Important Londonwide CEO message, volume 2, number 11 - 9 December 2009

Under 5s Flu Vaccination Arrangements

Following a day of activity between NHS London and ourselves, we have today reached a pragmatic two-part agreement across all our PCTs which will enable us to vaccinate under fives whose parents wish their children to receive it.

Under Part One practices will be paid £5.25 per vaccination given in line with the national agreement made for phase 1 of the programme. Only one dose of vaccine will be required.

Under Part Two, as a token of NHS London’s recognition of the particular pressures being experienced by practices in London at this time, each practice will in addition receive purely notional flat-rated payments for agreeing the service be delivered to its under 5s, and for achieving uptake levels of 25% and 40%.

This provides a further amount of up to £100 per practice. The flat rate nature of the payments means that they will be simple to operate and automatically triggered on sign up and achieving the respective levels.

A copy of the final agreement will be circulated later.

Below are a number of Q&As which may answer some of your immediate questions. Please use flu@lmc.org.uk if you have any other queries.

With best wishes

Dr Michelle Drage and Dr Tony Stanton
Joint Chief Executive Officers
Londonwide LMCs

Q – Will there be any additional paperwork?

A – No

Q – Why the flat rates for Part Two?

A – Because of the small token sums involved it would be too complicated and bureaucratic to administer any other way, and because NHS London was not able to vary the payment per vaccination.

Q – Why are the levels of achievement set at 25% and 40%?

A – Because it is believed that the demand will be around those levels.

Q – What if demand in our practice is above 40%?

A – You will still get £5.25 for each patient vaccinated.

Q – Are there any other positives from this agreement?

A - Yes. A better image for our GPs and teams, a greater likelihood of future agreements on a pan-London basis rather, and the prevention of fragmentation of our services to alternative providers to name a few.