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Focus on PES
This guidance note has been produced by the GPC to help GPs understand the development of the Patient Experience Survey (PES) that was introduced as part of the 2006/07 GMS contract review in England to measure achievement of the Access DES. After the Department of Health imposed substantial and unacceptable last-minute amendments to the survey, the GPC has rejected the survey on the basis that the DES's integrity has been so discredited. This document follows
up this decision with guidance on the implications for practices
Download Pdf (35K) October 2006

Exception Reporting
Guidance on exception reporting producing by NHS Employers and the GPC
Download Pdf (64K) October 2006

The completion of health reference forms for prospective registrants with the General Dental Council
Please see below a message from the BMA's Professional Fees Committee

The General Dental Council (GDC) have introduced a requirement that states all prospective registrants must have a health reference form completed by their GP. The BMA has a number of concerns regarding the current guidance notes to doctors and the wording of the application form and has met with the GDC to highlight these concerns. The GDC has confirmed that it will be reviewing the documents and will consult the Association on these changes.

The Professional Fees Committee notes that the completion of health reference forms does not form part of a GPs terms and conditions and therefore an appropriate fee may be levied by the GP to the patient concerned.
Download Pdf (52K)
GPC guidance on health checks GDC Pdf (27K)

GP Returners
The legal advice that the GPC have is that, under the Minimum Wage Regulations, it would be illegal for a practice to take on a GP returner without paying them a salary. This is on the basis that the GP returners will be doing some work while they are at the practice, even if they are supervised.
Download Full GPC Guidance Pdf (30K )

SFE amendment for the Dispensing Quality Payment Scheme
The GPC has secured agreement from the NHS Employers and Department of Health that, for this financial year only the 10% check referred to above will be scaled back by 25% to 7.5%. This is in recognition of the fact that details of the scheme only became available to practices in July and has been written into the SFE Directions.
Download Pdf (80K)

Healthcare Commission Diabetes Survey - Advice from the GPC
Download advice Pdf (17K)

Implications of the new age discrimination legislation
Following the new Employment Equality (Age) Regulations which are due to come into force in October, it will be unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of age. Below is some guidance which sets out the key changes and explains the implications. The transitional provisions may have implications for practices in August.
BMA Guidance Pdf (29K) - August 2006

Dispensary Services Quality Scheme
NHS Employers and the GPC, in consultation with the Dispensing Doctors Association, have now published details of the Dispensary Services Quality Scheme together with guidance to assist practices and PCTs to implement the scheme.
Download Pdf (88K) September 2006

Hepatitis B for Employees
GPC Guidance Aug 2005
Download Pdf (33K)

Partnership Agreements
New GPC guidance on partnership agreements.  It has been produced with considerable input from the BMA's legal department and it is hoped that it will prove a helpful resource for GPs considering partnership issues.
Download Guidance Pdf (131K)
also
Medical Partnerships under the NHS Pdf (256K)

Changes to the Childhood Immunisation Programme
Download DoH letter PdF (50K)

Pharmacy Medicine Use Reveiw (MUR)
Download detailed info & adv services form (LPC) Pdf (141K)

Attention Dispensing GPs
Important Information regarding VAT
Following changes in Department of Health funding, effective from 1 April 2006, dispensing doctors who wish to recover VAT incurred on the drugs they dispense will need to register for VAT.
Download GPC guidance Pdf (15K)
Weblink to Dispensing Doctor
Download HM Revenue & Customs guidance (36K)
The GPC are aware that some financial advisers are encouraging dispensing doctors to backdate their registration for VAT in order to make backdated claims VAT reimbursement. This would result in them receiving double payments on their VAT costs because up to 1 April this year all dispensing doctors were entitled to receive an allowance in lieu of their VAT costs on the drugs they dispense, provided they were not registered for VAT.
>More

Agenda for Change
The GPC has produced guidance for practices/LMCs on Agenda for Change. It is written as an aid to practices who may be considering implementing AfC for their practice staff. It reiterates that practices are not obliged to give AfC terms and pay to their practice staff and also that there is no additional funding for this for individual practices.
Download Pdf (335K)

Child Protection
The BMA Ethics Department has produced a letter to all GPs. They are concerned about misleading draft protocols that may be in circulation, asking doctors to override the confidentiality of sexually active young people routinely.
Download Pdf (23K)

Changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act
Information from the DH on changes to the misuse of drugs act that have recently come in regarding computer generated prescriptions.
Download Pdf (26K)

Practice Based Commissioning
A guide for practices
Download Pdf May 2006 (313K)

A briefing note for practices
Download Pdf Nov 2005 (421k)
Download Pdf Oct 2005 (332k)

PMS Practices and APMS GPs
Guidance - May 2006
Download GPC Guidance Pdf (37K)
Download DH Guidance Pdf (45K)

NHS Connecting for Health Primary Care IT
GPC - April 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (376K)

Connecting for Health System Choice Announcement.
Presentation by Dr Gillian Braunold Pdf (29K) - April 2006
Briefing by Dr Gilian Braunold Pdf (13K) - April 2006

IM&T SLA - Support Services Guidance
IT Support Services Guidance (the SLA) has been published on the DH Gateway site. - April 2006

Flu Pandemic Preparation on the GPC website now
The GPC have released a section which is open to all GPs on Flu Pandemic Preparations. You will find within it a Service Continuity Plan and relevant guidance on creating an individualised one for practices. - April 2006

Focus on SFE Changes 2006/7
GPC - April 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (25K)

Focus on Access
This new guidance note has been produced to help GPs understand the changes and developments that have been made to access arrangements, in England, under the GMS contract for 2006-07. - March 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (30K)

Referrals to Complimentary Therapists
GPC Guidance - March 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (41K)

Focus on Choice and Booking
GPC - March 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (38K)

Focus on revisions to the GMS contract
GPC - March 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (40K)

GMS Contract Reveiw Negotiations 2006/7
GPC/NHS Employers joint guidance
Download Guidance Pdf (1Mb)

The Financial Implications of Increasing List Size
GPC Guidance - February 2006
Download Guidance Pdf (41K)

Guidance for Medical Practitioners Summoned for Jury Service - November 2005
Weblink to BMA

Dispensing Reimbursement Arrangements Consultation Document
Download Pdf (85K)

Changes to the BCG Vaccinations Programme
Download Pdf (57K) July 2005

Patients presenting with dental problems: GP responsibilities
Download Pdf (45K)

PMS
Essex LMC Principles on The Status of PMS Baselines in the Era of the New GMS Contract.
Download Pdf (21K)

Hazardous Waste Regulations
Regulations were introduced in England and Wales on 16th July and required practices to register with the Environment Agency before this date. Further more detailed information is available from the Enviroment Agency Website and the GPC.

GPC Hazardous Waste Guidance July 2005
Download Pdf (34K)

BMA
The BMA website www.bma.org.uk holds a wealth of information and guidance. However it can be difficult to extract information easily, especially for those who are less I.T literate. If you should experience difficulties please contact us for assistance.

Choose & Book

The latest target for PCTs is to obtain GP “sign-up” to Choose and Book, or Cheese and Book if you work in Maldon. Practices are expected to register for new swipe cards and keyboards that have the capacity to run Choose and Book along with other NHS I.T. wonders.

Choose and Book may turn out to have advantages for patients and practices, as yet that is far from clear, but it is voluntary for practices. The LMC has heard of, and experienced, instances where PCTs have informed practices that it is a requirement for them to engage with Choose and Book.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

Choose and Book is not a contractual requirement and PCTs are merely trying to achieve top-down targets. (as usual)

Practices should look at the possible advantages of the proposed system and make up their own minds about signing up, deciding later whether or not to implement the system. Attempts to bribe practices with such luxuries as new printers should be regarded in the light of the PCT requirement to supply I.T. in any case, and the possible £6,000 per average practice available to PCTs that achieve 30% sign-up of practices.

Freedom of Information Act:
GPC Guidance Frequent Q&As (Pdf 59K)
BMA Website - Advice from the GPC
Freedom of Information Act - The Simple Facts! This document and others are also available direct from the Essex Public Health Resource Unit Library at www.ephru.nhs.uk.

General Guidance

Medical Performers list guidance (Pdf 102K)
Removal of patients (Pdf 95K)
Treating overseas visitors (Pdf 33K)
Commissioning a Patient Led NHS(Pdf 71K)

GMS2 Tool
A full library of electronic copies of all legal documentation in relation to the GMS2 contract is available courtesy of West Midlands LMC.

GP Out of Hours Services
The House of Commons Health Committee GP Out of Hours Services (HC697-1)

Payments for vaccines
A paper prepared by Kent LMC: www.kentlmc.org
Download Pdf (141K)

Too Much Information (TMI)
May 2005 (646k)
March 2005 (915k)
January 2005 (669k)

New Contract News Updates
October & November 2004 (780k)
August & September 2004 (624k)
June and July 2004 (939k)
May 2004 (1.1MB)
April 2004 (548k)
March 2004 (824k)
February 2004 (992k)
January 2004 (604k)


September 2004 Newsletter (376k):

• Complaints
• occupational health
• Freedom of Information Act
• Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure
• cremation certificates.