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. Please do make yourselves familiar with your local representatives which can be found here:
- Dr Chaand Nagpaul – Honeypot Medical Practice – LMC Chair
- Dr Meena Thakur – Honeypot Medical Practice – LMC Vice Chair
- Dr Ayia Al-Asadi – GP Direct
- Dr Basjaer Al-Saigh – Sessional GP
- Dr Kushal Barai – Belmont Health Centre
- Dr Mandana Emami – GP Direct
- Dr Madhvi Joshi – Headstone Road Surgery
- Dr Carly Szasz – Elliott Hall Medical Cen
- Dr Shahini Shah – VTS Representative
- Penny Farish – Practice Manager observer
- Rupa Yagnik – Practice Manager observer
ICB Merger
You will be aware that NWL ICB has now formally merged with NCL ICB, to become West North London ICB.
In this transitional period, the current staffing structure between the two ICBs is continuing in terms of providing GP practices with support. However, there has been, and will continue to be staff reconfiguration, which we will be informed about on an ongoing basis.
Please note that the Harrow Borough team will also be transitioning over the coming months with the new staffing structure expected to be in place by September 2026.
Surviving the 2026-27 GP contract – webinars
💻 Via Teams, more content details on Londonwide LMCs website.
📅 12:30-2:00pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026.
📅 7:00-8:30pm, Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Find out about the effect on London, with our unique patient population and commissioning arrangements. The full contract has not yet been published, but Londonwide LMCs’ initial analysis of what has been made available so far is online.
What has Harrow LMC been working on recently?
NWL single offer enhanced services
I have been attending LMC/ICB meetings and reviewing draft specifications, together with other NWL LMC leads on the NWL Single Offer Enhanced services. Extensive work has gone into the CRM specification, which differs to the pilot specification which Harrow has offered for this financial year. An e-alert has been shared with all practices on the changes; you will have received this already, but can also be found here. If you are not receiving the e-alerts please email Amy Honor so you can be added to the circulation list.
Online system supplier choice offered by NWL ICB
Practices should have received information regarding the options available to them for Online consultations and SMS platforms. Currently the ICB expects to fund Patchs, Accurx and Blinx PACO. Practices will be invited to express a preference from this approved range. Please do look out for this.
Ophthalmology direct access referrals
The LMC are aware of the ask to GPs from optometrists to onward refer patients for Cataract referrals, which adds unnecessary work to practices. There are a number of different Ophthalmology services which do not require the GP to refer with the optometrist being able to directly refer. This includes the North West London Community Eye Care Service along with direct access Cataract referral which Moorfields Eye Hospital offer at Brent Cross, Ealing and Northwick Park. The committee have contacted the Local Optical Committee to ask if there are any challenges for them to refer directly and to ask for better awareness of the ability to refer directly amongst Optometrist colleagues.
Primary/Secondary care interface
The LMC continues to receive feedback regarding continued inappropriate workload demands on general practice with regards to the primary/secondary care interface. These include requesting fit notes after hospital discharge, patients being discharged after non-attendance at a clinic appointment, requesting onward referral which should have been carried out by the hospital clinician, and the patient is asking the GP practice to chase up the hospital investigation results and appointments.
Please also do remember the trusts have Primary Care Liaison Managers who can help. The contacts are:
- ChelWest FT, Shalom Chitewo, GP Liaison Manager for WMH/Chelsea, chelwest.gpqueries@nhs.net.
- Imperial College HT, Joselyn King – Head of GP Partnerships, Jerome Allen – Communications officer, gpliaison.imperial@nhs.net.
- London North West UHT, Aiesha Siyahla, Primary Care Liaison Manager, lnwh-tr.primarycarequeries@nhs.net .
- The Hillingdon Hospitals, Becky Farren, General Manager for Patient Access and Outpatients, thh-tr.bookingcentre@nhs.net.
EMIS template to push back on inappropriate hospital-generated workload
With support from the Londonwide LMC team, I’ve developed a set of EMIS template letters, which can be uploaded onto your EMIS-X system as a document. This allows you to automate production of a letter with patient details and the issue concerned to the relevant hospital department, regarding an inappropriate request within a few keystrokes. The template letters have been trialled by Harrow LMC members, and if any practice is interested in piloting their use, please do contact Amy Honor.
Community/general practice interface
Work has been on going with LMC leads with the Community/General Practice interface. The LMC have been raising concerns with the recent change in community specifications and the gaps this has created. This work is ongoing with the LMC having received the most up to date specifications for comments. Please do let us know of any examples of issues or concerns you have so these can be addressed.
Harrow LMC constituent drop in session
Following the success of the last Harrow LMC drop in session we are pleased to announce the next one which will be on Wednesday 6 May 1-2pm. This session will focus on:
- GMS contractual changes 2026/27
- Single offer 2026/27
- Inappropriate workload demands and how to manage them
- Anything else that is affecting you as a GP or practice
You can use this link to join the drop in. All practices are welcome to attend and have direct discussion with LMC members on matters that really affect you; this and is an opportunity for us to support you.
NWL LMC Updates
Pan NWL updates can be found in the monthly updates. Here is the latest.
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.
Resources available
🌊 GP Survival Guide
📝 Initial response to 2026/27 GP contract details
🤝 Shared care pathways
💼 Jobs board
🎓 Events and training
Exclusive deals for practices
Our substantially updated Buying Group offer provides a range of opportunities to save money and improve the quality of products and services you use.
- Hillcroft Surgery Supplies – Get excellent prices and next day delivery on consumables, with a supplier who can respond quickly to your practice needs.
- Practice Index – Access a comprehensive online learning platform, plus packages to manage HR, finance, compliance and rotas.
- Equity Energies – Reduce energy costs, save time, become greener and remove the administrative burden of managing utilities by having experts do it all for you.
- MIAB – Let a specialist GP insurer make sure you have the right cover, with knowledge on developing areas like cyber security, AI scribes and contract holding at PCN level.
- Restore Information Management – Our records digitisation partners can help free up premises space and recent changes with the National Document Repository have improved practices’ options.
- Hippo Labs – Intelligent, end-to-end call-and-recall automation does more than simply send reminders, it tailors messages and helps to improve QOF.
- Surgery Connect – The latest in cloud telephony integrates with clinical systems, provides stats on patient contacts and automates many tasks.
- Tickets for Good – Reward yourself and your colleagues with free and discounted tickets to concerts, theatre shows, sports and more!
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. Please feel free to contact amy.honor@lmc.org.uk.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Chaand Nagpaul 
Chair – Harrow LMC
Londonwide’s NWL LMC Team
- Amy Honor, Committee Liaison Executive, amy.honor@lmc.org.uk
- Dr Asiya Yunus, LMC Secretary/Medical Director
- Jamie Wright, Director of Primary Care
- Lesley Williams, Assistant Director of Primary Care