Storm Warning North and South Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd Contents
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Annual Report 2007/2008 Storm warning North and South Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd Contents Chief Executive’s Report 2-3 North Essex Vice Chairman’s Report 4-5 South Essex Vice Chairman’s Report 6-7 Standards for Better General Practice 8-9 GMS Contract Negotiations - Essex Meetings 10-11 Essex Practice Manager Conference 2008 12-13 Move to Limited Company Status 14 Priorities 2008/09 15 North Essex List of Members 16-17 South Essex List of Members 18-19 Accounts 2007/2008 20 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT There are few things that genuinely affected morale provision could damage has traditionally been low, see patients’ health needs other potential benefits when it eventually arrives. and have provided training are constant in primary in general practice, and local primary care, but it the needs of the population addressed. It is a shame to patients. The insanity Another example of joint on management issues. We care. Patients are seen, which might undermine may also introduce a new are great, and same that this is merely a hope surrounding extended working is the planning have also held a number in their millions, and the the foundation of our “corporate” commissioning population is expanding and that DH policy appears hours is a prime example of in Essex for Pandemic Flu. of joint PBC seminars with vast majority receive and NHS, namely primary model which treats patients through the Thames to contain little that is how political interference All practices have received a variety of PCTs. The appreciate an excellent care. The “Darzi” review like raw materials and Gateway developments. centred on patient need. in the NHS can produce a business continuity plan Essex LMCs Ltd are always standard of care. of the NHS has provided factory output units and the maximum effort and which was introduced by open to suggestions on Governments and Health us with a surgeon’s eye health workers like drones. At the time of writing we Access has been the major disharmony, in order to an Essex GP, and the IT how we can best serve Departments or Authorities view of primary care do not know who will be political issue in primary gain perhaps a tiny benefit support for this issue has our constituents, and on want more to be done in which for all its good The “Darzi” centres, or GP- providing services from care in recent months. for a minority of patients. been purchased by the possible new ventures. primary care, and morale points, such as increased led health centres, will be these centres. The DH There is no doubt that SHA and is available to all has never been lower. I clinical involvement and established in each of our would like its corporate access is important and that The Essex Appraisal practices. I believe that the values of name but three. It is worth leadership and a renewed PCTs. Essex will therefore friends to gain a foothold primary care can improve, Scheme continues to run general practice, and the noting that morale, like one emphasis on Practice have five. We should be with who knows what but the obsessive drive successfully, and is one of The LMCs continue to carry dedication of those working or two other substances, Based Commissioning thankful that the thirteen consequences in primary to push this agenda, and the best examples of joint out their statutory and within, will see us through always goes downhill. (PBC), has also forced the PCTs were reduced to five care, but our PCTs and local the pressure on practices working across primary care representative duties, and these difficult times. procurement of additional in 2006. Essex probably providers may yet produce and PCT management to organisations. It is hoped we have added several other The last year has seen primary care capacity could benefit from one such a solution which is locally produce improvements, that five appraisals under functions to our work. We Brian Balmer Government proposals without any regard for local centre in Thurrock where acceptable and minimises has been to the detriment the Essex model will equip support and host the Essex Chief Executive/Secretary and actions which have need or input. This over- primary care investment disruption. We might even of good relationships and our GPs for revalidation Practice Managers Group, 2 North and South Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd Annual Report 2007/2008 3 NORTH ESSEX VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT As I sit here writing this wondered what this was Centres and Extended knowing that we could adopt to deliver the service, As we now look back on fail to appreciate that the I hope to be able to report article in September 2008 leading to. Why were we Hours. The latter took up still opt to take a pay cut whilst achieving equally the last days of the 2007/8 GP contract negotiations next year that these fears early 2007 seems light being softened up? an enormous amount of and forsake the additional superb outcomes. One size year, the majority of us will of 3 years ago did not were after all unfounded. years away. How our the combined energy of work. It was felt that we does not fit all, and patients be looking at our accounts result in a pay rise for world has changed. It was We did not have to wait the LMC office, particularly could afford to yield on have a choice of the style for that year and noting GPs. They merely allowed In finishing I would like to, gradually becoming clear too long to find out. The when it became apparent this particular battle in the of practice with whom they with increasing concern us to catch up with peer on behalf of you all, thank that we were no longer old rules of negotiation that we were about to have hope of winning the longer wish to register in most that practice profits are professions. Primary Care my predecessor Dr Richard regarded as the pearl in were dispensed with. the thing imposed through term war. The biggest parts of the country. The falling off alarmingly. We once again became a Wright for his excellent the oyster of the NHS by None of this nonsense a Hobson’s Choice: “Would concern of the LMC was Darzi approach will unpick are now in the third year popular career choice for stewardship during 3 years this Government. Indeed about “win / win”. Our you prefer a gastroscopy whether this “clunking fist” that rich tapestry of care, of what is purportedly eager medical students. as LMC Chair for North there was a concerted negotiators were sidelined or a colonoscopy doctor? approach to negotiating and must be resisted. We a pay freeze, but which These donkeys need to Essex. A hard act to follow and focused Government- and a more aggressive No medical indication of would set a precedent for all recognised the threat is in actuality a pay cut. appreciate that if they do but, with the help of my Vice fed media campaign to approach adopted. As course. We just want you future negotiating rounds. and wondered why our The majority of us, being not start to value General Chair Dr John Guy, I intend to undermine our credibility the year moved on the to suffer. How much is up As you read this article our leaders were not fighting kindly souls, will have paid Practice in this country give it a try. I would also like in the eyes of the public. Committee advanced from to you!” A number of GPC negotiating team is back. They have at last our staff at least a cost of they will soon become the to thank Dr Brian Balmer and We were now lazy, gentle discussions about very well attended “road finding out. got their act together in a living pay increase. The vultures feeding on the his team in the LMC office overpaid and feckless. PBC incentive schemes and shows” were arranged and very effective campaign of income:expenditure gap malnourished carcass of who work so tirelessly and In this atmosphere we enhanced services floors the stark choice laid out One of the many strengths public engagement. Will is narrowing. This is not what was once the most effectively on your behalf. seemed to accept a second into defensive discussions for us. The majority of us, of Primary Care in this the government listen to sustainable. The moronic efficient and effective year of income freeze with about PCT practice in a controversial ballot, country is the variety of its own electorate? political donkeys now system for delivery of Dr Gary Sweeney barely a whimper. We all assessment schemes, Darzi went for the gastroscopy, approaches that practices braying at our discomfiture Primary Care in the world. North Essex Vice Chairman 4 North and South Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd Annual Report 2007/2008 5 SOUTH ESSEX VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT In 2004, we were all what we were being paid are still not where we most cost effective aspect privatisation through the the LMC. I would also celebrating that we had won for ‘OOHs’. We had been want to be just yet, and of the NHS, GP led primary ‘backdoor’ scheme. But do like to congratulate him the battle, and that there strongly subsidising the this is through no lack of care. This beggars belief not despair, remember the for becoming one of our My dear colleagues, was no better profession service. effort on our negotiators’ and the only conclusion BMA campaign, and the representatives to the than ours, we were truly the part.