Welcome to this, the first edition of the Merton LMC Newsletter
Through this Newsletter we intend to keep you informed about issues and events affecting General Practice, both locally, regional and at a national level. I hope that you will find the newsletter interesting and informative. I also hope that you will share feedback about the newsletter and its content.
Dr Marek Jarzembowski, Chair Merton LMC
What is the LMC and what do we do?
We:
- We are the representative body for General Practice that is recognised in statute and are the professional voice of General Practice at a local level.
- We are the only directly elected body representing all local GPs, regardless of their career position or employment status.
- We consult with NHS bodies, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local councils and any other potential commissioning bodies, negotiating local contract terms for General Practice.
- The LMC works for and with individual GPs and practices, providing support through our knowledge of contracts, systems and stakeholders at all levels, including borough, ICB, regional and national.
- We inform and engage with workforce development, planning, education and training for all roles within General Practice.
- Merton LMC works closely with neighbouring LMCs in SW London, as well as with LMCs across London, under the umbrella of Londonwide LMCs.
The LMC working on your behalf:
Primary Care At Scale (PCAS) framework
The LMC is writing to SWL ICB to obtain an assurance that the framework will only be used to commission services at scale, and not those usually commissioned from individual practices. We will also confirm when the framework will be reopen, to enable people to reapply or apply.
eDEC
The LMC has also met with representatives from RM Partners, who will be rolling out a new scheme; Early Cancer Diagnosis Enhanced Contract (EDEC), currently scheduled to be rolled out in the summer.
EDEC aims to improve the early diagnosis of cancer through:
- A focussed programme of work with GP Practices & PCNs
- Capacity building in primary care to build a legacy of continued cancer focused work to improve early diagnosis and reduce health inequalities
More details will be outlined over the coming months, and we will ensure that the LMC are engaged at each stage of the roll out.
Potential closure of Respiratory Hub
The LMC have written to Mark Creelman to outline concerns regarding the potential closure of the Merton Respiratory Hub, and we have been advised that this decision is now under review.
Pathology process and system changes
The LMC also met with Tim Planche, Clinical Director of South West London Pathology, where he outlined a number of changes around pathology processes and systems, including:
New analysers for biochemistry and haematology systems – The next phase of implementation of new Biochemistry (and Haematology) analysers will be at SGH, date for go-live in March 2025. Kingston to go live in the summer. GPs shouldn’t notice any changes although there are a few tests where the normal reference ranges will change. It was confirmed that this would not affect QOF.
GP Hub – the plan to take out GP pathology work from the acute trusts is progressing. It was initially proposed that GP pathology test processing would be sited at St Helier, but the estate there has been deemed unsuitable. There is a need to look for a new site and one has been identified near the Ikea in Croydon. It is hoped that this will be up and running in 2026.
Change to urine tests in microbiology – this change will be identical to the one brought in for biochemistry and means that there will be a different colour top. It will result in a single route for doing urine tests.
Rejected referral rates
The LMC is writing to all Trust CMOs to outline our concerns regarding the volume of rejected referrals that GPs across Merton are currently experiencing. We will keep you informed once we have gained the relevant information.
LMC comments on referral forms, pathways and guidelines
Over the last 6 months Merton LMC has provided comments in relation to the following:
- SWL Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic Referral form
- SWL Early Arthritis Clinic Referral form
- SWL Heart Failure Diagnostic pathways
- SWL Gastroenterology pathway changes
- SWL Teledermatology pathways
- SWL Gastro pre-referral guidance
- SWL Dizziness guidelines
Your LMC
The list below is the current membership of Merton LMC, with the current term running until 31 August 2025. All places will be up for election in the Spring/Summer, election timeline below:
- Nomination packs issued w/c 28 April 2025
- Online awareness events covering the role of LMCs and why GPs should consider standing – Weds 7 May and Weds 21 May 1 pm to 2 pm
- Close of nominations Tues 3 June 2025 5pm
- Voting papers issued/Declaration of results from those constituencies elected without a ballot Monday 23 June 2025
- Close of voting: Tuesday 22 July 2025 (12.00 pm)
- Publication of results: Monday 28 July 2025
Nominations can be submitted online on the digital platform provided by Civica Election Services and further information on this will be shared with all GPs over the next few months. Any GP working in the LMC area can self-nominate for election. If they work in more than one LMC area, they should stand in the LMC area where they provide the majority of their primary medical services work.
Please ensure that you are on the electoral role and that Londonwide LMCs has your relevant contact details.
In the meantime, please contact any of the LMC committee members listed below if you have any issues you wish to raise:
Merton LMC Committee members:
- Dr Paul Alford (vice Chair), Morden Hall Medical Centre
- Dr Caroline Chill
- Dr Elizabeth Higham, Central Medical Centre
- Dr Marek Jarzembowski (Chair)
- Dr Andrew Otley, Cricket Green Medical Practice
- Dr Martin Wong
- Dr Elisabeth Wood, Morden Hall Medical Practice
- Ms Alison Kirk (PM rep), Central Medical Centre
- Mrs Carly Pearcey (PM rep), The Nelson Medical Practice
Londonwide’s LMC Team supporting Merton LMC:
- Dr Asiya Yunus for clinical queries or issues, Medical Director, Asiya.yunus@lmc.org.uk
- Kate Hudson for contractual info/management advice, Director of Primary Care, Kate.hudson@lmc.org.uk
- Nicola Rice for SWL wide issues Assistant Director of Primary Care, Nicola.rice@lmc.org.uk
- David Moore for Borough level issues, Committee Liaison Executive, David.moore@lmc.org.uk
- Kat Lederle info on LMC meetings, Committee Administrator, katharina.lederle@lmc.org.uk
Other services that Londonwide LMCs provides on behalf of General Practice across Merton.
GP Support team
The General Practice Support team comprises 6F/T non-medics (Vicky Ferlia, Jan Swannell, Jacqui Perfect, Amy Elliott, Yvonne Frank, Vanessa Douglas) and 4 P/T Medical Directors (Dr Elliott Singer, Dr Kirsa Morganti, Dr Sara Riley, Dr Lowri Kew).
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 papers & briefings to LMC reps. Policy influence at London level e.g. NHSE/ICBs, CQC. Attendance at Performance Advisory Group (PAGs) and Performers Lists Decision Panels (PLDPs).
General Practice support includes:
| Individual doctors | Individual practices |
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PCN Support
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For help or support please contact the GP Support team at gpsupport@lmc.org.uk .
Workforce-Training and Innovation (WTI)
A message from Ann Ayamah, Head of Workforce-Training and Innovation, Londonwide LMCs:
The smallest team within Londonwide LMCs, but we pack a mighty punch!
Delivering events and programmes, running the Londonwide LMCs Buying Group and Associates listing and as the project management team for the organisation.
To see what is currently on offer please follow the links below:
- LEAD Events and Blended Learning Programmes
- Londonwide LMCs Buying Group
- The Associates Listing
- Our complete events brochure with details on all we offer.
Highlights are as follows – The Operations Manager Apprenticeship offered in a number of LMC areas, but what makes ours different is that we have added access to our Introduction to Finance Taught Day and all eleven modules from the General Practice Manager Blended Learning Programme. This has made what we are offering across our London practices general practice focussed, rather than a generic offering. There are two information sessions coming up. For more on this follow this link.
Coming soon in April 2025 – Member Pensions training. This blended learning programme is for those that administer the NHS Pension scheme in practices. Watch out for the advertising that will be going out end of February for our pilot cohort.
Please feel free to contact us on WTI@lmc.org.uk with any queries or ideas you may have.