1. LMCs, the GPC, the NHS and All that Jazz LMCs, the GPC, the NHS and All that Jazz Dr James Gillgrass Chief Executive Surrey and Sussex LMCs

3. “ Local Medical Committees (LMCs) are unique. They alone amongst health service institutions have remained largely unchanged in their functions and structure since 1911. Therein lies both their strength and weaknesses.” “ Local Medical Committees (LMCs) are unique. They alone amongst health service institutions have remained largely unchanged in their functions and structure since 1911. Therein lies both their strength and weaknesses.” ScHARR report 2003

4. What is a Local Medical Committee?  Statutory body  Recognised by successive NHS acts  Recognised by PCTs as the GPs’ representative organisation

5. Independence  Fully independent  Self financing  LMCs are NOT trade unions

6. Surrey & Sussex LMCs Provides support and information to the LMCs and GPs of Provides support and information to the LMCs and GPs of  Croydon  Kingston & Richmond  East Surrey  West Surrey  East Sussex  West Sussex

7. Officers  Chief Executive  Director of Finance & IT  Director of Liaison & Planning  Medical Directors

8. Funding the LMC  GMS GPs –Statutory levy –Voluntary levy  PMS GPs – both levies are voluntary –Administrative levy –Voluntary levy

9. Statutory / administrative levy  Set as: –Pence per patient  Used for –Funds costs related to  Running of the office  Staff salaries  Honoraria to members  Costs of meetings  Website and newsletters

10. Voluntary levy  Set as: –Pence per patient o –At a different level from Statutory Levy  Used for –Payment to the GP Defence Fund

11. Elections  Process detailed in the Constitution  Held every 4 years  Electors must be on the Primary Care Performers list (from April 1st 2004)  Co-options

12. Meetings  Monthly - either –Full –LMC / PCT liaison meetings –Honorarium

13. Functions and duties  GPs’ contracts  Representation of GPs  Advisory role  Support for GPs and practices  Resource

14. Representation of GPs - the medico-political axis  Local –LMCs –Annual conference of LMCs  National –General Practitioners Committee

15. Annual Conference of LMCs  Representatives from all LMCs –England- Wales –Scotland- Northern Ireland  Motions proposed by LMCs  2 days of intense debate  Results dictate national policy  Conference dinner

16. General Practitioners Committee  Craft committee of the BMA  Recognised by Department of Health as GMS GPs’ sole negotiating body  Representatives elected by –Region –Annual Conference of LMCs –Annual Representative Meeting of BMA

17. GPC  Negotiators  Meets monthly  Reports –Regional representatives to LMC –Published on www.bma.org.uk

18. The NHS - history  Set up on July 5 th 1948  Funded by the taxpayer  Organisational changes  Largest employer in Europe  Budget 2007/08 - £92.6billion

19. The NHS  The Government  Department of Health  Strategic Health Authorities  Primary care Trusts

20. Department of Health  “Provides strategic leadership to the NHS and Social Care organisations in England”  Monitors spending  Monitors standards and safety of services  Collaborative development of policies

21. Strategic Health Authorities  Develop plans for improving health services in their local area  Monitor local health services  Increase the capacity of local health services  Meeting national priorities locally

22. Primary Care Trusts  Responsible for provision of services locally  Integration of health and social care systems  Administration of Primary Care

23. PCTS commission  Primary care –General Practice –Dentists –Optometrists –Pharmacists –NHS Direct – Walk-in Centres  Secondary Care –Hospitals –Ambulance services –Care services –Mental health services

24. …and All that Jazz  BMA –The doctors’ trade union  NHS Employers –Responsible for workforce and employment issues in the NHS  NHS Confederation –Works with members to improve health and health services  NHS Alliance –Representational organisation of primary care

25. Surrey and Sussex LMCs www.lmcs.info