The BaNES, Swindon & Wiltshire Local Medical Committee
The Committee of the BaNES, Swindon & Wiltshire LMC meets 6 times a year, and consists of 22 members, elected from 5 constituencies. In addition there is provision for the Committee to co-opt one GP to represent a particular area of expertise not otherwise represented on the Committee, a Trainee GP, and the Chief Executive or Treasurer of Wessex LMCs. The Committee can also have 3 Practice Manager Invitees (preferably one in each area)
BSW LMC has co-opted the following members:
- the Chief Executive of Wessex LMCs
- GPC Representative
BSW currently has the following Invitees
- 3 Practice Manager Invitees
- 1 Military Invitee
The Committee can also invite 'Observers', who may participate in the debates, but do not have a vote, and in BSW these include all Directors of the Wessex LMCs.
Elections are held every two years under the terms of the LMC constitution, and all GPs are eligible for nomination and election. Sessional GPs i.e. those who are not Partners, may choose to stand in their geographical area, or for sessional seats.
Chair (and also Chair of the Secretariat)
Dr Tony Downey
Tony qualified in 1989 from Leeds University and undertook his junior hospital and GP training in West Yorkshire. Following that Anthony took up a partnership in Co. Durham for 3 years and then joined his wife in a 2-handed practice in Cornwall where he stayed for 7 years. Following which Anthony moved to Wiltshire in 2003 where he joined a small practice in Devizes, becoming senior partner in 2011, joining the LMC in 2004 and elected to Chairman of the Wiltshire LMC in 2012.
Vice-Chair
Dr Jane Lees-Millais
I qualified in London, and went straight out to work as a GP and sheep hand , farming in the Western Australian bush, to an area where there had never been an accessible GP .
This was extremely interesting- initially a lot of pretty advanced pathology came out of the mulga scrub and eucalyptus forests, hundreds of miles from radiology and pathology labs .
I set up 3 surgeries to cover the area, and received a great deal of help from each local community, transporting bloods, pathology specimens and patients. I was also helped by the Flying Doctor service , Aboriginal Services and passing consultants who held clinics in my surgeries- truly integrated care services !
On returning years later to the UK, I wanted to remain independent, so I have pursued a fascinating and very busy portfolio life in Medical Research Ethics (Oxford and London) , LMC work (North Bucks and Wessex) , locum work and several other non-medical businesses , including sheep breeding .
