scheme
The Blue Badge Scheme enables people with a disability to park in disabled parking spaces. It is for people with a severe mobility problem. It also applies to those who are registered blind, who have severe disabilities in their upper limbs, and children under 3 years with specific medical...
BMA Template Letters for Breaches to Standard Hospital Contract in England
13 September 2016: GPC has launched template letters for GP practices to push back on instances where hospitals breach new requirements in the standard contract. To recap, following lobbying by GPC, NHS England have added the following requirements to the hospital standard contract as of 1...
Bowel Cancer
The National Bowel Screening Programme generates 3,000,000 results per year. It is possible for most practices to arrange to receive the results electronically. This article explains how. We get numerous queries about patients who do not return their bowel screening letters. How you deal with...
Business Continuity Plans
NHS bodies are required to have Business Continuity Plans to cover contingencies such as flood, fire, national disaster, flu pandemics etc. The LMC strongly recommends (whether or not you are an NHS body) that you should have a plan and we have created the following template that you may wish...
Business Planning and Processes / Transfer of Secondary Care Work
Quality First Click here to download the BMA's guidance outlining ways in which you can: manage inappropriate workload collaborate with others develop new ways of working The Interface between Primary and Secondary Care: This briefing document describes the key national requirements which...
Cancard
Cancard Requests - BMA and RCGP statement on 'Cancard' Some concerns have been raised by practices about the Cancard UK website and its proposed 'GP endorsed' ID card. The website offers the ability to apply for: 'A holographic photo ID card. Designed in collaboration with GPs and verified at...
Care of Transgender and Non-Binary Patients in Primary Care
Page Contents Prescribing and collaboration with gender specialists Waiting Lists Changing medical records (gender and / or name) NHS Screening Disclosing gender history Supporting trans patients: a guide for staff at the GP surgery A number of queries have been raised with the LMC...
CCG Constitutions
The relationship between Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and practice should be characterised by genuine clinical engagement and collaboration. The CCG should not be seen to regulate or penalise practices and practices need to feel empowered to hold their CCG to account for the decisions made...
Certification - Bus Pass
In England, individuals can apply for a bus pass for free travel when they reach the female state pension age, whether they are male or female. The 'eligible disabled' (as described in the list below) may also apply for a pass, and patients may attend with forms for the doctor to sign to prove...
Certification - Chargeable
In 2001 the Government recognised that GPs were spending too much time doing unnecessary paperwork. After much consideration it produced a consultation document called Making A Difference: Reducing General Practitioner Paperwork However, GPs still receive many requests for reports from...
Certification - Child Performers
Most children taking part in non-commercial performances do not require a licence to perform and, even if a licence is required for commercial work, the Local Education Authority may have discretion as to whether a medical certificate is required. In this instance, a child is considered to...
Certification - Dentists
Dentists sometimes discover that their patient suffers from a medical condition which may influence the treatment they are proposing to give. In this event they would generally require medical advice from the GP in order to treat the patient safely. It is not generally necessary for the GP to...
Certification - Jury Service
Medical certificates are not normally required when someone feels they have grounds to be excused from Jury Service. However, the summoning officer will occasionally request one, and we would recommend that you produce a letter stating only the facts for the summoning officer to consider and...
Certification - Low Calorie Diets
Patients often approach GPs with forms to fill out before they can embark on some low calorie diets. You may find this information useful: You do not have to fill out these forms You can charge a reasonable fee for filling out the form Much of the data, weight and BP is part of normal GMS...
Certification - Non Chargeable
The following is a list of obligations relating to Certification by GPs: GPs are obliged to provide data essential for a clinical referral free of charge. A GP has a statutory duty to supply a registered patient, free of charge, with any of the prescribed certificates set out in Schedule 4 of...
Certification - Notes for School Children
Schools Requesting Certificates for Children's Absences Schools are under pressure to reduce non-attendance and will make contact with parents/guardians if there is a concern that the missed schooling is not justified. The parents/guardians turning up and asking for a letter may be to avoid the...
Certification - Parachute Jumps
The profession is divided. Some GPs say 'don't touch them with a barge pole' and others do them and charge appropriately. Considerations: you are not obliged to provide this service if you feel competent to sign these forms you may and you may charge (even if 'it's for charity' ) a small study...
Certification - SCUBA
What should you do if a patient wants you to confirm their suitability to do SCUBA diving? This is not part of GMS so you do not have to provide this service to your patients. You may do so if you feel competent to make this assessment. If you do this work you must consider how you resource...
Certification - Shared Lives
Shared Lives is a national idea rolled out to Local Authorities to encourage citizens to help share the lives of vulnerable adults. It is an excellent scheme that encourages people within communities to help vulnerable adults and get paid, while saving the state significant sums of money. Your...
Certification - Sickness
GP Fit Certificates - Statement of Fitness to Work (Med 3) The fit note was introduced to replace the old sick note in 2010. Doctors issue fit notes to individuals to provide evidence of the advice the doctor has given about the individual's fitness for work. The fit note allows doctors to...
Chaperones
The GMC has guidance at: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/intimate-examinations-and-chaperones/intimate-examinations-and-chaperones Wherever possible, you should offer the patient the security of having an impartial observer (a 'chaperone') present during an...
Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set (CCG OIS)
We have had a number of queries asking us about the service 'CCG OIS' on CQRS. This acronym stands for Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set. Please see the following for further details: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/ccgois Please note that practices are requested to accept this...
Collaborative Arrangements
Since 1974 the collaborative arrangements have enabled local authorities to secure primary care medical services essential for the provision of education, social services and public health at no charge to the patient. The main areas covered by collaborative arrangements (involving certificates...
Community Pharmacy - A Guide for GPs
This is an excellent summary of how Community Pharmacies work, the funding streams and contracting arrangements and the requirements for being a community pharmacist (training, qualification, control and regulation) written by PSNC, NHS employers and the BMA. The document, together with further...
Complaints
When people have a complaint about an NHS service, they can complain to the provider of that service or the Commissioner. Complaints Made Direct to NHS England A complainant may wish to make their complaint direct to NHS England and more details of how to do so can be found here . If the...
Costing a Service
Many practices are beginning to question whether it is financially viable to provide some of the services they are being asked to provide (those locally commissioned services which are non-contractual). The following template may be useful in deciding whether to sign up to provide a new or...
Covid-19 Practice Staff & Self-Isolation
As the government has now lifted covid measures the Gov.uk webpage Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result is one to check for updates and self-isolation changes. In summary it does say :- Patient-facing healthcare staff who have...
Covid-19 - Covid Oximetry @ Home and Covid Virtual Wards (CVW)
Why do we need this service? A hallmark of COVID illness was the late and sometimes unsalvageable presentation of patients to hospitals, often with very low oxygen sats without accompanying severe symptoms of breathlessness. This was termed 'silent hypoxia', and this can only be picked up if...
Covid-19 - NICE Clinical Guidance
NICE now have a dedicated page for Covid-19 Clinical Guidance. It includes rapid guidelines and rapid evidence summaries. There is also a link to register for e-mail updates. September 2021, NICE have updated their Rapid Guideline: managing COVID-19 MHRA have issued advice on Ibuprofen and...
Covid-19 - PPE and Infection Control
Guidance From June 2022 June 2022 - NHSE have issued a letter updating the IPC Guidance. UKHSA has updated its UK IPC guidance for COVID-19: information and advice for health and care professionals with new COVID-19 pathogen-specific advice for health and care professionals. This advice...
Covid-19 - Practical and Operational Issues
We are aware that there is a lot of information coming from a number of directions. With this in mind we are creating webpages for various issues that we have been asked about. Workforce Covid-19 - NHS Volunteer Responders - NHSVR for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination...
Covid-19 - Staff Risk Assessments
Risk Assessment Frameworks for Staff in General Practice during Covid-19 Covid-19 has presented a significant challenge in assessing and mitigating risks to all staff in healthcare settings. The early data from Italy indicated a high rate of infection and death amongst healthcare workers and...
Covid-19 - Useful Links and Resources (inc Primary Care Bulletins)
Primary Care Bulletins Bulletins are regularly sent out from NHSE covering Covid-19 issues and updates. You can sign up to have these sent direct to your inbox. Previous bulletin issues can be found on NHSE website at:-...
Covid-19 - Vaccination Programme
The BMA have produced guidance on the Covid-19 vaccine programme that can be seen at https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/covid-19/gp-practices/covid-19-vaccination-programme. The information and documents for the Covid Vaccination Programme (CVP) are being published, and in some cases...
Covid-19 Patients refusing to wear face coverings
We have been asked on a number of occasions if practices can refuse to see patients that will not wear a face covering in a face-to-face consultation. You cannot refuse to see someone on the basis that they refuse to wear a face covering. However, there are factors that you can...
Covid-19 Templates, Risk Assessments (inc BAME)
We shall develop this page as time goes by as an evolving resource. If you also have a template that you would like to share with others, please do let us know about it and we will upload here. Home Working Checklist - With thanks to and courtesy of Gary Hepburn - Sirius Business Services...
CQC - Challenging the CQC
It is well known that practices are nervous of challenging CQC inspectors during the inspection visit and usually leave complaining until after the visit or even later, when the draft report is received. The CQC often then see the complaint as a reaction to something in the report rather than a...
CQC Interview Questions for "Registered Managers"
Requirements for Registered Managers Current requirements and guidance are can be found on the CQC's website . Schedule 1 outlines the documentation CQC will require for all Registered Managers: Role of the Registered Manager A summary of the role of the Registered Manager can be accessed...
CQC Mythbuster Updates
Clearing up some common myths about our inspections of GP and out-of-hours services and sharing agreed guidance to best practice. Please click here for a link to the CQC page - https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters-full-list-tips-mythbusters-latest-update Updates in...
DBS: Risk Assessing Staff for a DBS Check
Risk Assessment Tool This tool aims to help you risk assess staff for DBS checking. It is, of course, for your Practice to make the final decision, based on the arrangements you currently have in place, but we have provided some scenario based guidance to assist you. In this case, the risk to...
DBS: Wessex LMC and Client Agreement
Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully. . . Introduction The Criminal Records Bureau (from 1st December 2012 working with the Independent Safeguarding Authority as the Disclosure and Barring Service) recommends that each Umbrella Body develops a written agreement between themselves and...
DBS: Transportable DBS Check (Update Service)
This is a guide to registering for a Transportable DBS Check Applicants/Individuals You can register online as soon as you have your application form reference number. This is the number (F0….. ) located at the top right hand side of your application form. To subscribe using your...
Death Certification
Page Contents Verification of death Coroners Reports Coroner Contacts for Wessex Area Viewing the Body Free from Infection Certificate / Information- The Respective Roles of Coroners and Doctors in Certification of Death The LMC receives many queries on the subject of death...
December 2021 Temporary Contract changes and Income Protections.
7th December 2021 NHSE sent out a temporary contract change letter to assist with capacity to aid the Covid vaccination programme. Times are moving incredibly fast for us at the moment and General Practice Teams are being asked (yet again) to step up to provide the bulk of the Covid vaccination...
Dental Problems
The BMA has published guidance to inform GPs of their obligations to patients either requesting emergency dental treatment or asking for an NHS prescription for drugs recommended by private or NHS dentists. It is aimed at all GP's including out of hours practitioners. The guidance can be...
DVLA
DVLA - Consent for the Release of Relevant Medical Information You do not need to see the written consent of your patient to share relevant information with the DVLA, the consent will have been given and this is legally assured In August 2009, rules called Consent by Assurance were implemented...
DWP and other patient benefit claim forms
Certification - Patients Claiming Benefits Practices are not obliged, either by statute or contract, to complete reports requested by organizations assisting people with their claims for benefit. Practices may choose to do so and may charge a fee. Welfare Rights and CAB usually say that they...
Electronic Prescribing EPS and eRD inc. Remote consultations
Electronic Prescribing Service - EPS NHS Digital are continuing to drive Electronic Prescribing. Electronic Prescribing Service - Phase 4 was deployed from 18th November 2019, initially to TPP SystmOne following a pilot in 2018. The roll out plans for EMIS, Vision and Microtest will follow....
Enhanced Services
Directed Enhanced Services (DES) are nationally negotiated services, over and above those provided under usual contracts, which the Area Team / CCG is obliged to commission. Directed Enhanced Services in 2021/22 Network Contract (PCN) Learning Disability Health Check Violent Patients Scheme...
FAQs on treating overseas patients
Can I treat a patient who lives overseas or is not a british citizen and is visiting our country? Yes - anyone in England, regardless of nationality and residential status, is eligible to register and consult with a GP This includes all overseas visitors, asylum seekers and refugees, students,...
FGM Requirements for NHS Staff
Female genital mutilation (sometimes referred to as female circumcision) (FGM) refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is illegal in the UK. It has been estimated that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15...
Fifth Money Laundering Directive (The Trust Register)
On 10 January 2020, the Fifth Money Laundering Directive (5MLD) was transposed into UK law. One objective of the 5MLD was to broaden the scope of trusts required to comply with and sign up to the Trust Register Service (TRS), which may apply to some GP surgeries depending on how they are...
Finance
Annual Contract Update See our Update to Contract 22/23 See our Update to GP Contract webpage 21/22 for contract details, updates and resources NHSE Oct 21 - Plan for improving access for patients and supporting general practice Oct 21 NHSE - General Practice Pay Transparency:- Guidance Area...
Friends and Family Test (FFT) - Options Available & Guidance
The requirement to submit Friends and Family Test (FFT) data was suspended across the NHS in March 2020 and was reintroduced into the GP Contract from 1st April 2022. However, practices will only be required to submit data from Q2 in 22/23 onwards. GP practices will also be required to...
General Practice Contract
The New General Medical Services (nGMS) contract 2003 'investing in General Practice' known as 'the blue book', was agreed in 2003 and implemented in 2004. It was a three-year contract that has seen considerable changes and enhancements year on year since then. GMS Contract Details of the...
General Practice Nurse
Please click here to access our Covid-19 Practical and Operational Issues page Introduction The role of nurses in general practice has changed and evolved in the last 20 years and many of the activities undertaken traditionally by GPs are now undertaken by nurses. The role development has also...
Getting Involved
You may have heard the name Wessex LMCs but do you know what the Local Medical Committee looks like or how it works? Likewise with the BMA - you may hear about the General Practitioner's Committee or GPC but what does that mean or feel like? If you are interested then please consider coming...
GP Appraisals, Pensions & HR - Audio & Video Webinars and Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary . CQC is particularly keen to see any evidence of your watching/listening and how you apply it. Even sceptical GPs can benefit from coaching! Louise Greenwood...
GP Health Service & Financial Support for Doctors in Difficulty
What is GPH? Access to confidential mental health and addiction support for GPs and GP trainees across England. How to access the NHS GP Health Service http://gphealth.nhs.uk/ The NHS GP Health Service (GPH) is a service for GPs or GP trainees across England, with issues relating to mental...
GP Leadership Fellows
In the face of unprecedented pressures, the landscape of the NHS is changing rapidly, and the centre of gravity is moving rapidly towards Primary Care. This represents an exciting opportunity for new GPs to be involved in improving frontline services for our patients. With the largest curriculum...
GP Retainer Scheme
What should I know about the Retainer scheme? February 2021 GPC GP Retention Scheme webinar recording You can now view a video of the GPC GP Retention Scheme webinar, where you will learn about how the GP Retention Scheme works for both employees and employers, and tackles some common...
GP Returners
GP Retainers - See our dedicated page for the GP Retainer Scheme launched in 2017 - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/gpretainerscheme Both of these schemes have been refreshed with the advent of the GP Forward View. The Induction and Refresher Scheme has been streamlined and now has a dedicated...
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...
GP Trainee - Interview Tips
Going for an interview is a scary process. Because of the way GP selection centres are run you may not have been for an interview for many years, indeed perhaps not since you qualified as a doctor. General Practices are all small independent businesses and will appoint GPs in differing ways...
GP Trainee - Travel Expenses
In July 2019, NHS Employers, the British Medical Association and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) agreed to introduce provisions in the terms and conditions of service for NHS Doctors and Dentists in Training (England) for additional mileage/expenses for GP trainees. GP trainees who...
GreenGP Wessex & Greener Practice Bath & Bristol
We want to introduce you to GreenGP Wessex. We are a newly formed network of GPs who believe that climate change is a health crisis and that we, GPs, have a responsibility to make primary care greener. With climate change, we are seeing rising temperatures, more extreme weather, and rising sea...
Group Consultations - Shared Medical Appointments
Group consultations, also known as shared medical appointments (SMAs), have been in existence in the USA and Australia for some time, with increased interest in the UK. Research has shown that they have advantages for both patient and clinicians. In line with the GPN 10-point plan there is a...
Guidance on Attending a Coroner’s Inquest
Witnesses may agree to attend voluntarily or may be served with a summons. Failure to answer a summons can result in a fine for contempt of court. It is important to clarify in what capacity the GP is being called. This would usually be as a professional witness. A coroner’s inquest is there...
HCA Training Standards
We have received a number of queries from practices where HCAs have been informed they must have an NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification to enable them to be able to give flu vaccinations. This we believe is based on the HCSW Training Standards document 2015 which is attached for information...
Head Injury Assessment for Sport
Head injuries in sport, especially rugby, are very much a hot topic at the moment. The Rugby world cup has further focused the spotlight on the subject. We all agree that sport can play an integral part in promoting physical and mental wellbeing but that the safety of participants is...
Health & Safety - Legionella
Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by the inhalation of small droplets of contaminated water containing Legionella. All man-made hot and cold water systems are likely to provide an environment where Legionella can grow. Where conditions are favourable (ie...
Health and Safety
We have put together a comprehensive range of information and resources for Health and Safety, in our guidance book below. Please click on the image to access it. We appreciate that this guidance is a large document. To make it easier to navigate, you will find an Index on page 1. Click on the...
Helpful Guides - For Bookers & Delegates
Need some help with your event booking or purchasing a educational resource? Take a look at our guidance videos below. Please note, all booking confirmations, joining link reminders, feedback evaluations and certificates will come from lead@wessexlmcs.org.uk Please ensure you have unblocked /...
Hepatitis B and Occupational Health
This is a complex area and one that keep cropping up. If in doubt after reading this then please contact the office. 1. Is there a requirement under the Regulations to prescribe and administer Hepatitis B vaccination for occupational health purposes? The Regulations requires GPs to manage...
HPV Vaccination
All girls aged 12 to 13 are offered HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. The vaccine protects against cervical cancer. It's usually given to girls in year eight at schools in England. According to Cancer Research UK, cervical cancer is the...
I.T
Remote Consultations See https://www.wessexlmcs.com/covid19remoteconsultationsandit FutureNHS Platform has a wealth of information on the Digital Primary Care Space. It requires sign up to access, but is very quick and easy. Access to electronic patient records Keep up to date with what...
Inclisiran
Inclisiran is a medication given by subcutaneous injection that is administered by a clinician, with the aim of reducing blood levels of Cholesterol. We have received a number of emails from practices about this medication, given the way it has been introduced. New medications are normally...
Infection Control in General Practice
Infection control is one of the major areas in the provision of safe care within any health care setting. It is also one of the priorities in any CQC inspection under Regulation 12 of the, Safe care and treatment, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. There is a need for practices to be...
Informatics - General Practice Profiles
PHE National General Practice Profiles These profiles are designed to support GPs, primary care networks (PCNs), clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities to ensure that they are providing and commissioning effective and appropriate healthcare services for their local...
Interpreting and Translation Services
How to use the interpretation and translation service Foreign language On 1 October 2009 NHS Hampshire awarded all foreign language interpreting and translation services to thebigword Group. The service is available to all GP practices, dentists, pharmacists and opticians commissioned by...
Jury Service for GPs
Jury Service for GPs Question: A partner at a neighbouring practice was recently called for jury service and was surprised to learn that under the new regulations he was not automatically excused. We are a small practice and would find it impossible to manage without a locum. Would NHSE /...
LMC Buying Groups Federation
Wessex LMCs joined the LMC Buying Groups Federation in October 2009 to deliver savings to practices without creating any additional work or inconvenience. All practices were given the opportunity to 'opt-in' to membership at that time and over 300 practices in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire...
LMC Guide to Ear Care
Ear irrigation is not stipulated within the GMS contract. The GP registered nurse/health care professional has a duty under contract to assess the patient, undertake the appropriate examination and decide whether ear irrigation is the best course of action. Never refuse appointments for those...
Locum / Sessional Education & Training
Local education events are not only important for CPD points but provide an opportunity to network with colleagues. However there are plenty of useful online learning resources too. BMA https://www.bma.org.uk/events Learning and development webinars:...
Locum / Sessional GP Appraisal and Revalidation
The RCGP and GMC are aware that fulfilling appraisal and revalidation requirements can be more difficult for sessional GP's and changes have now been made to help others address this. Make sure you (and your appraiser) are clear on what is needed. RCGP Mythbusters A really great guide to read...
Managing Bariatric Patients
Obesity in England is increasing and it is estimated that 27% of adults in England are obese and a further 36% are overweight. This equates to 63% of the population being either overweight or obese and 3% of this group will be morbidity obese. We are all aware of the health risks of obesity...
Mandatory Certificate For Council Tax Discount Due To Severe Mental Impairment
People with severe mental impairment may seek special treatment with regards to both the size of the council tax bill and the identity of the person who is liable to pay it. The definition of severe mental impairment for this purpose is different from that used in the Mental Health Act. The...
Medical Records - Adopted Children
Under adoption legislation, an adopted child is given a new NHS number, and all previous medical information relating to that child is put into a newly created health record. Any information relating to the identity or whereabouts of the birth parents should not be included in the new record....
Medical Records - Alterations
We are often asked under what circumstances, and how medical records may be altered. This article condenses advice from the Medical Defense Organisations and the GMC: Medical notes must never be overwritten or inked out, and computer records should not be completely deleted. Hard copy errors...
Medical Records - Handling and Retention
A brief summary of the more detailed advice is available here which includes advice about how long medical records should be kept. For definitive advice please click here: Medical Records Code of Practice 2021 GMC Good Medical Practice requires that: 'you keep clear, accurate and legible...
Medical Records, Online Access and NHS App
From April 2020 there is a contractual requirement for practices to offer all patients online access to all prospective data on their patient record unless exceptional circumstances apply. (Additionally, patients can also ask for their full retrospective medical record, this will require...
New Practice Manager Checklist
Practice Management Tasks For Primary Care GP Practice This document is intended to help identify the numerous tasks that need to be undertaken by the practice management team throughout the year. It is not claimed that it is a complete list, nor will some of the tasks apply to all GP...
NHS Acronym Buster
Have you heard acronyms being used in the NHS and don't know what they mean? The NHS Confederation has published a useful guide to every day acronyms used in the health service - click here NHS also has a page 'Abbreviations you may find in your health records'
NHS e-Referral Service
The NHS e-Referral Service replaced Choose and Book. General Information Information for patients, including booking, is available at: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/appointment-booking/Pages/about-the-referral-system.aspx More information National support is available from NHS Digital at:...
NHS Pathways
NHS Pathways (hosted by NHS Digital) is not a service or an organisation and there is no compulsion for local commissioners to use it. It is a clinical assessment tool, that has been designed by NHS clinicians to provide consistency in triage at all telephone entry points to the NHS including...
Non-Medical Prescribing Guidance for Prescribers In General Practice
UPDATE DEC 2021 A Competency Framework for all Prescribers - Updated 2021 'Since the 2016 framework, there have been various changes which needed to be included in the update of the framework these include: Legislation changes introducing paramedic prescribers in April 2018 Current...
Notifiable Diseases
The Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 Registered medical practitioners (RMPs) have a statutory duty to notify the 'proper officer' at their local council or local health protection team (HPT - see below) of suspected cases of certain infectious diseases. Send the form to the...
Nursing Associates
'The Nursing Associate is a new support role in England that bridges the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver hands-on, person-centred care as part of the nursing team. Nursing associates work with people of all ages in a variety of settings in health and...
Our Plan for Patients
We are aware of the news that has come out on 22nd September regarding improved access to GPs via the Health Secretary's 'Our Plan for Patients' and are awaiting more detail. We appreciate these kinds of announcements cause huge stress and yet more uncertainty. Please rest assured that we will...
Out of Area Registrations and In Hours Urgent Primary Medical Services (Enhanced Service)
Choice of GP Practice NHS England released guidance on the new out of area patient registration (choice of GP practice) arrangements in November 2014, click here to access this. What does this actually mean? Within the guidance was issued it identified 2 elements to this scheme which...
Parental Responsibility, Access to Children’s Medical Records and Parental Disputes.
Basic principles Parental responsibility refers to the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities that most parents have in respect of their children. Parental responsibility includes the right of parents to consent to treatment on behalf of their children, provided the treatment is in the...
Partners - Retiring and New
Retiring Partners Checklist We are often asked who needs to be notified when a Partner retires from the Practice, so we put together some useful information below. The Adam Practice, has very kindly shared this comprehensive check list for retiring partners for you to download (which we have...
Partnerships
Wessex LMCs strongly recommend that all practices have a current partnership agreement. As to terminology, although there are technical differences between an agreement and a deed for the purposes of these guidelines, the terms 'partnership agreement', 'partnership deed' and 'practice...
Patient Feedback & Surveys
For patient feedback to be valid you need over 34 surveys, which means you normally have to distribute 50 surveys to ensure you receive an adequate number of replies (again, each tool varies slightly in its numbers). It is acceptable for you to hand the questionnaires out to patients, but they...
Patient Registration
Guidance on Requirements for Registering with a GP - Standard Operating Principles for Primary Medical Care. Although there has not been any change in national policy in respect of patient registration for primary medical care services - this guidance clarifies the rights of patients and the...
Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) and Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) The Medicines Act 1968 does not permit nurses who are not qualified prescribers to administer or supply prescription only medicines (POMs) unless one of three types of instruction are in place signed prescription signed Patient Specific Direction...
Patients Travelling Abroad - FAQs
Provision of medical care European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK. People traveling within Europe (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are advised to always carry an...
Pay Changes From April 2022
From April 2022 the rate of National Insurance contributions you pay will change for one year. The amount you contribute will increase by 1.25% which will be spent on the NHS and social care across the UK. This increase in National Insurance contributions will apply to: Class 1 (paid by...
PCN Workforce - ARRS
The update to the GP Contract Agreement 2020/21-2023/4 brings enhancements to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). Additional workforce will be introduced and funded through the Network. Extra Government investment is funding a further 6000 staff through the scheme at 100%...
PCNs - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary learning diary. CQC is particularly keen to see any evidence of your watching/listening and how you apply it. PCN Webinar - Operational & Employment Issues - 23rd...
Personal Administration Fees
Under the NHS regulations, Area Teams must make personal administration payments to all non-dispensing GMS contractors for the following; vaccines, anaesthetics and injections (with the exception of vaccines supplied for the childhood immunisation programme) diagnostic reagents for the Dick and...
Pharmacy - Prescription Direction
'Prescription direction' occurs where a patient is being directed by their GP practice to a certain pharmacy to have their prescription dispensed. Patients have a free choice between any community pharmacy and in some cases, a GP dispensary. Actions by practices seeking to influence a patient's...
PM Key Websites
LMC Law - Book of updates The LMC Law Book of Updates provides you with advice and template documents to support you in your organisations in terms of current thinking around PCNs, GDPR, and partnerships. Things change rapidly in the NHS so we will provide updates when we become aware of new...
Police Requests
Police Requests for Medical Records Statutory responsibility vs professional obligations - a personal view I am proud to be a GP and have enjoyed being part of a respected profession for over 30 years. General Practice has never been 'just a job' and has always been a vocation and a...
Possible New GP Training Rotas
Dear Wessex AiTs, The new Junior Doctors contract 2016 and associated rotas are different to what has existed before in general practice. The AiT committee hopes to explain this and provides the following advice to GP trainees working in general practice at any training stage. Please remember...
Practice Manager Peer Appraisals
Wessex LMCs has recognised the value of Practice/Business Managers to General Practices within Wessex and has supported an initiative to develop a system of appraisal for them. The Practice Managers' Supporters Scheme and the linked Appraisal Scheme have been based, with kind permission, on the...
Practice Manager Updates - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars
An opportunity for PMs to hear the latest guidance for practices from the team at Wessex LMCs 'Thanks for these wonderful podcasts! They are hugely helpful and supportive'. You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here:...
Practice Mergers - Merger Pack & Top Tips
The LMC is often asked to facilitate merger meetings and explain the process involved and has, as a consequence, produced a merger pack which is full of information and advice around this subject. Please note that each CCG will produce its own application template so the one in the pack is an...
Premises
Independent contractors operating under a specific set of regulations provide most NHS primary care. Working with them on premises developments can be complex because they are responsible for securing suitable premises from which they deliver primary healthcare for the local population....
Prescribing & Consultations - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary CQC are particularly keen to see any evidence of your listening and how you apply it. ENT Essentials for the Primary Care Practitioner In this interactive session,...
Prescribing - Self Prescribing & Family Members
The LMC has been made aware of a number of GPs who have been reported to the GMC for self-prescribing. The LMC would strongly advise GPs not to prescribe for themselves or their family, except in exceptional circumstance. The areas of high risk are controlled drugs, psychiatric medication and...
Primary Care Funding - 2020/2021
We have been asked by one of our committees to collate details of the various funds available to general practice in 2020/21. With this in mind we have created a spreadsheet that can be downloaded here. It contains an overview of the funding, how it can be accessed and links to the relevant...
Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
Three major pieces of work have been published: The NHS Long Term Plan, The GP Partnership Review and The GP Contract changes for April 2019 and beyond. Individually these would have a significant impact on GPs and their practices but taken together they will have the most significant change...
Quality First: Managing workload to deliver safe patient care
The following extracts and link are taken directly from the BMA webpage: Safe working in general practice (bma.org.uk) 'General practice is in crisis, with increasing patient need and demand, coupled with a shrinking and exhausted workforce.' 'Action must be taken by practices and GPs in...
Recording Telephone Conversations
The principles to consider if you are thinking of recording telephone calls within your practice: You must not single out conversations with individual callers - i.e. you can't just record conversations with "difficult" patients, if you are going to record then this must be done as a matter of...
Removing Patients from Practice Lists
Most removals from the GP list are for administrative reasons e.g. the patient has left the practice area or has died. You can, however, also remove patients from your list if there is an irrevocable breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship or violence. When considering an irrevocable...
Requests for pre-operative assessments or investigations
We understand that some GPs are being asked to carry out pre operative assessments by consultants on patients referred for procedures. This is not a GP contractual requirement. We have created a template letter for use when replying to such requests, should you so wish to. You can download a...
Safeguarding: Online Training for Child Safeguarding
Training for Safeguarding - Staff Employment & Training A Guide to Building your Safeguarding Hours - Level 3 Training Resources RCGP e-GP at www.rcgp.org.uk - free to RCGP members (apply for password) Excellent general resources, such as the consultation with the child, under Section 8...
Self Management & Long Term Conditions
The Self management programme is for people who are living with a chronic (long-term) condition. The aim is to support people with long term conditions and their carers by: increasing their confidence improving their quality of life helping them manage their condition more effectively Improving...
Skill Mix Matrix
The terms 'working at scale' and 'new models of care' have been freely talked about, discussed and form a large part of the General Practice Forward View. There are workforce tools available that practices can access to make comparisons around which members of the team could provide which...
Social Media & Website Comments
The impact of social media on the workplace is increasing and the LMC is receiving a growing number of queries from practices on how to manage social media issues both internally and externally. We have put together a short guide on what to consider, together with links to good practice and...
Spirometry
Spirometry Spirometry is an essential investigation to diagnose and assess in people with COPD and other respiratory problems. There are significant variations in care and outcomes within the UK and internationally and COPD accounts for: - around 115,000 emergency hospital admissions each...
Stalking and Harassment
This question came into the office in 2008 Question One of our doctors is concerned that she is being stalked by a patient and is concerned for her own safety and for that of her young children. What is the best course of action? Answer The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 makes it a...
Starting As A Locum
Starting out as a locum can feel very daunting. You have qualified as a GP and are happy with the challenges of clinical complexity but being self-employed and running yourself as a business commodity can feel like a whole new world. The following links and pages are here to help you along that...
Sudden Death on Practice Premises
Beyond the immediate clinical need of a patient - if a patient is declared dead on the premises how should you proceed? If the death is sudden and unexpected you will need to contact the coroner via the police. The police will arrange for transport of the body from your site - the coroner may...
Support for Locums / Sessional GPs
Being a locum whilst it gives huge flexibility, can lead to people feeling isolated. It is vital both for you professionally and personally to make sure you look after yourself and keep linked in with others. Each person is different and in the world now there are multiple ways of finding that...
The Cameron Fund
The Cameron Fund is the medical profession's only charity providing help and support solely to General Practitioners and their dependent family, who find themselves living in financial hardship or distress. Set up in 1970, the Fund is named in memory of Sir James Cameron - a distinguished GP...
The Drug Tariff
The Drug Tariff is produced monthly by the Pharmaceutical Directorate of the NHS Business Services Authority, NHS Prescription Services for the Secretary of State and states: what will be paid to pharmacy contractors for NHS services provided either for reimbursement (the cost of the drugs,...
The Emergency Doctors Bag
What drugs should I carry or have accessible? GPs must be able to defend themselves on grounds of good clinical practice. Different practices operate in different settings with different resources around them i.e. a GP practising in a remote rural setting will have different considerations from...
The Future of Primary Care, Ongoing Support For The Management Of The Practice & Innovations
General Practice Forward View Please see this section of our website https://www.wessexlmcs.com/gpfvstps General Practice Improvement Leaders Programme (GPIL) The new weblink is this one https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/gpdp/capability/ The dates of the next cohorts of GPIL are...
The Green Agenda - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary CQC are particularly keen to see any evidence of your listening and how you apply it. If the health sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter on...
The Nursing Team - Apprenticeships/Degrees
The Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Introduction taken from www.gov.co.uk: 'The nursing degree apprenticeship will enable people to train to become a graduate registered nurse through an apprentice route. Apprentices will be released by their employer to study part-time in a higher education...
The Process of Being Revalidated
The LMC is regularly approached by GPs asking who their Responsible Officer (RO) is, and when will they be interviewed by them to be revalidated. We hope the following will be useful but if you require more information the LMC has also produced a booklet Appraisal and Revalidation Guidance for...
Travel Vaccinations - FAQs
Funding & charging for vaccines There was a change to the funding arrangements for vaccination and immunisations in the contract changes 20/21. Vaccinations and immunisation became an essential service rather than an additional service All practices are expected to offer all routine, pre and...
Update to GP Contract 20/21 - 23/24
NHS England GP Contract Documents 2021/22 Contract End of year Checklist 21/22 - Once again, we have experienced a very unusual year with many contract changes, variations and activities stood up and down which all makes year end very tricky. Please see our checklist to help with this, we are...
Vaccines and Immunisations - Guidance for Practices
Page Contents Vaccinations and Immunisation Programme Vaccs & Imms Indicators in QOF GP Collections Timetable Immunisation Schedules Public Health Contacts for Imms and Screening SCID, BCG and Rotavirus Patient Group Directions HPV Vaccination Guidance for Healthcare...
Wessex Healthier Together
The 'Wessex Healthier Together' project is exploring how parents, carers and community services might be better supported and integrated with hospital based services so that children are able to access the 'right care at the right time from the right person'. The Wessex Healthier Together...
Wessex Lower Limb Guide and Healthy Leg Club
Background NHS England undertook a process to review PMS practices with a view to ensuring equitable funding per patient across GMS & PMS practices. As a consequence of this it further highlighted a number of services general practice provides which were not included as Essential or Additional...
What can the LMC do for Locum / Sessional GPs
As the only representative body of all local GPs recognised in statute, LMCs throughout the UK play a vital role in supporting and promoting general practice. In particular: LMC committee members influence the policy of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee through the UK and England...
Workforce Management
Appraisals Appraisal info with downloadable forms are here https://www.wessexlmcs.com/appraisalformsforstaff Apprenticeships Please see here a short video about how you can access apprenticeship funding in primary care. For more info contact Annette Farrell Annette.Farrell@hee.nhs.uk for...
Zero Tolerance
Zero Tolerance Patients who exhibit habitually unacceptable behaviour, can be a common problem in general practice. Handling such behaviour puts a huge strain on time and resources and causes unacceptable stress for staff, who may need support in difficult situations. The following guidance has...
“How to” Modules for GPs, Senior Leaders & Partners in General Practice - Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary CQC are particularly keen to see any evidence of your learning and how you apply it. Our 'How to...' modules are short 2 hour sessions, aimed at decision makers and...
