Avon LMCs Newsletter on 15-04-26

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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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As we step into the new financial year, there is, as ever, a sense of both renewal and uncertainty across general practice. April is traditionally a time for fresh planning, resetting priorities, and looking ahead with cautious optimism. Yet this year, that optimism is tempered by a number of unresolved questions that continue to weigh heavily on practices.

The emerging shape of the 2026/27 GP contract presents both opportunity and challenge. While there is clear intent to strengthen access and capacity within general practice, the practical implications for surgeries remain far from fully defined. We are being asked to prepare for change without yet having the detailed clarity needed to plan with confidence. This places practice leaders in a difficult position—balancing the need to be proactive with the reality that key elements of the contract are still evolving.

Practices are accustomed to working within tight margins, both financially and operationally, and ambiguity only heightens the risk. Without clear guidance on expectations, timelines, and deliverables, it becomes increasingly difficult to make informed decisions about staffing, service provision, and investment.

This is particularly evident in relation to the future of capacity and access funding. While there is an expectation that these payments will be rebadged to support GP recruitment, the detail of how this will operate in practice is still awaited. Recruitment remains one of the most significant challenges facing general practice, and any changes to funding streams must be both transparent and workable if they are to have the intended impact. The LMC would not recommend recruiting until the contractual details have been published.

This uncertainty is further exacerbated by the lack of clarity around potential GPCE action following the GP contract ballot at the end of March. Until there is a clearer understanding of the outcome and any subsequent national direction, practices are left navigating an already complex landscape with an added layer of unpredictability.

While the landscape may feel uncertain, our collective strength lies in collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality care for our patients.

We will keep you updated as further details emerge. Continue reading to the bottom of the newsletter for this week’s dad joke.

Lee Salkeld
Chair: Avon LMC

You may have seen recent communications from GPCE Question:

I have two questions:

1. There does not seem to be an easy process for patients to get in touch with hospitals after any intervention or treatment. Is there a way of achieving this?

2. Why can’t the two-week colonoscopy pathway refer their own patients to gastroenterology if IBD is diagnosed, instead of passing back to GP?

Answer: (with thanks to Dr Nicola McGuiness, Planned Care Lead and Dr Rob Adams, Referral Services Lead)

Follow up with specialist teams.
This is an issue in many situations – patients chasing their results, letters, follow up appointments, scripts, fit notes alongside post op issues.

Through the clinical interface group, we have prioritised this issue and have agreement from both trusts to develop a ‘patient portal’ for all these queries that are either directed to or go directly to specialists. There is precedent of this working well elsewhere in the country and as locally as Bath.

Our aim is to have 2 texts (UHBW/NBT until trust group joint services live)  that practices can be set up as templates to direct patients with specialist queries directly from reception.

Direct referral from colonoscopy into IBD clinic
The issue locally is that colorectal two-week rule referrals are a straight to test (STT) referral and the GP retains clinical responsibility.

Regarding suspected IBD, in future, a proposed pathway is likely to have an endoscopy first approach. Patients who meet criteria would be referred to CDC and then if IBD is diagnosed would automatically be referred on to their choice of IBD clinic at NBT or UHBW.

There have also been a couple of tweaks to the Remedy pages to help clarify existing pathways and provide further information about the role of FIT and faecal calprotectin in pre-referral testing.

The BMA has produced guidance on this which can be found here.

A national colleague has helpfully summarised these changes with the help of Claude AI and can be found here.

The LMC Director of Nursing, Kim Ball, has been in contact with the Specialist Pharmacy Service and UKHSA about the role of Registered Nursing Associates (RNA) in vaccinations.

They have confirmed that RNAs cannot consent and assess patients’ suitability for treatment under any legal mechanism: VGD, PGD, or PSD.

Where administration (of a vaccine) is delegated to an RNA under a VGD or PSD, the RNA should seek consent to administer the drug.

This is different to the patient consent to the overall treatment, which the prescriber is accountable for under a PSD, or the VGD stage 1 practitioner (those who can operate a PGD) under a VGD.

This can be found here.

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

Please note that our training webpage will undergo scheduled maintenance every Friday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. During this period, the system may be temporarily unavailable, and enrolment forms submitted may not be received or processed.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

• Tuesday 14 Apr General practice bulletin
• Thursday 09 Apr General practice bulletin

The IGPM is marking the first National Practice Manager Day on Tuesday 21 April, recognising the vital role practice/PCN managers and management teams play in keeping general practice running safely and effectively.

To celebrate, IGPM is hosting a short lunchtime webinar at 12 noon (approx. 15–20 minutes), to include the premiere of a new national campaign video highlighting the breadth and impact of the Practice Manager role.

This is a great opportunity to pause, reflect and recognise the contribution of colleagues across management roles within practices.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/V7G1z20yTp6PNWXs-bbSgw#/registration

All managers and those in management roles are encouraged to join.

New Tier 1 and Tier 2 dates released for June & July 2026 – please share widely with your teams. 

To Book:

• Tier 1 – please see attached booking document.
• Tier 2 – please visit the usual box office link: https://buytickets.at/olivermcgowantrainingnhsbristolnorthsomersetsouthglos

There is no training planned w/c 8^th June. This is to allow time for the team to go through the newly released Tier 2 training material and for co-trainers to be supported to update their stories / scripts and become familiar with the new content.

We are hoping to add some out of hours sessions for both Tiers (evenings and weekends), these are being confirmed and will be circulated once available to book. 

As always, thank you for all your support in sharing and promoting the Oliver McGowan Training across your organisations. 

Kind Regards

Becky Benson (she/her)
Project Manager – Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

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When does a joke become a dad joke?
When it becomes apparent.

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– LATEST TRAINING AND EVENTS –

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