Following the new Government's pledge to invest more into the NHS, The Times published a series of articles over Christmas, highlighting the workforce crisis in general practices. In response to this a letter Richard Vautrey wrote to The Times and said: "Your important investigation (“One doctor for 11,000 patients in GP shortage”, Dec 21) underlines the crisis in general practice that my colleagues and I at the BMA have been vocal about for years. We do not have enough GPs to meet the needs of our growing population: many people are living with increasingly complex conditions. This inevitably means that some patients are waiting too long for an appointment, which is distressing for people who are ill and frustrating to practice staff, who want to provide the best care possible”.

Richard also spoke on LBC radio last week to discuss OECD research which found that Britain has the second lowest number of doctors per capita in Europe, after Poland.

Your LMC has arranged a seminar on Mergers and Takeovers on Tuesday 28th January 1915-2100 at The Copthorne Hotel at Salford Quays, Manchester. LMC Law will be providing the low down on the processes involved and an insight into things to consider.

We encourage you to attend if your practice is considering a merger or takeover, or if you just want to learn more about the available options. Please register using the eventbrite link below. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mergers-takeovers-processes-issues-tickets-87137605925

Please be advised that NHS England have just published the draft PCN service specifications which we would encourage all practices, PCNs and LMCs to respond to. Details can be found via the following link:

https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/primary-care-networks-service-specifications/

The BMA has now fully considered the proposals from NHS England and Improvement to provide emergency mitigation for clinicians who incur annual allowance tax charges in 2019/20. LMC's welcome their short-term plans to tackle the NHS pensions crisis, but have made it clear that furtherassurances must be made for GPs. It is essential that doctors working in primary care are covered by these proposals. NHSEI has committed to ensure that is the case and the BMA will work with it to ensure a solution is found to provide similar guarantees for GPs. To read the full BMA Statement, please click on the link below:

https://www.bma.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2019/december/bma-finds-assurances-it-needs-for-nhs-englands-emergency-pension-taxation-proposal