Dear colleague,
Introduction by the LMC Chair and Vice Chair
As Chair and Vice Chair of Greenwich LMC, we are delighted to provide a brief introduction to this inaugural newsletter.
Over the years, we have seen changes and upheaval in the local healthcare landscape, but nothing like the funding and workload pressure over the last couple of years. It does feel that positive change needs to come, and it cannot come soon enough.
Greenwich LMC is taking every opportunity to help commissioners and other local health, and social care partners understand the immense pressure general practice is under.
LMC members are eager to hear from you and the challenges you are facing. This will provide evidence that General Practice needs more financial and organisational support, if it is to deliver type quality of care that it desperately wants to, and what our patients truly deserve.
We aim to send regular LMC newsletters every alternate month to Greenwich practices so please do keep an eye out for these and provide any feedback regarding content to us so that we can ensure these are helpful for you.
The LMC is here to represent your views and ensure that the voice of General Practice is heard loudly and clearly.
Greenwich LMC Membership and Contact info
Greenwich LMC committee members
Following the LMC elections held over the summer, the newly elected members commenced their roles on 1 September, marking the start of the 2025–28 term.
- Dr Sarbjit Chauhan, PMS Principal, Eltham Medical Practice
- Dr Caroline Hollington, PMS Principal, The Fairfield Practice
- Dr Lindsey MacLeod, PMS Salaried, Burney Street Practice
- Dr Hannah Muotune, PMS Principal, Abbey Wood Surgery
- Dr James Rogers, PMS Salaried, Gallions Reach Health Centre
- Dr Kavita Sandhu, PMS Salaried, Eltham Medical Practice
- Dr Atul Sharma, PMS Principal, PMS, Plumstead Health Centre
- Dr Shikha Singh, PMS Principal, Manor Brook Medical Centre
- Dr Vijay Sivapalan, PMS Principal, Everest Health Partnership
- Dr Tuan Tran, PMS Principal, Valentine Health Partnership
- Helen Oakley, Practice Manager Representative, Everest Health Partnership
- Lindsey Wood, Practice Nurse Representative, Manor Brook Medical Centre
What is the LMC and what do we do?
The Local Medical Committee (LMC) is a the clinically led independent voice of elected general practice members from Greenwich that works on your behalf with commissioners and other stakeholders at both local and SE London level to represent the interests of all GPs in Greenwich.
The LMC meets regularly with the Integrated Care Board (ICB, Local Authority and broader system stakeholders and actively participates in negotiations on local General Practice contracts. We also contribute to national contract debates via engagement with the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association (BMA).
The LMC is here for partners, sessional GPs (salaried and GP locums), and all practice staff. We are supported by staff from Londonwide LMCs:
- Dr Sara Riley, Medical Director
- Daniele Serdoz, Director of Primary Care (Interim)
- James Winstanley, Assistant Director of Primary Care
- Aisha Riaz, Committee Liaison Executive
- Katharina Lederle, Committee Administrator
If you have any queries or questions for the LMC, please do reach out to an LMC member or Aisha via Aisha.riaz@lmc.org.uk.
GP Support Team
Greenwich practices can also access confidential support and advice about practice specific issues via Londonwide LMCs GP Support Team GPSupport@lmc.org.uk. The team operates at different levels providing: confidential, tailor made, expert advice and assistance to individual doctors, practices and PCNs in difficulty; Contractual support to our primary care teams; Feedback/responses to PCCC papers & briefings to LMC reps; Policy influence at London level e.g. NHSE/ICBs, CQC; Attendance at PSGs and PLDPs. For further information upon what the GP Support Team can help you with, please see this link.
What has Greenwich LMC been working on recently?
Updates from the Greenwich LMC October Meeting
- Constituents had raised examples inappropriate requests from private providers. The LMC reminds colleagues of the Londonwide LMCs Safe Working pack. Please remember that you can decline a shared care agreement if you feel unable to prescribe for any safety reason (see Londonwide LMCs’ guidance here). Any comments or feedback about this, please connect with Greenwich LMC via SEL Committee Liaison Executive, Aisha.riaz@lmc.org.uk.
- The LMC and ICB discussed the PMS Premium for 25/26. We continue to work with the ICB on this and will update Greenwich constituents on progress.
Primary Secondary Care / Community Interface
Kairos Service will be closing in March 2026 and any referrals to Kairos through MSK will go back to GPs to do re-referrals to pain clinics and pain management which will go back to Circle MSK. We are aware that Circle MSK has asked GPs to do neurosurgical referrals. The LMC will be meeting with Circle MSK to discuss this inappropriate transfer of workload.
Please continue to share any examples of unfunded or inappropriate transfer of workload from secondary or community care with your LMC representatives.
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams
Integrated neighbourhood working and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) will bring a significant change in delivering health services to the community.
The focus for INTs across SEL will be on the following three areas:
- Supporting residents with three LTCs
- Developing an end-to-end pathway for frailty
- Implementation of the Integrated Child Health Model and Population Heath Management
Greenwich LMC members have attended the local INT launch at Charlton. We have been invited to attend a series of workshops over the next 12 months to develop INTs (and the integrator) and look at how neighbourhood working will be put into practice going forwards. As LMC Chair and Vice Chair, our role is to remain aware of the sustainability of General Practice as INT working carries both risks and opportunities for practices. We continue to regularly engage with ICB colleagues regarding neighbourhood working.
Londonwide SEL Team Updates
We are aware of communications from Synnovis on 6 October regarding Synnovis transitioning to a new-generation assay effective from 7 October 2025, which may produce a positive bias (increase) of 0–5 mmol/mol, with a mean difference of approximately 2 mmol/mol compared to previous results. Londonwide raised concerns with Synnovis regarding this and has now received a response. Comms are expected to be sent out following Synnovis consultation with GSTT and CESEL colleagues. Synnovis have reported their planned intent to seek input from primary care and Trust colleagues for future comms.
Refreshed Londonwide LMCs Buying Group
Our substantially updated Buying Group offer is now live, bringing high quality products, service, opportunities and offers to London general practice at the best prices and with the best possible deals.
The offer now includes a supplier for each of these areas: consumables, insurance, training and practice support and wellbeing (including free and discounted tickets to music, theatre and sports events). In addition, we have four suppliers for digital and tech services covering: cloud telephony, records digitisation, call-and-recall automation and patient registration automation.
Londonwide LMC Updates
Workforce Training & Innovation (WTI)
Londonwide’s Workforce-Training and Innovation (WTI) directorate provides key training courses for GPs and their practice team.
Here is a list of upcoming taught days & courses.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Lindsey MacLeod, Chair, Greenwich LMC
Dr Vijay Sivapalan, Vice Chair, Greenwich LMC