Dear colleague,
What is the LMC and what do we do?
The Local Medical Committee (LMC) represents the interest of all GPs in Barnet; partners, salaried GPs, locums and those working in non-traditional GP roles. Your feedback and concerns are invaluable to us; please tell us about any issues or queries, whether local or national, by emailing sarah.ocran@lmc.org.uk.
Barnet LMC Membership and Contact info
What has Barnet LMC been working on recently?
Trainers Grants
Sending a formal letter to David Price (Deputy Head of GP School for NHS England-London) and other relevant individuals on behalf of all training practices in Barnet. We highlighted the significant delays Barnet practices have experienced in training grant payments, affecting GP registrars and trainers. We also pointed out that our practices have been financing trainer supervision without reimbursement for over a year, leading to cash flow issues.
Brent Cross Town Development – Engagement Session
Practices in the vicinity have been invited to express interest in relocation. We highlighted that the main challenges for practices include the affordability of the new estates. We will continue our engagement with the development and our local MPs to ensure that healthcare infrastructure is properly integrated into the plans.
Mental Health Clinical Interface Group
We attend regular meetings with NCL LMC Chairs and mental health providers, to address the issues that NCL GPs are facing with accessing mental health services for their patients. To learn more about the single point of access pilot for community mental health which started in Barnet on 1 April please visit here.
UK LMC Conference 2025
The theme of the UK wide LMC conference held in Glasgow on 8th-9th May 2025 was the paradox of unemployment in general practice. There was a very moving and passionate themed debate with personal experiences being shared about the struggle for work, which with the insatiable demand for our services, is just totally wrong and is an indictment on a system that has stripped funding from core general practice over the last 10 years. Barnet was represented by Drs Raymond Sacks, Farzana Vanat and myself, Oge Ilozue.
The message was sent loud and clear that as part of the negotiations of a new GP contract, the unique value we bring to our patients and the NHS as a whole cannot be underestimated or overstated. Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, Chair of GPC England launched the BMA report on the Value of a GP. Please do read the report The Value of a GP and spread the message as wide as possible.
The agenda over the two days was varied and all very relevant to our current practice. The main takeaway points that we believe we need to carefully consider in Barnet were motions about the interface with secondary care and one on shared care guidelines. We just need to say no consistently to the incessant workload transfer we all face on a daily basis. We have a local NCL consensus document that sets out who is responsible for what and I would encourage us all to utilise the liaison officers at the trusts and also send back template resilience letters when we are inappropriately asked to complete other people’s work. On shared care guidelines, we have work to do locally to review if these are truly shared care or workload transfer by another name – watch this space.
2025 LMC elections – nominate yourself before 5:00pm, 3 June
LMC nominations are open, and we’d love to hear from some new people. Please watch Londonwide LMCs’ short animation explaining why should you stand for your LMC , which is part of their regularly updated elections page, along with other videos from LMC reps explaining how they support new members. You can also share the animation and a short message via WhatsApp.
LMC membership is for every GP regardless of experience or role – we have space for GP registrars, all the way up to those nearing retirement.
Dr Lisa Harrod-Rothwell, CEO, Londonwide LMCs says: “If you are the type of person who likes things to change when they are broken, if you don’t accept people saying ‘that’s just the way it is, we have to live with it’, and you want to make a difference to your colleagues and your patients, please stand for your LMC. You can raise and resolve all sorts of issues such as interface and pathways that are impacting on your ability to do your job.”
Resources
- Safe working pack
- Abuse and violent patient guide
- Patient information videos
- Advertise practice vacancies for free
Events and training
- Free coaching circles running between May and July
- 3 free wellbeing webinars running between June and November
- All GP and practice staff training
GP Support Team
The GP Support team provides expert, confidential and bespoke advice and support to individual constituent GPs and practices in difficulties. – Contact: GPSupport@lmc.org.uk
We want to hear from you
We are keen to hear from our local GPs and practice teams about any issues you are facing, so please reach out and tell us about any issues or queries, local borough as well as national by emailing sarah.ocran@lmc.org.uk .
Your current LMC members are:
- Dr Hayley Dawson, Oak Lodge Medical Centre/ PCN1D (principal)
- Dr Swati Dholakia, Wentworth Medical Practice/PCN3 (principal)
- Dr Martin Harris, Temple Fortune Medical Practice/ PCN6 (principal)
- Dr Oge Ilozue, Brunswick Park Medical Practice/ PCN2 (principal)
- Dr Joanna Ish-Horowicz, Temple Fortune Medical Group/PCN6 (salaried)
- Dr Malinga Ratwatte, East Barnet Health Centre/ PCN2 (salaried)
- Dr Raymond Sacks, Oakleigh Road Clinic/ PCN2 (principal)
- Dr Jacqueline Santhouse Watling Medical Centre/ PCN3 (principal)
- Dr Tilna Tilakkumar, Freelance/Sessional
- Dr Farzana Vanat, PHGH Doctors/ PCN6 (salaried)
- Dr Lukshika Thavarajah, (VTS rep)
- Ms Tanya Brazza, Speedwell Practice/PCN2 (Practice Nurse rep)
- Ms Sanja Todorovic, Watling Medical Centre/PCN1W (Practice Manager rep)
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Oge Ilozue – Barnet LMC Chair
Dr Farzana Vanat – Barnet LMC Vice Chair