Islington LMC newsletter – February 2024

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Dear colleagues,

Over the last year we have seen unprecedented changes in general practice with increasing workload dumping, restructuring and GPs continuing to be overstretched and underfunded. The LMC remains the voice of general practice and review working towards better funding and resourcing of general practice. Over the next few months it will be important to have a strong, unified voice for general practice with the upcoming and yet to be disclosed new Contract. There are a few available slots on the LMC so if you would like to attend a meeting to see if you’d like to join, please get in touch. More than ever we need people to join and fight for the voice of Islington general practice amongst the ongoing restructuring of the ICB.

Things we have been working on over the last 12 months:

    1. Working with the local council
      We have successfully been working with the local council to push back against unfunded work around housing and blue badge letters. The Accurx templates below have been approved by the council and can be shared with your practices (see below):

Blue Badge:

    1. We have received your request for information to support your application for a Blue Badge parking concession. We are unable to provide detailed medical letters specific for this purpose however, Islington Council will consider a summary of your records which we can provide. Please consider providing copies of letters you may have from a consultant or specialist of the conditions you suffer from to evidence you have difficulty walking very short distances. You are now able to access notes and information relating to your medical records via the NHS App, further information on how to get started with the NHS App can be found here NHS App help and support.

Citizens Advice Islington:

    1. If you are struggling with housing, debt or benefit changes and need advice or support, we recommend getting in touch with Islington Citizens Advice. As a practice we have little influence in housing, but we can make referrals to social prescribers if you require further support. Please use this link for Citizens Advice or contact reception for a social prescribing referral.

Housing letters:

    1. We have been informed by Islington Council that housing letters will not support your request to change your housing needs. Please contact the council directly to discuss your needs: HomesandCommunities@Islington.gov.uk, 020 7527 5300, or in person at 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR. Opening hours are 9am – 5pm Monday-Friday. Please make an appointment.
    1. .
  2. Working with the interface
    We regularly attend both UCLH and Whittington interface groups to improve working in an integrated way with our secondary care colleagues. This has included successfully lobbying for a primary care customer relations coordinator (an equivalent to the extremely helpful Renato at UCH) and now one is in post. We also fought to have confirmation our community teams should be directly referring to their secondary care services e.g. district nurses to vascular for ulcer issues, community diabetic nurses straight to the endocrinologists – requests for the GP to refer on ERS should be sent back as they are able to do this. We are always looking to feedback to these groups so if you have frustrations or success to feedback please get in touch.
  3. Funding delays
    The LMC has worked with the ICB to represent the need for funding for the LTC service and written back about IIF resulting in improvements.

We hope to see more people join us to fight for the voice of general practice.

Karen and Tamsin on behalf of Islington LMC

Your current LMC members are:

  • Dr Cindy Cohen – Archway Medical Centre/North Islington 1 PCN
  • Dr Tamsin Ellis (Co-Chair) – St Johns Way Medical Centre/ North Islington 1 PCN
  • Dr Emily Grant-Arrowsmith (Vice- Chair)- Mildmay Medical Practice/Central 1 Islington PCN
  • Dr Karen Summerfield (Co-Chair)- St Peters Street Medical Practice/Central 2 Islington PCN
  • Dr Jilani Masarat-The Village Practice/North Islington 1 PCN
  • Dr Anna Ehrlich (VTS representative)-City Road Medical Centre/Sessional South Islington PCN
  • David Cole (Practice Manager representative)-The Rise Group Practice/North Islington 1 PCN
  • Breda Redmond-Hunt (Practice Nurse representative)-Mildmay Medical Practice/Central 1 PCN

For further information about joining Islington LMC or to contact Islington LMC members about issues as they arise, please contact the Londonwide LMC team sarah.ocran@lmc.org.uk.

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