Avon LMCs Newsletter on 07-01-26

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The ALMC Newsletter

Welcome to our weekly newsletter, sharing the latest news and topics of interest for practices.

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– LATEST NEWS –

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I hope you all managed to enjoy some well-earned rest over the holiday period and have begun the New Year feeling at least somewhat recharged. Looking ahead, 2026 promises to be a significant and challenging year for General Practice. With the ongoing threat of dispute, forthcoming contract negotiations and lack of detail around neighbourhood contracts, uncertainty remains a familiar companion. What is clear, however, is that without a meaningful uplift in core funding, many practices will struggle to remain financially viable, particularly in light of the necessary and welcome rise in the National Living Wage.

I will be attending the GPC England meeting on 15th January, traditionally the point at which proposed contractual changes for the year ahead are presented to the Committee. The GPCE Officer Team have already submitted their demands to government (outlined elsewhere in this newsletter), and we now await confirmation of how much progress can realistically be achieved. As ever, Avon LMC will continue to keep members informed and to represent your interests robustly during this critical period.

Alongside these professional challenges, the New Year always brings with it a sense of renewal and intention-setting. This year, my focus has been firmly on personal health—both mental and physical. I have found unexpected joy in crisp, early-morning dog walks while temporarily standing in for my husband, and in making more deliberate choices to prioritise the preparation of fresh, unprocessed meals, over working just a little bit longer. These small shifts have been a timely reminder that sustainability applies not only to our practices, but to ourselves.

At home, I am surrounded by the energy of new beginnings, as I help my daughter navigate university and drama school applications. When I recently told her that, if I could live my life over again, I would study to become a scriptwriter, her response was both simple and sobering:

“Mum, you only have one life. You have got to do everything you’ve ever wanted to do now.”

Every New Year reinforces this truth—that our lives, like our profession, require care, courage, and conscious nurturing. As we face another demanding year in General Practice, I hope we can all find moments to reflect not just on what we give to our work, but on how we live the one life we have.

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”
— Alan Cohen

Shaba Nabi
Chair: Avon LMC

Our Director of Nursing has shared updated information on the process for obtaining valid consent for immunisation. The document also clarifies the role of Healthcare Support Workers in vaccination, in line with UKHSA recommendations and current professional standards. For any queries, please contact nursing@almc.co.uk

This can be found here.

The GPCE contract proposals can be found here but are summarised as follows:

Replace PCN ARRS with GPESS so that practices are funded to employ GPs

• National Safeguarding DES
• National GP OPEL system to allow mitigations from unsafe demand
• Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice to include Information Governance issues
• Increase of £50 per weighted patient to the global sum
• IoS payments for vaccinations to be increased to £13.48
• Locum reimbursement for non-GP practice staff within SFE
• Replace PCN ARRS with GPESS so that practices are funded to employ GPs

Question: We have a patient discharged from the orthopaedic team following infected metalwork who is on long term antibiotics, and we have been asked to take weekly LFTs for 3 months. Is this our responsibility?

Answer: Pushback is appropriate (using the Avon LMC template letter) as we are not commissioned to take weekly bloods for an orthopaedic patient, unless the bloods are delegated on ICE. This type of collective/corrective action is ongoing.

The resolutions of motions debated has now been published and can be found here.

The conference recording can also be viewed here.

This can be found here.

• 3 March 2026: Virtual LMC drop in, 1pm – 2pm
• 5 May 2026: Virtual LMC drop in, 1pm – 2 pm
• 7 July 2026: Virtual LMC drop in, 1pm – 2pm

Discover a world of knowledge with ALMC Learning Hub! Our monthly newsletter is your backstage pass to course updates and expert insights straight to your inbox.

Subscribe now and stay informed, you would find out what additional training will be coming up and know more about our trainers. 

• Tuesday 06 Jan General practice bulletin
• Thursday 23 Dec General practice bulletin

A reminder that registration is open for the next BNSSG Practice & PCN Management Development quarterly meeting.
The invite for this meeting extends to Practice Managers, PCN Managers, Deputy & Assistant Managers, and anyone aspiring to work in practice or PCN management. 

Date: Wednesday 21st January 2026 
Time: 14:00 – 15:30 
Venue: MS Teams webinar 

The attached flyer contains agenda for the day and the link to register. 
 
For further information, please contact Louise Carthy, Project Lead, at L.Carthy@nhs.net.  ease find the UKHSA letter here.

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– LATEST TRAINING AND EVENTS –

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Please see the attachment for Learning Hub events here. 

For further information, please contact almclearninghub@almc.co.uk.

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