Dear colleague,
This newsletter provides an update on recent developments, guidance, and ongoing issues affecting primary care and healthcare interfaces in North West London.
Londonwide LMCs guidance in focus
GPC England advice: OpenSAFELY and access requirements compliance
GPCE have published clearer details on OpenSAFELY use and the expectation of compliance audits on access declarations. Please see our website. NHS England have updated their guidance to support practices with what GPCE hope are clearer instructions.
Local issues
West and North London ICB transition and governance
A new executive team for the West and North London Integrated Care Board (ICB) began roles in October, moving to a joint board structure, with staff consultations scheduled for December to January. Please be mindful in your interactions that this is a challenging time for ICB staff.
Primary Care Provider Collaborative (PCPC) and service transfers
The PCPC is forming a unified provider voice, with the first board meeting planned for November. Federations/at scale providers are discussing coming together as a CIC to provide services. The LMC continues to seek clarity on the transfer of functions and supporting resources and welcomes your feedback to inform discussions.
GP Pathfinder registration and funding reallocation
Practices which lost patients due to registration errors will receive payments shortly. Relevant practices will be contacted direct by the ICB with notice of the amount and when the funds will come through.
Interface improvements
Following LMC-ICB-Trust meetings, LMC evidence and joint LMC Chair-PCN CD letters, we can report the following outcomes.
Transition from REGO to e-RS for A&G and at all NWL Trusts
A transition programme is underway to move from REGO to an e-RS platform from 1 April 2026, with monitoring to avoid patient safety risks and ensure that A&G is supported and monitored.
Inclusion of contact details on hospital websites and in correspondence
NWL Trusts have committed to a timeline of 4 weeks to create a centralised web page with ward and outpatient contact details for patients, to be linked/referenced in Trust correspondence. Concurrently, Trust clinicians are being asked to provide bespoke contact information. This work will be supported by audit tools.
What patients can expect from their specialist
The LMC website has a leaflet for sharing with patients to avoid wasted appointments. Local contact points are below:
Central Middlesex
Ealing
Northwick Park Weblink PALS: 020 8869 5118 LNWH-tr.PALS@nhs.net
Charing Cross
Hammersmith
Queen Charlottes Weblink PALS: 020 3312 7777 imperial.PALS@nhs.net
Chelsea & Westminster
West Middlesex Weblink PALS: 020 3315 6727, 020 8321 6261 chelwest.wmpals@nhs.net
Hillingdon Weblink PALS: 01895 279973 thh-tr.PALS@nhs.net
Primary care-Pathology services interface
The ICB has reinstated monthly Primary Care and Pathology Services Quality and Safety Interface Meetings with LMC representation to address issues.
Enhanced Services
Advice and Guidance (A&G) DES
Advice and Guidance DES payments will be processed regardless of referral outcomes, in line with national guidance. Please remember to submit your claims as well as recording your activity. Please also check your achievement on the NWL ICB dashboard, as we have received reports of disparities between the ICB and the CQRS data – where this is the case, please let the ICB know so that you do not miss out on payments.
2024/25 Year-End
The LMC continues to support some PCNs to conclude appeals shortly. The ICB is escalating PCN concerns re ‘Thrive Tribe’ to NHSE, who commission this service.
2025/26 Mid-year Review
- Warfarin anticoagulation specification: constituents from 7 out of 8 boroughs have reported concerns over the viability of this service, we have escalated this to the ICB and await their clarification on how this service is being delivered within tariff.
- Spirometry: the LMC and ICB are monitoring data following QOF changes.
- Medicines Optimisation (MOES): the LMC raised challenges created by the prescribing savings menu in light of baselines impacting access to part 2 and achievement.
2026/27 Outcomes Based Framework and New Services
The ICB outlined the intended focus on:
- Reduction in mortality.
- Reduction in CVD admissions.
- Positive wellbeing scores.
- Cardiovascular, renal and metabolic (CRM) service: a draft proposal aims to simplify and unify existing service specs. This still needs to be developed into a spec with identified searches, KPIs, funding and training.
- A task and finish group is being set up to develop 26/27 services.
Date for your Diary – Free Virtual London Practice Manager Event on the GP Contract
All London Practice Managers are invited to a free virtual lunchtime forum on the GP Contract.
Date: Thursday 6 November 2025 12-13:30pm
Speaker: Dr Julius Parker, Deputy Chair GPCE and CEO of Surrey and Sussex LMCs
Topic: An overview of the current state of affairs in relation to this year’s GMS contract implementation and what we can expect to see in future negotiations.
Join here: Via Microsoft Teams
Refreshed Londonwide LMCs Buying Group
Our substantially update 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.
The Londonwide LMC NWL sector team
You can find the details of your LMC Chairs across NWL here. Also if you would like to recognise the hard work of a colleague or your own efforts, nominations for the London General Practice Awards close very soon at the end of October.
Best wishes,
North West London LMC Chairs