#LMC2010
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Conference of Representatives of Local Medical Committees took place recently in London. And in between literally hundreds of motions, several of those that were passed are very close to the heart of Sessional GPs. The significance of these is to provide the formal mandate for the GPC over the next 12 months, and their acceptance by the conference has to be taken seriously.
And for us Sessional GPs, this really is great news because we can hold our local LMCs to making sure all these points are actively pursued at a local level – a fantastic opportunity for us insist LMCs take us seriously.
And for us Sessional GPs this really is great news as it demonstrates that the profession as a whole is willing to take our issues seriously and lobby for our agenda.
NASGP member Jessica Harris is a Sessional GP representative for Oxfordshire LMC, and passionately believes that Sessional GPs should get involved in the work of their LMCs . This would enable them to influence the way general practice works both locally and nationally, and get a better deal not only for Sessional GPs but also for our patients.
So here we provide a quick guide to the motions and give some ideas on how Sessional GPs can make them come true.
241 With regard to PCO management of locum GP superannuation, this conference believes that:
(i) payments to locums by practices are sometimes slow
(ii) PCOs should exercise sensible discretion on the maximum timescale for locums to submit the forms locum A and locum B
(iii) locums should be allowed to pay superannuation contributions by direct debit or standing order, with a reconciliation at the year end.
(Proposed by Paul Roblin on behalf of Oxfordshire)
Parts (i) and (ii) Carried
Part (iii) Carried unanimously
- What local SGPs can do:
- Request that your LMC keeps a close tab on local practices by formally writing to them all to explain the need for prompt payment.
- Work with your LMC – ideally through your local SGP Group leader – to feedback about any practices who take too long to pay.
- Work with your LMC secretary to ensure your local Sessional GP rep(s) on the LMC meets with the local head of superannuation to ensure they’re up to speed with superannuation issues affecting Sessional GPs. Feedback any helpful information from the PCT direct to your local SGPs.
- Figure out what avenues your PCT has to lobby the NHSPA about creating a modern payment system that doesn’t involve writing cheques!
(820*) 42. That conference welcomes the GPC Sessional GPs Representation Working Group Report and endorses its recommendations in full.
(Proposed by Vicky Weeks, GPC, on behalf of Agenda Committee)
Carried
You can read about our support for this here
(311*) 43. That conference:
(i) believes that all employers of salaried GPs should offer salaried GPs terms and conditions that are no less favourable than those in the model salaried GP contract
(ii) calls upon the BMJ Group to explicitly state in advertisements for salaried GP posts whether or not the salaried GP model contract is being offered
(iii) believes that only good can come from greater engagement of sessional GPs with their LMCs
(iv) recognises the increasing role in general practice played by salaried, freelance and part-time doctors and seeks strong representation for them
(Proposed by V Weeks, GPC, on behalf of the Agenda Committee)
Parts (i), (iii) and (iv) Carried
Part (ii) Carried as a reference
- What local SGPs can do:
- Request that the LMC does a survey of Salaried GPs in its constituency to find out how many are employed on the BMA Salaried GP Contract; how many on other terms; and of those how many are less favourable than the model contract
- Forward the survey results to the Sessional GP Subcommittee and ask them to take any necessary action.
- Find out how to belong to your LMC, how to stand to be an elected representative, and put yourself forward at the next election!
(327*) 44. That conference, in respect of sessional GPs:
(i) calls for financial help to be provided to those who require a period of supported learning
(ii) asks the GPC to highlight the current lack of a dependable system for informing peripatetic sessional GPs about important NHS and PCO information
(iii) instructs GPC to pursue maternity, paternity and adoption leave benefits for locum GPs who provide a locum service to the NHS
(iv) is concerned at the lack of support mechanisms for locum GPs
(v) deplores the lack of employment opportunities for sessional GPs.
(Proposed by V Weeks, GPC, on behalf of the Agenda Committee)
Parts (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) Carried
Part (v) Carried as a reference
- What local Sessional GPs can do:
- (i) and (iii) relate more to what the GPC needs to do, but they’ll still need support from their local LMCs
- (ii) and (iv) need evidence, and the best way to feed this back to the LMCs is for Sessional GPs to attend local SGP meetings and get their SGP LMC reps to formally feed this back to the LMC. If you don’t have an LMC rep, request that your LMC sends a rep to your meetings to listen to your issues and concerns.
The bottom line is that Sessional GPs must play a significant part of the responsibility in ensuring their LMCs represent their interests. Leave a comment to let us know what your LMC is doing, and if you’ve had any successes or failures in your neck of the woods.
