hillingdon lmc august 2009 · hillingdon lmc august 2009 representing gps and practice teams in...

Hillingdon lmc August 2009 Representing GPs and practice teams in Hillingdon

In this month’s LMC news: Click on the links below to be taken directly to the news item of your choice

Newsflash! 1 Swine flu outbreak – important message from your LMC

2 Urgent – GMC licence to practise – action required now!

3 Extra GP sessions and medico-legal cover

Local news 4 Local enhanced services (LESs)

5 New clinical directed enhanced services (DESs)

6 Other LESs

7 QOF prevalence calculations

8 Practice payments

9 Survey of service users at urgent care centre (UCC)

10 Provider trust activity challenges

11 Swine flu outbreak – local arrangements

12 North west London commissioning partnership update

General news 13 Londonwide practice based commissioning (PBC) update

14 LMC statutory levy

15 Expanding Practice Allowance (EPA)

16 Please prepare for your QOF prevalence changes now

17 Final seniority figures for 2004/05 and 2005/06

18 Londonwide LEAD (Learning Education and Development) – providing training for the capital’s practice

teams

19 NICE announces review of its skin cancer guidance

20 Record keeping: health warning from the Department of Health

21 Your chance to talk with your GPC representatives and negotiators

22 NHS Choices website

23 Employment checks

24 BMA seminar for salaried GPs

25 Support for GPs and their families in the 21st century – a weather warning from the Royal Medical

Benevolent Fund (RMBF)

26 Opportunities in education – programme director vacancies

27 Mentoring, releasing potential, enhancing careers

28 Courses of interest

1 Swine flu outbreak – important message from your LMC

The national flu line launched last month. Patients can either phone on 0800 15 13 100 or use the flu line

website.

The situation regarding the A (H1N1) outbreak continues to evolve on a daily basis. Please remember to

check your inbox and our website daily for the latest information and guidance. You can also keep us

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_178842.htm

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_178842.htm

http://www.lmc.org.uk/news/news-detail.aspx?dsid=4908

Londonwide LMCs is the brand name of Londonwide Local Medical Committees Limited. Registered and office address: Tavistock House North,

Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX. T. 020 7387 2034/7418 F. 020 7383 7442 W. www.lmc.org.uk. Registered in England No. 6391298.

Londonwide Local Medical Committees Limited is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee.

updated with your concerns by contacting our exclusive email address: [email protected].

Please note that the [email protected] email address is not an emergency helpline. However, please be

assured that all queries/local intelligence are read. They are also fed back to NHS London on your behalf

which helps us to raise the reality that you are facing with those organisations leading on flu.

If you do not receive an email response from the flu account, this is because we are prioritising the

queries that we can deal with.

We have been working hard to ensure that key swine flu messages are reported by the media. In the last

few weeks our GPs, LMC Chairs, Medical Directors and CEOs have been interviewed or quoted by the

following media: BBC TV news, BBC London news, Radio 5 live, Channel 5 news, Sky news, the

Telegraph, the Evening Standard and 15 local papers.

We will continue to support you by promoting the hard work that you are doing during this difficult time

and by providing patients with clear advice on how to deal with this virus.

Back to index.

2 Urgent – GMC licence to practise – action required now!

The GMC will introduce its licence to practise on 16 November 2009. From this date any doctor wishing

to practise medicine in the UK will, by law, need to be both registered and hold a licence to practise.

A licence to practise is the first step towards the introduction of revalidation which will start at some time

in 2011.

All doctors need to decide whether they wish to be licensed by 14 August 2009. You will need to

inform the GMC if you would like to be classed as one of the following:

Registration with a licence to practise (£410 per annum)

Remain registered without a licence to practise (£145 per annum)

No longer registered

If you have not already done so, you must contact the GMC with your decision on 0161 923

6277 or visit the GMC licensing website at www.gmc-uk.org/licensinghelp.

Back to index.

3 Extra GP sessions and medico-legal cover

Some of you have raised a query about whether you need to take out additional cover because of extra

sessions that you are now doing around extended hours.

Our research has shown that there are two levels of cover: GP Principal and GP Salaried/Locum.

The MPS defines ‘full time’ as 11+ sessions; ‘maximum part time’ is 7 – 10 sessions inclusive. Both are

aggregated over the whole year. We assume that other defence organisations use similar criteria.

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.gmc-uk.org/licensinghelp




So, for instance, if a doctor is doing eight 8 regular clinical sessions a week, together with a Saturday

morning 1in 6 and one evening a month, they would probably be covered on the ‘maximum part time’

subscription.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ here and if you have any concerns about your level of cover, our advice

would be for each individual to check with their defence organisation’s membership department.

Back to index.

4 Local enhanced services (LESs)

Further negotiations have been taking place between the LMC and the PCT to agree the following LESs

and you should now have received final details. If you have not responded please do so quickly if you

want to sign up to these LESs:

Stop Smoking LES

Diabetes LES

Back to index.

5 New clinical directed enhanced services (DESs)

The Department of Health (DH) has asked all PCTs to randomly pick five practices to provide data in order

to assess the success of the five new DESs. This is with a view to probably extending the period for a

further year. It is possible that your practice may be selected and we are currently attempting to negotiate

an incentive for this additional work.

Back to index.

6 Other LESs

Vascular health checks pilot LES – following further negotiations, the pilot will be starting very

soon in nine practices. We have asked for an evaluation of this pilot and will consider this before

agreeing to the roll out of the LES.

Immunisations – this has been identified as an area for further development. The PCT needs to

improve the level of immunisations in certain areas and we will keep you in touch with progress.

Back to index.

7 QOF prevalence calculations

The PCT has sent individual letters to practices setting out the QOF prevalence calculations and ways in

which the ‘savings’ can be redeployed.

You should have received this letter during the week commencing 20 July. If you have not, please

contact Helen Delaitre at the PCT on [email protected]. If you have any concerns about

how this affects your practice and would like LMC support or advice, please contact Nora Breen,

Manager GP Support Services at the LMC on 020 7387 2034 ext 241 or [email protected].

Back to index.






8 Practice payments

We have raised concerns about the speed of payments to practices. The PCT will endeavour to make

payments quickly but practices do need to ensure that invoices are submitted promptly to the PCT.

Back to index.

9 Survey of service users at urgent care centre (UCC)

We discussed this report which went to July’s PCT board. We were concerned about some of the views

expressed about patients having difficulties obtaining GP appointments and the report recommendations,

although we know that the survey sample size was small. The PCT has agreed to look at the possibility of

enabling GP appointments to be arranged electronically by key staff at the UCC in much the same way as

patients can book appointments over the internet.

The full report can be viewed on the PCT’s website (item 12).

Back to index.

10 Provider trust activity challenges

We are aware that practices have been working very hard to obtain details of activity discrepancies in

order to enable the PCT to challenge Trusts more effectively. The PCT has agreed to share results with us

at the next SJLC meeting.

Back to index.

11 Swine flu outbreak – local arrangements

We have put forward some practical suggestions to the PCT about local arrangements and these have

been welcomed.

Back to index.

12 North west London commissioning partnership update

The North West London Commissioning Partnership documents were considered by PCT boards

throughout July. The three part documentation – (i) manifesto, (ii) implementation plan and (iii) case for

change, make up what has previously been referred to as the ‘business case’.

PCT staff who are affected by the developments are being formally consulted from mid July for

approximately 4 to 12 weeks depending on their local PCT arrangements. As a delivery unit for eight

PCTs, the partnership expects to be operational towards the end of August in a transitional programme

leading to full mobility by December 2009. NHS London is supporting each of the London sectors in

developing the acute sector vehicles which, in North West London, form a part of the commissioning

partnership alongside strategic planning and clinical networks.

Londonwide LMCs has commented formally on the proposals, stressing the need for the partnership and

PCTs to engage with and empower PBC (practice based commissioning) to take part in acute SLA

(service level agreement) decision making and performance monitoring.

Back to index.

http://www.hillingdon.nhs.uk/papermrboard.html




13 Londonwide practice based commissioning (PBC) update

As promised last month we are now in a position to give a pan London update on the current views held

on the progression of PBC to date.

Recently, three lines of exploration have taken place. The first by Dr David Colin-Thome, the National PBC

Lead, carried out a PBC assessment via his team by visiting PCTs and using a questionnaire to local PBC

leaders. At the same time, Londonwide LMCs did a quick information gathering exercise to see what

messages it could gain, and to enable it to ‘cross-check’ the information gained by the national team.

Our Joint Chief Executives shared information at a recent meeting with Dr Colin-Thome. The results and

the messages gained had been remarkably similar and we were able to put forward some simple

potential solutions which we felt would improve the development of PBC in the forthcoming year.

The final piece of research has been carried out by the King’s Fund entitled ‘PBC two years on - Moving

forward and making a difference?’. Many of the points made in this report also reflected those gained and

presented by Londonwide LMCs. The King’s Fund gained its information through a survey that was

carried out in March of this year. There were 321 responses and whilst the King’s Fund recognises that it

is not a representative sample, it does accept that the comments provide a valuable insight into the views

of those most closely involved with PBC. The view’s represent those of not only GPs but of a broader

range of professionals including PCT managers, practice managers, commissioners etc. The majority of

respondents represented clusters with more than ten practices covering a patient population greater than

50,000.

We strongly advise everyone to read this document as it contains many messages. We feel that the key

messages are:

1. Financial – In 2007, financial limitations were cited as one of the top criteria delaying the

implementation and activation of PBC. Given the current forecast of financial climate it is likely that

PBC will again be faced with this dilemma which will pose a significant challenge to its further

development.

2. Clinical engagement – Lack of engagement of clinicians by PCTs at local level remains a significant

barrier. Clinical engagement is frequently referred to in the Department of Health’s (DH’s) ‘World

Class Commissioning’ as are initiatives such as poly systems and GP led health centres, but all these

advancements will not take place if PCTs don’t get the GPs on board.

3. Directives – The operational details need to be addressed at a local level and prescriptive national

guidance is not going to be forthcoming.

4. Conclusion – The King’s Fund ends its report by saying: ‚Whatever form PBC takes, as the NHS

moves into a period of restricted financial resources where critical investment and disinvestment

decisions will have to be made, it will become increasingly important for the PCT and

clusters/practices to work closely alongside each other in an increasingly expert co-commissioning

partnership....‛ and how should this be brought about.... by real clinical engagement anchored by

clear locally developed visions, structures and agreements and lines of accountability.

We couldn’t agree more.

And finally, another piece of recent research may be of interest to readers. A final report on the project of

the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre entitled ‘Practice-based Commissioning:

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/research/publications/pbc_two_years_on.html

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/research/publications/pbc_two_years_on.html

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Commissioning/Worldclasscommissioning/index.htm

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Commissioning/Worldclasscommissioning/index.htm

http://www.npcrdc.ac.uk/Publications/6765_PBC_Briefing_Paper_WEB.pdf




theory, implementation and outcome’ provides a good insight with a perspective taken alongside policy.

The full report can also be downloaded from the Centre’s website.

Back to index.

14 LMC statutory levy

Londonwide LMCs and individual LMCs across London work tirelessly to secure the future of general

practice, ensuring that GPs and practice teams receive the information, support and advice that they need

in these unprecedented challenging times.

The Darzi review and the threat of polyclinics, commercialisation, GP-led health centres, QOF prevalence

changes and increased scrutiny of practices by PCTs, are some of the many issues that we have been

addressing. Londonwide LMCs has issued a number of tools to support GPs and practice teams,

including our successful ‘Keep My NHS GP Local’ campaign, our ‘Self Assessment Toolkit’, our first major

conference. ‘Securing the Future of General Practice in London’ and the launch of our Learning Education

and Development programme (Londonwide LEAD). Our current major focus is on providing support and

information about swine flu to GPs and practice teams.

We are well aware of the considerable financial pressures on practices as costs rise much faster than any

increase in resources, and the Board of Londonwide LMCs has made every effort to limit increases in our

expenditure. Nevertheless, we have had to employ extra staff to cope with the additional work and it has

been necessary to increase the Statutory Levy for 2009/10 by 5.3p to 52.1p per patient per annum. As far

as we can see, there will be no above-inflation increases next year.

We hope that you feel that you are getting value for money, and we shall continue to provide you with

the best possible level of service.

Back to index.

15 Expanding Practice Allowance (EPA)

We recently asked the DH for details of the EPA scheme which was originally mentioned in the ‘Our

Health, Our Care, Our Say’ document in 2004 and again in the ‘Primary Care and Community Services –

Improving GP Services’ document.

In response the DH has told us that the EPA model enables PCTs to provide practices with a grant. This is

used to increase practice infrastructure – usually additional staff – in anticipation of increased list sizes. It

is one way of overcoming the time delay between additional patients actually registering with the practice

and increased capitation-based payments. EPAs are granted at a PCT’s discretion.

EPA payments are not therefore GMS contractual payments with specific entitlements attached to them.

They are not SFE (Statement of Financial Entitlement) or enhanced service payments. They draw their

legitimacy from the general provisions of section 96 of the NHS Act 2006.

They are time limited, exceptional tailored measures (not necessarily limited to a one-off grant) designed

to help with the problems that a practice might face when it looks at the options and risks of expanding.

There is currently no national scheme or specific national guidance relating to EPAs. If a practice faces

capacity problems then an EPA might be the answer if it prevents the need for list closure etc.

PCTs would have to identify factors before offering assistance to the practice. Discretion lies entirely with

the PCT in question.

http://www.npcrdc.ac.uk/Publications/FINAL%20PBC%20REPORT%202009%20WEB.pdf%20-%20Adobe%20Reader.pdf

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Ourhealthourcareoursay/index.htm

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Ourhealthourcareoursay/index.htm

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093830

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093830




The DH is currently considering how the concept of EPAs can be made to work for practices and patients.

More information should be available later in the year.

Back to index.

16 Please prepare for your QOF prevalence changes now

1. Calculate the potential impact – As previously reported, on 1 April 2009, the square rooting

component used in determining QOF was discontinued. In November 2008, Londonwide LMCs

undertook a survey across London in order to assess the potential impact of these changes to the

prevalence arrangements which are currently used in determining QOF payments. If you have not

already done so, we encourage you to calculate the potential impact on your practice.

2. Maximise your prevalence – For example, improve your diagnostic levels for diabetes, asthma and

COPD. We encourage you to ‘invest to save’ in a practice spirometer that will improve your diagnosis

of lung conditions including COPD.

3. Prepare a business case – If you think that you will suffer significant losses please note that most

London PCTs have agreed to reinvest funds back into general practice through different mechanisms

agreed with the LMC, therefore we recommend you prepare a business case detailing:

how much that you think you will lose

the potential impact on your practice in terms of staff and services

what support you need from the PCT to recoup the funding, for example pump priming

to maximise your diagnosis of prevalence as above or ideas for the provision of LESs to

support PCT operating plan targets

any other steps that you will be taking as a practice to limit the impact.

You can contact Nora Breen, Manager GP Support Services at the LMC on 020 7387 2034 ext 241 or

[email protected] for support. Please contact your PCT primary care lead to discuss solutions as soon

as possible.

Back to index.

17 Final seniority figures for 2004/05 and 2005/06

The NHS Information Centre has published the final seniority figures for 2004/05 and 2005/06 for GMS in

England and Wales. The figures for England are: £81,123 and £91,123 respectively.

After taking legal advice, the DH has decided that the NHS Information Centre should not work out a final

seniority figure for PMS because PMS contracts are local contracts. The GPC (General Practitioners

Committee) advises PMS practices to also use the GMS figure.

Further details about how the Final Seniority Figures have been calculated are available on the NHS

Information Centre's website.

Back to index.

18 Londonwide LEAD (Learning Education and Development) – providing training for the capital’s

practice teams

LEAD recently held the following events:


http://www.ic.nhs.uk/






A practice manager workshop on leadership skills, attended by 64 practice managers from across

London. This included presentations, group work and self-assessment. From the evaluation forms we

have identified that practice managers would like further workshops on business planning and

financial management.

The first chargeable business planning master class will be held on 14 October 2009. We will be

pursuing sponsorship to reduce the fee for this event.

A practice nurse forum attended by approximately 50 practice nurses. This included a workshop on

how to maximise your impact in your practice and in local decision making (the PCT), how to work

with HPV, new vaccines and minor injuries. In light of developments since the launch of the

workshop, Dr Misra of the Health Protection Unit, followed her workshop on HPV and new vaccines

with a helpful, interactive session on recent developments in the management of Swine Flu.

LEAD will be providing a workshop for GPs and practice managers on the new complaints

process on 22 September 2009.

We will be running further free to attend practice nurse forums on 8 September 2009 and 17

November 2009 and a workshop for primary care nurse leads on 22 September 2009. The aim of these

forums is to bring together nurses that may, in some cases, work in isolation, or who would like to

discuss and learn more about clinical and non clinical issues that will affect their profession.

We will also be holding a GP update seminar on 17 November 2009.

We are always looking for further input on how to support you and your practice. Please do let us know if

there are any workshops that you would like us to provide, by contacting: [email protected].

Please remember to check our website regularly for information on all forthcoming LEAD events.

Free information governance training for practice managers and practice Caldicott

Guardians

NHS London, in conjunction with Londonwide LEAD (Learning Education and Development), is

providing three free training sessions in central London to update practices on national information

governance issues and to support practices to achieve information governance standards.

The sessions are:

Improving the security of GP surgeries

Date: Tuesday 15 September 2009 – lunch 1.00pm, workshop 1.30pm – 4.00pm.

Venue: Mothers' Union (Mary Sumner House), London SW1P 3RB.

60 places available.

Worried about losing patient information? Come and learn from the results of a security risk

assessment conducted by Detica with two GP practices in London. This is an opportunity to

consider simple actions that you can take to protect your patients and your practice.




http://www.lmc.org.uk/

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530002&y=179184&z=0&sv=SW1P+3RB&st=2&pc=SW1P+3RB&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf




Consent for information sharing

Date: Thursday 15 October 2009 – lunch 1.00pm, workshop 1.30pm – 4.00pm.

Venue: Aeonian Centre, Shropshire House, London WC1E 6JA.


What are the rules and procedures for obtaining consent and sharing information; how is the

world changing as the NHS is linked together and the Summary Care Record goes into use?

NHS Data Loss incidents – lessons learned from recent events that you can take back to

your practice

Date: Thursday 19 November 2009 – lunch 1.00pm, workshop 1.30pm – 4.00pm.

Venue: Mothers' Union (Mary Sumner House), London SW1P 3RB.


An opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes and think through how to make it less likely back

at your practice.

To book your place visit our website.

If you have any queries please contact the NHS London events team on 0207 969 5767.

Back to index.

19 NICE announces review of its skin cancer guidance

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on Improving

Outcomes in Cancer for people with skin tumours including melanoma (2003).

NICE will also convene a guidance development group to formally review the recommendations relating

to the diagnosis and removal of ‘low risk’ basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in primary care in the guidance.

This is precisely what we have been asking for and we look forward to a positive result.

The full press release is available on the NICE website.

Back to index.

20 Record keeping: health warning from the Department of Health

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, recently wrote to all GPs concerning the keeping of

informal medical records that are separate from the official patient record.

A recent ruling in the Appeal Court and earlier proceedings, have highlighted the dangers of keeping such

records. It is essential that if separate records are kept (which should be unusual except in research

studies) that this be explicitly signposted in the main record. Your clinical colleagues and records staff

must be able to access all parts of the clinical record.

On balance, you are advised very strongly not to keep separate records.

The full version of the CMO’s letter is available on the DH website.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=529484&y=182051&z=0&sv=WC1E+6JA&st=2&pc=WC1E+6JA&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530002&y=179184&z=0&sv=SW1P+3RB&st=2&pc=SW1P+3RB&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf


http://www.nice.org.uk/

http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CSGSTIM

http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CSGSTIM

http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/press_releases.jsp?domedia=1&mid=40EC94D1-19B9-E0B5-D42C262629E4B1BA

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Professionalletters/Chiefmedicalofficerletters/DH_101736?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=199356&Rendition=Web




Back to index.

21 Your chance to talk with your GPC representatives and negotiators

There will be a meeting on Wednesday 23 September 2009 for all GPs to attend to hear the latest news

on the annual contract negotiations and to seek advice from GPC representatives and negotiators

concerning London. Dr Beth McCarron-Nash, GPC negotiator, will start the event with a presentation

followed by a questions and answers session. The meeting will take place from 2.00pm in the Black

Suite, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP.

If you would like to attend please contact Jonathan Ashby at the LMC on 020 7387 2034 ext 228 or

[email protected].

The closing date for registration is Wednesday 16 September 2009.

Back to index.

22 NHS Choices website

The NHS has its own website for patients to use at www.nhs.uk.

Every GP is listed in this website – you can search for your practice by entering your postcode on the find

services page on the website.

If your details are incorrect (specifically the hours that your practice is open) then please log in to

correct these details.

You can also enter other information about your practice if you wish (eg, staff details, practice leaflet etc).

NHS Choices will allow patients to comment on GPs in the future via this website so it is imperative that

you ensure that your information is current and updated regularly.

All practices should have had a named person to log onto this site to update your details – if you are

unsure what your access password is then go to the login page and enter your practice code (FXXXXX) as

the username and click on ‘forgotten your log in details’. This will then email your practice account holder

the password.

Back to index.

23 Employment checks

We have previously reported that the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) vetting and barring

scheme will begin on 12 October 2009. However, the registration of individuals will not start until July

2010 and employers cannot begin to check potential employees until November 2010.

The scheme is designed to work in conjunction with current Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

Please note that it will not only apply to all GPs, but also practice staff who may work in an area with

access to potentially vulnerable adults or children, and to any employee who could have access to records

and personal information relating to potentially vulnerable individuals. In essence, anyone working in a

practice, including receptionists and cleaners, will require checking via the new scheme. It will be a

requirement for anyone wishing to apply for these positions to be registered with the ISA.


http://www.nhs.uk/

http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=GP

http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=GP

https://www.nhs.uk/pbe/login.aspx




Fees will apply to carry out the checks, about which more information can be found in the NHS

Employers FAQs.

If you have any further queries please contact [email protected].

Back to index.

24 BMA seminar for salaried GPs

The BMA is running a half day seminar in London specifically for salaried GPs. The aims of the event are

to:

provide advice on employment rights for nGMS, PMS, APMS and PCO employed GPs including

sickness, maternity and redundancy issues, as well as general guidance on contractual rights

following maternity leave and at the end of FCS and Retainer Scheme funding

outline in detail the benefits of the model/minimum salaried GP contract negotiated by the BMA, and

how to ensure that at least these minimum are obtained

provide helpful tips for successful negotiations on salary, terms and conditions, and contract changes

for use with current and new employers, with practice sessions

provide an interactive setting, with the opportunity for delegates to ask questions on the day

The London seminar will be held at BMA House on Tuesday 22 September 2009.

The cost to attend this half day seminar is £46.00 for BMA Members and £80.50 for non-members.

Prices include VAT. A sandwich lunch and refreshments will be provided. Non BMA members are entitled

to the BMA rate if they join the BMA when registering.

For further information about this event please call BMA Conferences on 020 7383 6819 or visit the BMA

website.

Back to index.

25 Support for GPs and their families in the 21st century – a weather warning from the Royal Medical

Benevolent Fund (RMBF)

Do you have a friend or colleague who could use some serious financial help or advice?

You’ll probably know of at least one at some stage in your career. And the later the diagnosis or

addressing the issue, the more their problems usually grow in the interim.

That’s why an early enquiry to the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund is usually helpful. Despite our archaic

name (founded in 1836) we are very aware of the issues GPs are currently facing and can provide a

reassuring safety net to help address and recover from problems which show no signs of disappearing.

Applications for help from GPs demonstrate their susceptibility to the general problems of illness, injury

etc – but also to pressures and stresses unique to their specialty. Categorisation of causative issues is

complicated by the special nature of each situation, but is broadly covered, in increasing frequency, by

physical health, drug/alcohol dependency, and mental health.

We know the shift from partnership to sessional employment, at a time of expansion of medical

education is already causing pressure. More stringent requirements have increased the difficulty for

individuals who have a gap in their employment returning to work. Recent and new entrants in general

practice are most exposed in this area.

http://www.nhsemployers.org/RecruitmentAndRetention/Employment-checks/Employment-Check-Standards/Pages/Employmenthistoryandreferencechecks.aspx

http://www.nhsemployers.org/RecruitmentAndRetention/Employment-checks/Employment-Check-Standards/Pages/Employmenthistoryandreferencechecks.aspx


http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/index.jsp

http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/index.jsp




Add in the impact of the credit crunch and we’re likely to find greater numbers of GPs suffering financial

and domestic stress, with the knock on effects, mental health and drug/alcohol dependency. The trend in

age distribution of beneficiaries already shifted from post retirement, to doctors in training and in work, is

likely to continue. Of 17 doctors helped to return to paid employment, 13 were in medicine and research.

Encouragingly, awareness of the problems and the agencies to tackle them is developing. Several doctors

have already been advised to contact the RMBF by the recently established Practitioner Health

Programme. In the year 2008-09 the RMBF helped 347 doctors or their families with direct financial

support worth nearly £800,000. We also secured help from other charities, debt relief and benefits etc.

worth approximately £200,000. That’s £1million of financial help in just a year.

You can help too, individually, particularly by identifying doctors and their families in need and helping

them to access the support available, as well as the usual ways – contributing financial support,

volunteering in any of a variety of capacities, providing feedback and information on current needs.

For further information, you might like to visit

www.rmbf.org – for more information about who we can help and how, with case studies

www.support4doctors.org – provides useful signposts to other organisations that can help in times of

need

www.money4medstudents.org – to limit debt on entry to the profession, and particularly useful if you

have a son or daughter at medical school.

Peter Frost, RMBF Medical Liaison Officer

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26 Opportunities in education – programme director vacancies

Two GP Training Programme Director posts have become available to support London Deanery GP

Specialty Training Programmes starting this September/October.

The schemes are based in Sidcup and Bromley and involve two sessions a week on a Wednesday.

Programme Directors are responsible for providing education in a safe environment for doctors wanting

to become GPs. This involves planning, facilitating and evaluating the process of learning. Programme

Directors are also responsible for ensuring that educational supervision is in place for trainers throughout

their training programme. There will be support from the remaining Programme Directors who are

attached to each programme.

An application form, person specification and job description are available to applicants from Tricia Bartlett

[email protected] or in her absence Tara Talbot [email protected].

Please ensure that you clearly state your preferred scheme on the application form.

Closing date for applications is 20 August 2009. Interviews for both schemes will be held on 8 September

2009 at the Frognal Centre for Medical Studies.

http://www.rmbf.org/

http://www.support4doctors.org/

http://www.money4medstudents.org/






Applicants are encouraged to discuss the posts with the Programme Directors, Dr Elphick,

[email protected] and Dr Medhurst, [email protected] for the Sidcup post, Dr Hoare,

[email protected] and Dr Ur-Rub, [email protected] for the Bromley post.

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27 Mentoring, releasing potential, enhancing careers

The London Deanery’s mentoring service has been created to put doctors interested in receiving

mentoring in touch with skilled and trained mentors who are quality assured, and supported in their roles.

The service aims to provide:

An accessible online application process for those wishing to receive mentoring

A confidential service with a choice of mentors

If you are in training or in your first two years as a post-CCT doctor working within the NHS in London,

your mentoring will be fully funded. Funding is also available for SASGs. Also, some PCTs and Trusts are

funding their established practitioners who wish to be mentored. The mentoring team will be happy to

advise you as to whether your Trust or PCT is funding this service for you.

Apply today to be mentored at www.mentoring.londondeanery.ac.uk.

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28 Courses of interest

Supervision skills for clinical teachers, three day training courses, various dates in 2009

Venue: Central London

Cost: £100

Course details: Good supervision means looking after people, not just looking over their shoulders. It

is about creating time and space to help people reflect on their encounters with patients, colleagues

and managers. Supervision skills depend on active listening and often on the focused use of

questions in order to challenge people to think about new ways of dealing with stuck or difficult

situations. Supervision skills are useful in vocational training, appraisal, mentoring, self directed

learning groups, and in enhancing your own consultation skills.

Remaining course dates for 2009 are:

o Early Autumn – 3 September, 17 September and 1 October

o Late Autumn – 3 November, 17 November and 1 December

Contact: Anna Henderson – 020 7866 3271 or [email protected].

Annual intensive course in medical ethics, 7 - 11 September 2009

Venue: Imperial College London

Cost: £1,025 (includes tuition, light refreshment and lunches) for bookings made before 7 August

2009

Course details: A stimulating multi-disciplinary introduction to philosophical medical ethics for medical

and nursing teachers, GPs, members of ethics committees, hospital consultants and health

administrators. Organised in collaboration with the Institute of Medical Ethics. Lectures/seminars, small

and large groups led by leading international authorities in the field of medical ethics. Approval by the

Royal College of Physicians for 27 Continuing Medical Education (CME/CPD) credits has been sought.





http://www.mentoring.londondeanery.ac.uk/





Further details available at http://www.imperial.ac.uk/cpd/medeth.

Places are limited and bookings are taken first come first served. All fees must be received before the

course start date.

Contact: 020 7594 6881 or [email protected]

Developing your clinical teaching, 16 September 2009 (Day 1) and 30 September (Day 2)

Venue: Central London

Cost: £150.00

Course details: This two day course has been designed by a team of senior educators in the London

Deanery. The course will focus on techniques for teaching practical, communication and non-technical

skills. The course is open to consultants and specialty registrars already involved in clinical teaching

but who want to improve their skills. This course is only available to all those involved in teaching and

training on behalf of the London Deanery.

Contact: Gemma Heath – 020 7866 3133 or facultydevelopment@londondeanery. ac.uk

Balint Society Oxford Balint weekend, 25 – 27 September 2009

Venue: Lincoln College, Oxford

Cost: £275 (doctors), £265 (nurses, practice counsellors, GP Registrars), £10 reduction to Society

Members, £50 (medical students, supported by the Cyril Gill Fund) – cost includes board and lodging

Course details: Refresh your enthusiasm, revive your empathy, share your experience of the

consultation, come to understand your feelings and to work more effectively. Working groups, made

up of GPs and allied professionals, and led by experienced leaders, can explore the psychological

aspects of their work with patients. Group experience is not necessary. The conference commences

on Friday evening and ends midday on Sunday.

Contact: Dr David Watt – 020 7473 9399 or [email protected].

Professional certificate in supervision skills for clinical teachers, October 2009 – July 2010

Venue: Tavistock Centre, London

Cost: £300 per term or £750 for three terms. Bursaries may be available for clinical teachers.

Course details: This course provides an opportunity for GP educators, hospital trainers and other

health care clinical teachers to develop their skills in supervision and in teaching supervision to small

and large groups. It is open to clinical teachers working in primary and secondary care with prior

experience of supervision and supervision teaching, who wish to develop career opportunities in this

area. Satisfactory completion of the course will lead to accreditation by the London Deanery as a

supervision skills teacher.

The workshop will meet fortnightly each term on Thursday afternoons from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The

autumn term will start on Thursday 8 October 2009, the spring term on Thursday 14 January 2010

and the summer term on Thursday 8 April 2010. Participants are asked to commit themselves to

three terms.

Contact: Dr John Launer – 020 8938 2252 or [email protected].

Supervision workshop for clinical teachers, October 2009 – July 2010

Venue: Tavistock Centre, London

Cost: £150 per term or £400 for three terms. Bursaries may be available for clinical teachers.

Course details: This workshop will provide an opportunity for GPs, hospital doctors, dentists and

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/cpd/medeth








other clinical teachers to bring cases and work issues for group supervision. It is open to clinicians

working in primary and secondary care with different levels of experience of narrative or systemic

approaches to supervision or practice, who wish to build on that experience.

The workshop will meet fortnightly each term on Thursdays afternoons from 2.30pm to 5.30pm (five

sessions per term). Participants are asked to commit themselves to three terms.

There may be opportunities to proceed to the Professional Certificate Course in Supervision for

Clinical Teachers in the following academic year.

Contact: Dr John Launer – 020 8938 2252 or [email protected].

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