Access and support for general practices
Date sent: Friday 15 October 2021
Sent to all Lincolnshire GPs and Practice Managers
Access and Support for General Practice
Lincolnshire LMC met on Thursday 14th October and we discussed the recently published guidance from NHSEI “ Our plan for improving access for patients and supporting general practice ”. LMC are angry that NHSEI have produced this guidance whilst practices are working hard to best manage their patients, in an environment of spiraling workload and staff shortages, whilst also providing flu and Covid vaccinations.
Fortunately, John Turner, CEO of NHS Lincolnshire CCG, was also in attendance at the Committee meeting. Mr Turner emphasised both his and the CCG’s Board’s appreciation for the outstanding work of GP Practices and their teams across Lincolnshire throughout the pandemic, particularly in recent months in terms of responding to exceptional levels of patient demand and consistently going the ‘extra mile’ to meet it, and he thanked all practices for this.
Mr Turner acknowledged that we do need to remove unwarranted variation and that the CCG wants to work with practices who are finding it difficult to provide face-to-face appointments. Mr Turner committed to working with practices, PCNs, the LMC, and his colleagues in the CCG to deliver the guidance about access in a way which supports practices rather than is punitive. The Committee welcomed these sentiments, and the LMC secretariat will work with the CCG team to develop a sensible, sensitive, and proportionate approach.
Lincolnshire LMC Medical Director
GMC 4415314
