Dear colleague,
We are pleased to present our latest newsletter, which highlights the recent work and collaborative efforts Hillingdon LMC and Londonwide LMCs along with other local stakeholders. We understand the pressures under which you and your team are working.
Hillingdon LMC Membership and Contact info
What has Hillingdon 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 the Adult ADHD service specification the NWL ICB use for accreditation for right to choose providers. 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.
Drop-in session for Hillingdon constituents
Hillingdon LMC is taking every opportunity to help commissioners and other local health and social care partners understand the immense pressure general practice is under. The LMC 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 the quality of care that it desperately wants to, and what our patients truly deserve. Hillingdon LMC are pleased to introduce virtual drop-in-sessions, with the first being on Thursday 19 June at 1:00-2:00pm which you should have received a teams invite to, but can be joined by this link. All practices are welcome to attend and have direct discussion with LMC members on matters that really affect you and is an opportunity for us to support you.
Primary/Secondary Care Interface
Work continues to push back on all the inappropriate workload dumping which is taking place. Representatives attend several interface meetings including ones with interfacing trusts and NWL ICB. Some of the interface challenges the committee has been working on are:
- rejected referrals including for rapid access chest pain and cardiology,
- requests from community providers for GPs to confirm patient suitability for the falls community adult rehab service when the GP has not made this referral,
- along with requesting that add on bloods can be added to The Hillingdon Hospital like is possible with other providers.
The committee has also been highlighting concerns over radiology outsource with Healthshare Radiology. These include reports being emailed to practices and not available on ICE as well as the lack of clinical support for any questions GPs may have following a report.
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 found below.
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 KPI’s seem achievable, and discussions are ongoing to ensure the process is not onerous with meaningful data created to improve patient care.
MP Visit in Hillingdon
Danny Beales MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip visited Abbotsbury Practice in March to meet with Dr Sujata Chadha and Dr Michelle Drage to discuss a number of local hot topics. You can read more about this and other MP visits across London on the Londonwide LMCs website.
2025 LMC elections – nominate yourself now
This summer is your opportunity to stand for your area’s local medical committee (LMC) by Tuesday 3 June, learning new skills and representing local GPs. 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.
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.”
LMC membership is for every GP regardless of their experience or their role, whether they are a partner, employed, locum, new entrant or a trainee. Contact: lmc-elections@lmc.org.uk if you have any queries about the LMC membership or the elections.
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 September and October
- 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
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 Sujata Chadha, Co-Chair – Hillingdon LMC
Dr Venothan Suri, Co-Chair – Hillingdon LMC