Avon LMCs Newsletter on 07-02-24
The ALMC Newsletter
Welcome to our weekly newsletter, sharing the latest news and topics of interest for practices.
– LATEST NEWS –
| I’m your new LMC Board Director for South Gloucestershire and aim to be the voice of those working in general practice, making it viable for the future. My lead roles are Premises and Primary Care Interface and I will be representing Avon LMC on these issues. Meeting the team last week for our first away day was useful for bonding and strategy. I’ve started to see how much the LMC does, including supporting struggling practices, offering advice, working collaboratively with many organisations, all vital given the external influences on general practice. The LMC hopes to get more resources and support out there for practices so do watch this space! I will relish the challenges that come with this role, be transparent and keep you posted. Feel free to reach out, even just to say hi! Nafeesa Arshad Board Director Avon LMC |
It has come to the attention of Avon LMC that general practice is being asked to continue PSA surveillance biennially (every two years) on men who have no symptoms and have a normal PSA result. These requests have come from a variety of sources, including North Bristol Trust, but driven by the Prostate cancer risk management programme. This UK guidance allows a PSA test to be performed in general practice for any man over the age of 50 who requests it, regardless of symptoms.
However, according to this guidance, the pathway ends when the PSA level is not raised:
Despite having no national screening programme for ongoing surveillance for prostate cancer, some specialist clinicians have requested that general practice continues PSA monitoring because the evidence suggests that this is clinically beneficial.
Whilst the LMC is supportive of evidence-based clinical practice, it cannot endorse surveillance in the absence of a commissioned and funded national screening programme. It is for this reason that we are advising all practices to decline these requests for surveillance of normal PSAs, which may come from either patients or specialist clinicians, as would not wish to see the unintended consequences of increased health inequalities arising from a variation in practice.
The GP Committee of the BMA unanimously voted against accepting the proposed 2024-25 GP contract with its derisory 1.9% uplift, which speaks volumes about how NHS England and the Treasury values General Practice. Additional negotiations will take place over the next few weeks, with a plan for GPC England to share the final proposal with the profession in the form of a referendum. It is essential to join the BMA to take part in this referendum, which is open to GPs of all contractual status.
Here is a video of the Chair of GPC England, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, discussing the main issues.
Vacancies
Click here to see all the latest vacancies in the BNSSG area.
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mandy@almc.co.uk
