LMC Annual Conference 2016,
GPS Committee Review
Following on from January’s Special LMC Conference, GP Survival were once again at The Mermaid in London for the Annual Conference of LMCs.
As well as the three committee members; Susie Bayley (Chair), Zoe Norris (Media Lead) and Preeti Shukla (Campaign Lead), we were overwhelmed by the number of GP Survival members present. Our badges were being worn with pride. We genuinely felt there was a strong grassroots presence.
Format
There was a new format, with informal debates and break-out sessions as well as the typical votes on motions.
We felt that, although this meant there was some freedom, the voting system for the informal debates was flawed. We appreciated the importance of trying a new style, but we felt it did not give a clear enough message to GPC on the priorities of working GPs, and therefore, no clear mandate. We will be feeding this back accordingly.
Key Messages
The messages coming out were the same as those debated daily on the GP Survival Facebook page, ie GPs are:
- Overworked
- Overregulated
- Underfunded
- In too short supply
It was made perfectly clear there is a GP State of Emergency. However, in itself acceptance of this fact is meaningless, what we wanted was action to address and reverse it. The calls were clear – address indemnity / regulation / complaints/ CQC and increase core funding.
Motions and details the full webcast can be seen here. Below is a summary of the debates and core messages from GP Survival members.
DAY 1
FUNDING
Funding is insufficient, we need an increase in core and a reduction in everything else that sucks general practice dry, including CQC / indemnity / regulatory bodies etc
Peter Williams (Derby LMC): Told us that for every £1 we spend out of our own pocket, we’re saving our CCG £3 in costs. That we need the Government to invest in General practice, so that we will be able to save the NHS.
Farah Jameel (Camden LMC): Clearly pointed out that GPFV shows a glimmer of hope, but we remain in a GP State of Emergency.
WORKLOAD
Conference felt we are drowning in workload, and there is a huge impact on patient safety. We must address non-contractual work for our sanity and patient safety.
Rachel Ali (Devon LMC): Made a brilliant 1st-time LMC speech which focused on the concept of ‘Decision Fatigue’. That as we make more decisions throughout the day they become of less and less good quality. For our own, and patients interests, she felt we urgently need some research into decision fatigue. Conference clearly agreed.
GENERAL PRACTICE WORKFORCE
We discussed the issue of recruitment and retention, along with the challenge of looking after and indemnifying a workforce over whom we have little control.
Zoe Norris (Hull and East Yorkshire LMC): Gave experience of her recent meeting at BMA house. That a new workforce of PAs and other non-GP professionals is a ‘done deal’, that we have been given ‘ little choice at the moment’. She made it clear, that we as a profession need to decide how much, if at all we would support, this plan.
Stephanie Di Georgio (Kent LMC): Explained how normal, working GPs can find ways of changing things to make it better for ourselves. That we need to unite the profession to change things for the better, and stop being ‘walked on by everyone else’. That general practice can be a job to be proud of.
EMPOWERING THE PROFESSION
This focused on bringing back our professionalism, saying no and standing up for ourselves.
Susie Bayley (Derby LMC): Susie said ‘GP workload and regulation is not fair and it’s not safe’ and asked us to stand together and say no to the cumbersome overregulation and bureaucracy that is suffocating our profession
Our GPS Chair took GPC to task: ‘It’s bloody obvious, protect us from the burden of complaints, ditch CQC, reduce appraisal and lengthen the contract cycle. Frankly GPC chose anyone of them, but preferably do it all, but make sure it happens’.
DAY 2
REPONSE OF THE PROFESSION
This focused on the General Practice Forward View and BMA’s Urgent Prescription for General Practice.
Zoe Norris (Hull and East Yorkshire LMC): Asked us to make ‘one wish’ to make general practice better tomorrow. She explained that to make a difference with our current workforce, we need for practical solutions to help us NOW: suspend CQC, suspend QOF etc. See video:
Susie Bayley (Derby LMC): Made a clear argument that GPFV offers ‘funds for vulnerable practice, but we’re all vulnerable practices’. She stated ‘it is not going to help GPs on their knees now’. She asked for support for a ballot for industrial action (S20 see later) and asked for money for care and not corporations. See video:
Helena Mckeown (Wiltshire LMC): Demanded ‘more funding, shorter days, safer GPs, safer patients’.
Shaba Nabi (Avon LMC): Shaba’s passionate speech on why she has been forced to leave her partnership is a must watch, brining the room to their feet. She reflected “I want a massive hike in the global sum and I want it now. . . without this the workforce crisis will deepen’.
CHOSEN MOTIONS
S20
Following the Special Conference, there was a vote on industrial action, essentially saying we would be balloted on industrial action should no meaningful ‘ Rescue Package’ be delivered within 6 months. As the GPFV isn’t this rescue package, Tower Hamlets proposed an emergency motion. This was ‘the biggie’: stating that unless the government accepted the Urgent Prescription for General practice within 3 months, the GPC should ask the BMA to ballot the profession on different forms of industrial action.
Michele Drage (Londonwide LMCs): Michelle’s passionate speech really hit home, she told us ‘ Practices are dying right now . . . we need money for the right staff doing the right things RIGHT NOW. . . If this government cared or believed in us they would stop. They would stop making my GPs ill, and stop making their staff leave. . . they would stop hyper regulating us to death. . . they would stop making us physically and mentally ill. . . This is constructive dismissal. . . the model isn’t broken, the system is being broken, by those who want to break it. We are the model. . . . we will stand up for ourselves. . . if not now when.’
And when we needed her passion and drive again: Katie Bramall-Stainer (Hertfordshire LMC): Said ‘I too have been forced from the job I beat 60 applicants to 6 years ago. . . the job I always wanted to do. . . I am sorry to say that the length of our working days, the workload, the safety concerns, the overwhelming responsibility, the lack of any reprieve. . . well, this job is making me ill. . . we cannot take anymore of this unsafe burden. . . Is our model of care broken, or is our model of care being bankrupted. . . This is not posturing, this is real, we are collapsing, but we are here to lead, we are here to be brave, we are here to show, that like the juniors we are united. . . now is the moment, where we must grasp the nettle, the time is now.
The motion was clearly carried. The onus is now on GPC to fulfill their side of the bargain.
SUMMARY
We all felt a little conflicted by the conference. It was heartening to see the support for GP Survival by a significant number of delegates, but the reception was not universally warm. There were times when it felt it was ‘them and us’ against the establishment. If anything, this made us more determined to get a seat at the table and represent hard-working grassroots GPs.
The conference itself did not make any ground-breaking decisions. The strength of feeling was there, but even the overwhelming support for S20 actually achieves little more than January’s Special Conference did.
Essentially, every decision made relies on the GPC negotiating team to stand firm and act. You can rest assured that we will hold them to account on this.
As one LMC rep observed, government seems to think GPs are ‘a bit like tonsils. They are nice things to have, a bit of a pain, but you can get on perfectly well without them’.
The fight for GP Survival continues.