General practice is the bedrock of the NHS, handling over 90% of patient interactions while receiving less than 10% of the NHS budget. Yet despite its pivotal role, GP services are at breaking point. Practices are operating at full capacity, with increasing demand, workforce shortages and administrative burdens placing an ever-growing strain on the system.
However, despite these pressures, general practice has the potential to deliver more. With the right funding, resources and structural support, it could expand its capacity, improve patient care and play a greater role in reducing pressures elsewhere in the healthcare system.
https://www.doncasterlmc.co.uk/general-practice-at-capacity-yet-capable-of-more
We’re pleased to share our latest patient information flyer, designed to help patients and GP practices by clarifying what hospitals are responsible for during a visit or stay.
Too often, GP time is wasted on tasks that should be handled by hospitals, such as issuing sick notes, providing prescriptions, and making onward referrals. This flyer makes it clear that these responsibilities lie with the hospital team, ensuring that patients receive the care they need without unnecessary GP involvement.
Key Points for Patients:
✅ Sick notes – Hospitals will issue these if required. No need to ask your GP.
✅ Prescriptions – If you are prescribed medication, the hospital will provide the prescription.
✅ Referrals – If further specialist care is needed, the hospital will arrange the referral.
By sharing this flyer with patients, we can reduce avoidable GP appointments and admin work, freeing up valuable time to focus on core primary care needs.
We encourage all practices to display and distribute this flyer to help set patient expectations and ensure hospitals fulfill their obligations.
Breastfeeding pain can stem from various factors like poor latch, engorgement, or an overactive let-down reflex. Recent insights suggest antifungal treatments may not always be the answer for persistent pain. Seeking skilled support is key to resolving discomfort and improving the breastfeeding experience. For practical tips and expert advice, visit the Breastfeeding Network’s comprehensive guide on dealing with pain while breastfeeding.
Learn more: Breastfeeding Network – Pain and Persistent Discomfort
If you require further information please contact: Karen Mosley, North Outreach & Development Officer Mobile number: 07494 161067
The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and The Louise Tebboth Foundation have recently relaunched crucial resources to help primary care settings manage the sudden death of a colleague, especially in the tragic event of a suicide. These updates include comprehensive frameworks for both coping with the death of a colleague and responding to the specific challenges posed by suicide.
Additionally, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) offers a free Sudden Bereavement Support service, providing expert advisers to guide practices through the operational and emotional challenges that arise after the loss of key team members, such as partners or practice managers. This service is supported by the Practitioner Health mental health service.
Access these updated resources and expert support to ensure your practice is equipped to handle such difficult times.
Some GPs may be unaware that maternity services are part of their contractual obligations. Under the GMS contract, “maternity medical services” are explicitly included, as detailed on page 14 of the document. This means GP practices are responsible for:
Additionally, maternity services are part of CQC registration requirements, reinforcing the importance of ensuring appropriate care is provided to pregnant and postnatal patients within general practice.
Doncaster Local Medical Committee has developed a new patient-facing poster to help reduce stress and workload for GP practices regarding requests to expedite hospital appointments.
Many patients ask their GP for letters to speed up their hospital appointments, but GPs do not have the authority to influence hospital waiting times. Hospitals manage their own appointment schedules based on clinical urgency.
The poster is designed to:
✅ Educate patients on why GPs cannot alter hospital waiting lists.
✅ Encourage patients to only request letters if their symptoms have changed significantly.
✅ Reinforce the importance of keeping hospitals informed of worsening symptoms to ensure appropriate treatment.
✅ Reduce unnecessary administrative burden on GP practices, allowing them to focus on patient care.
We encourage all practices to display this poster in waiting areas, on websites, and on social media to help manage patient expectations. By doing so, we can ensure that GP time is used efficiently and that hospitals are prioritising care appropriately.
As part of Safe working in general practice in England guidance (Safe working in general practice toolkit) General Practitioners Committee England (GPCE) has developed a section focusing on ‘Core’ (‘Core’ general practice – Safe working in general practice – BMA) general practice to help practices identify which services are included within ‘core’ General Medical Services (GMS). It is not always clear which services are included within ‘core’ GMS, leading to some practices potentially offering unfunded services. Therefore, GPCE has compiled a list of locally commissioned services that should be commissioned separately. If a practice is asked to provide un-commissioned services, GPCE recommends declining and working with the local Integrated Care System (ICS) to ensure proper commissioning.
NHSE remind GP practices to check their smartcards for older versions and contact their Registration Authority team for replacements. All Series 4,5 and 6 smartcards will no longer be able to sign electronic prescriptions from 31st March 2025. Please contact the Registration Authority (RA) to arrange replacements.
Visit this page for help identifying smartcard series type and further information Revised dates for the phasing out of smartcard series 4, 5 and 6 – NHS England Digital
An updated HRT PPC guidance document has been published by DHSC. This is to reflect changes to the definition of products in scope of the HRT PPC, following the launch of new products onto the market, and an agreed process for managing discontinuations.
The HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC), introduced on 1st April 2023, offers an affordable option for patients requiring hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For the cost of two prescription charges, it covers an unlimited number of eligible HRT medicines for 12 months. Patients can purchase it online or at pharmacies. Prescribers need to use updated FP10 forms, and dispensers should ensure proper annotation on FP57 forms for refund claims.
An updated HRT PPC guidance document has been published by DHSC. This is to reflect changes to the definition of products in scope of the HRT PPC, following the launch of new products onto the market, and an agreed process for managing discontinuations.
Further details and guidance can be found on the NHSBSA website. Full guidance here.
Doncaster LMC is been a member of the LMC Buying Groups Federation. This means that practices can access the discounts the Buying Group has negotiated on a wide range of products and services. If you’re not sure what the Buying Group is all about then this short video explains what they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FekMwFI5ILg.
By registering with the Buying Group: www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk/members/, you can view all the suppliers’ pricing, contact details and request quotes. The Buying Group also offers any member practice a free cost analysis which demonstrates how much money your practice could save just by swapping to buying group suppliers. Tel: 0115 979 6910 Email: info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk Website: www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk
