Dear colleague,
Chair’s introduction
It is a pleasure to share an update of the work Newham LMC has been involved in locally as well as the wider Londonwide LMCs footprint. Thank you to everyone who took part in the recent Newham LMC election process and for the continued support you show for strong, representative local GP leadership.
Our new committee brings together a broad mix of experience from across Newham practices, including salaried GPs, sessional GPs and partners, to support, represent and advocate for a strong, sustainable and respected general practice voice that demonstrates the value we bring to our patients and communities. Together, we aim to offer balanced, proactive representation and constructive stakeholder engagement whilst championing quality improvement and equity across North-East London’s diverse population. We want our work to be shaped by your feedback and the realities you face on a daily basis. Therefore, please contact us to arrange a ‘get to know you’ session with your Newham LMC representative at your soonest convenience.
Newham practices deliver exceptional care under immense pressures, and the road ahead has many obstacles for us to navigate. However, we are stronger together and by working collaboratively we can secure a general practice for the future that is adaptable and resilient to any further challenge. We look forward to working with you.
Newham LMC Membership and Contact info
New LMC membership
We welcome the new LMC members who were elected or co-opted last year: Dr Damilola Alawode, Dr Jyotika Kohli, Dr Mariya Rashid, Dr Liuhao Wu and, returning to the LMC after a break, Dr Nazmul Hussain. They join continuing members Dr Sadek Ahmed, Dr Lyra Chacko-Bakshi, Dr Tammy Hibbert (Chair), Dr Jim Lawrie, Dr Saidur Rahman, Dr Laura Scott and Dr Anil Shah (Vice-chair).
Farewell
We say goodbye with our sincere thanks to the LMC members stepping down Dr Annie Mackela and Dr Alice Verran.
What has Newham LMC been working on recently?
Local Contracts review
The LMC and the Londonwide team are fully engaged in the NEL Enhanced Services (LCS) review; updates on progress are provided in the NEL newsletter.
We have stressed the need to understand the impact of the review on Newham practices to ensure SNS funding is not lost or reduced. We will continue to engage with the ICB to highlight and mitigate any risks to practice income.
Community MSK pathway
Newham LMC has raised concerns with the ICB about the current MSK referral process. GPs are being asked to advise patients to contact the MSK service themselves within a window of 48 hours to two weeks after referral, with discharge from the pathway if patients do not do so. We have been informed that the approach is intended to manage referral numbers. The LMC has highlighted the risks this poses to vulnerable patients and has escalated formally to the System Clinical Director for Newham Health and Care Partnership. We are awaiting a further response from commissioners.
We have also asked for a review of the GetUBetter app pathway to ensure that patients who have already completed the programme are not repeatedly redirected back to it while waiting to be seen, as this risks unnecessary delay and duplication of care.
In addition, the LMC has queried aspects of MSK triage, including why patients referred with a clear rationale for orthopaedic review are often diverted to physiotherapy first, as well as seeking greater clarity on waiting times and access to imaging, including MRI, within the MSK pathway.
Community anticoagulation service and DOAC monitoring
We raised concerns with the ICB about the new Community Anticoagulation Service, particularly in relation to a gap in the commissioned model around ongoing DOAC prescribing and monitoring, which is not contractual for GPs and currently has no LES or funding attached in NEL.
An informal survey was conducted by the LMC on the Newham GP WhatsApp group and found that:
- Only a very small proportion of respondents (1%) initiate DOACs in practices
- 90% of respondents accept ongoing prescribing and monitoring of DOACs
- 31% of respondents are prepared to continue prescribing and monitoring DOACs even if unfunded
- 87% of respondents are prepared to stop prescribing and monitoring DOACs if there was a collective action to negotiate a funded service.
Practices may need to consider whether to continue this unfunded work unless an appropriate LES is introduced, noting that other ICBs are already remunerating GPs for DOAC monitoring. Please do approach your LMC rep if you want to feedback on this issue.
Reminder – shared care agreements
Shared care agreements and the associated workload falls outside of the GP Practice GMS (General Medical Services) Contract. This can have an impact on patient care due to the increased and unfunded workload in the prescribing and monitoring of highly specialised drugs/medication. Shared Care is not routine work and can be deferred back to the specialist who is asking for this to be done. There is guidance from Londonwide LMCs here.
Constituent engagement
We are keen to listen to practices, to understand the issues they are worried about and the challenges they are currently facing – let us know if you would like a call or for an LMC member to visit your practice for a conversation. Please email ian.williamson@lmc.org.uk.
IT
As you will be aware, the ICB has made changes to VPNs. If you are experiencing issues with remote access to the clinical system, you are advised to contact the ICB IT helpdesk for advice.
North East London sector issues
Many issues affecting Newham also affect other boroughs in NEL and we work closely with our counterparts in other boroughs to address and resolve them at sector level. There is also a NEL newsletter for the sector work – the December issue covered issues training. You can read it here, including the NEL enhanced services review, the new NEL anticoag service, the work on the interface with secondary care, the new MSK service and the Oliver McGowan.
Refreshed Londonwide LMCs Buying Group
Our substantially updated Buying Group offer is now live, bringing high quality products, service, opportunities and offers to London general practice at the best prices and with the best possible deals.
The offer now includes a supplier for each of these areas: consumables, insurance, training and practice support and wellbeing (including free and discounted tickets to music, theatre and sports events). In addition, we have four suppliers for digital and tech services covering: cloud telephony, records digitisation, call-and-recall automation and patient registration automation.
Newham LMC
You can find contact information, meeting dates and membership information for Newham LMC here here.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Tamara Hibbert, Chair, Newham LMC