Avon LMCs Newsletter on 28-08-24

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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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What a treat to have a three-day weekend for those of us not working in the out of hours setting (and thanks as always for those of you holding the fort during a busy bank holiday weekend). As Monday is usually my long clinical day at the practice, it was lovely to spend two hours cooking and then watching Sherwood instead!

As summer holidays are likely to be coming to an end for many, I wanted to remind you all that our LMC members’ event to discuss collective action is less than two weeks away, on 10th September. The LMC survey received engagement from 87% of practices and we would love to see similar engagement for the members’ event.

“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”- Mahatma Gandhi

Dr Shaba Nabi
Chair Avon LMC

Thank you to those of you who have signed up already. We would like to have representation from every single practice in BNSSG and the registration form for this was emailed to practice managers last week.

If your practice has not received this, please email info@almc.co.uk.

Many of us will be on multiple work WhatsApp groups as it’s such a quick and easy way to communicate. Without self-discipline, there is a risk of blurring the boundaries between work and home, so I would encourage you to archive all your group chats and look at them on your own terms.

At Avon LMC we are aware that we may need to communicate with you in a more responsive and agile way than the weekly newsletter. As such, we are planning to set up an Avon LMC broadcast group to share important local and national communications which affect all practices.

Please sign up to register your details for this here. There is no limit to the numbers in the group so multiple practice members can engage with this.

Question: We have discussed Anastrozole as chemoprophylaxis for breast cancer within a practice meeting. The remedy guidance states that a GP should arrange a DEXA scan before treatment is started and repeat this every two years. This seems like more system level unfunded work which has been agreed but not discussed with GPs.

Answer: Information about this was first published in the ICB bulletin on 16/01/24. Avon LMC raised concerns about this at the time, as follows:

1. Clarity required about the at risk groups
2. The classification of anastrozole as TLS amber specialist recommended on the formulary as opposed to TLS amber shared care
3. The lack of funding/commissioning associated with this additional work

We will be raising this again at the next joint LMC/ICB medicines optimisation meeting. In the meantime, the LMC is clear that this work represents non-core contractual activity and that GPs are not mandated to participate in this. The presence of a funded shared care pathway for this work would still be voluntary, as with all non-core activities. 

You will have received in your practice a request to share telephony data due to the Data Provision notice. This email will have been sent to the main practice contact registered with the CQC. We have additional documentation and messaging from NHS England on this issue. David Wrigley (GPCE Executive) and Mark Coley (GPC IT Policy Lead) met NHS England on this topic. They were given 24 hrs notice of data request and documentation associated with it. They are now analysing the information and will issue a further update with more information. At the present time, we ask you to defer making a decision this week and await further communication from GPC England.

Avon LMC is hugely supportive of a website which summarises the latest clinical guidance and shares local referral pathways, to support general practice and improve patient care. In fact, in my role as a GP Training Programme Director, I receive widespread positive feedback about this from GP Registrars. Huge thanks must go to the small ICB team managing Remedy, led by Rob Adams and Vicky Ryan.

One of the areas being worked up is the creation of a governance structure around Remedy; specifically to ensure that general practice is involved in the development of new patient pathways. The planned care group of GPCB is leading on this (with LMC input) to ensure that the clinical guidance is backed by a robust commissioned pathway.

With that in mind, it is important to highlight that if any clinical guidance within Remedy outlines a GP’s role within a pathway, this does not automatically make this a contractual obligation. If there is any uncertainty about GP contractual roles and responsibilities, please feel free to email us at info@almc.co.uk.

Read the latest GPC England bulletin here

• 10th September 2024: Members event for Collective Action – BAWA, 19.00 – 21.00
• 11th September 2024: Motion deadline for England LMC Conference
• 16th September 2024: Virtual Annual General Meeting Avon LMC, 18.30 – 19.30
• 24th September 2024: Virtual LMC drop in, 13.00 – 14.00
• 12th November 2024: Virtual LMC drop in, 13.00 – 14.00
• 22nd November 2024: England LMC Conference – London, all day
• 14th January 2025: Virtual LMC drop in, 13.00 – 14.00
• 11th March 2025: Virtual LMC drop in, 13.00 – 14.00

• Tuesday 27 August General practice bulletin (mailchi.mp)
• Thursday 22 August General practice bulletin (mailchi.mp)

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– LATEST TRAINING AND EVENTS –

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Please see here for event details.
For further information please contact Bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net

• 2 September / Project Management for Clinicians
  Sign Up Form
• 4 September / Introduction to Supervision of Advanced Practitioners
  Sign Up Form
• 12 September / BNSSG Cancer Lead Forum
  Sign Up Form
• 17 September / BCYP EduForum: Antibiotic Stewardship in Paediatrics
  Sign Up Form
• 18 September / Safeguarding Level 3
  Sign Up Form
• 18 September / Pelvic and Spinal Masqueraders
  Sign Up Form
• 19 September / Dermoscopy Training – Part 1
  Sign Up Form
• 25 September / End of Life Teaching Day with Weston Hospice
  Sign Up Form
• 26 September / Introduction to Personalised Care AARS Role and Health Coaching
  Sign Up Form

Please see here for full event details.
For further information please contact Bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net

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