Londonwide LMCs

Dear colleague,

We are pleased to present our latest newsletter, which highlights the recent work and collaborative efforts between Harrow LMC and Londonwide LMCs along with other local stakeholders. We understand the pressures under which you and your team are working.

Harrow LMC Membership and Contact info

What has Harrow LMC been working on recently?

ADHD Services
The LMC has raised concerns over shared care pathways and new ADHD provisions. NWL LMCs were not involved in the process for Harrow Health to provide Adult ADHD services. We understand the pathway is for general practice to take on Shared Care and Annual Reviews. Both elements create clinical safety concerns and clinical liability risks for GPs. The four main concerns we concluded as: patient safety; Shared Care; Annual Reviews, and remuneration needed for prescribing.

We are aware of examples where there is no Shared Care agreement, or where Shared Care is not Shared Care due to patients being discharged, with the ask for GPs to prescribe medication. Please be aware of this pattern, and exercise judgement when deciding whether recommendations from other providers fall within your remit and within your competence. This work is NOT mandatory. More guidance on Shared Care pathways can be found here.

Please also be aware that CNWL have the ability to use Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) so they should not be requesting GP’s to prescribe on their behalf.

Primary/Secondary Care Interface
A great deal of work continues to push back on all the inappropriate workload dumping which is taking place. The LMC are drafting a Service Alert form which we are keen for practices to trial once finalised. Representatives from the committee also attend several interface meetings including ones with interfacing trusts and NWL ICB.

Special Allocation Scheme – SAS
At a recent Committee meeting it was highlighted the gaps in practice knowledge regarding the Special Allocation Scheme. Some practices are seeing some additional safety concerns related to the early release prisoners scheme. Given this, the LMC would like to signpost you to SAS information if you do require the scheme in the future. Please find more information available here NHS England report template-add image from Page 185 along with advice from the BMA Removing violent patients and the special allocation scheme.

Practices may also be interested in Londonwide LMCs guidance on violent and abusive patients and removing a patient from the practice due to a breakdown in the practice-patient relationship, the latter also covers circumstances beyond violence or aggression.

Enhanced Services & NWL ICB Access Specification
The North West London team shared information regarding the Enhanced Services contract variation for 2025/26 which can be in the last pan-NWL LMC update. NWL ICB Access 2024/25 Specification – The LMC understands that all PCNs should have received the Phase 1 50p/head payments now totalling £1.3million across NWL. Phase 2 has seen all PCNs in Harrow supported, with Phase 2 funding totalling £4.7million across NWL. Although 2024/25 has been extremely challenging, PCNs have cumulatively achieved the highest amount ever of patient engagement in NWL and just over 80%of funds have been used to improve patient access to General Practice services.

NWL ICB Access 2025/26 Specification – Lots of work has gone into developing the Access 2025/26 specification and has been a collaborative approach with responsiveness to LMC suggestions and contributions. The KPIs seem achievable and discussions are ongoing to ensure the process is not onerous with meaningful data created to improve patient care.

Late March NWL update

2025 LMC elections

This spring is your opportunity to stand for Harrow LMC. Please watch our short animation explaining why should you stand for your local medical committee, which is part of our regularly updated elections page. You can also share the animation and a short message via WhatsApp.

If you would like to find out more about being a member we are running two lunchtime awareness sessions on either Wednesday 7 or 21 May 2025 you can register for these via [email protected].

Nomination packs will be sent out via email at the end of April. If you do not receive regular emails from us, think your details need updating, or you know of any GPs who may not be receiving our updates, whether they are a partner, employed, locum, new entrant or a trainee GP, contact us on [email protected]. The minimum data we require for each GP is the area/borough of London you work in, the name of the practice(s) you are currently working at, your GMC number and a current email address. For more information on how we handle your data, please see our privacy notice.

Resources

Events and 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: [email protected]

Get in touch

All constituents can raise any issues of concern with the LMC at any time and thank you to those that have been in touch since the last newsletter. We rely on you to know where support is needed and are grateful for your queries. Please do reach out to an LMC member or Amy. We are keen to hear from our local GPs and practice teams about any issues you are facing. We are here to represent your views.

Your Londonwide LMCs’ North West London team are as follows, all contactable via Amy Honor.

Amy Honor – Committee Liaison Executive
Dr Asiya Yunus – LMC Secretary/Medical Director
Jamie Wright – Director of Primary Care
Lesley Williams – Assistant Director of Primary Care

Yours Faithfully,

Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Chair
Harrow LMC

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