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GPC votes no confidence in chair

The GP Committee for England of the British Medical Association (BMA) has passed a vote of no confidence in Dr. Farah Jameel, who was elected as the first female, and woman of colour, chair in November 2021. Dr Jameel is currently on maternity leave. The motion, proposed by committee members, expressed concerns about the ability of the GPC to function without Dr Jameel present.

Dr. Jameel was suspended in November 2022 after complaints from BMA staff, shortly after she returned from a brief period of sick leave. Formal hearings regarding the complaints against her were delayed due to her maternity leave.

In her absence, Dr. Kieran Sharrock has been serving as the acting chair alongside executive officers Dr Clare Bannon, Dr David Wrigley and Dr Richard Van Mellaerts.  The team has served with full executive and negotiating rights.

Dr. Jameel will be given the opportunity to continue as an elected member of the committee but will lose her employment as Chair.

Some healthcare professionals have raised concerns about the legality of this vote of no confidence, leading to a petition with over 300 signatures urging its withdrawal (click here).

Doncaster LMC wrote to the BMA calling for a halt to the vote to provide time to explore legal risks that would undermine the profession including “risk of maternity discrimination”.  Whilst the receipt of our appeal was acknowledged by the BMA, no further feedback was provided by them.

Dr. Rachel Ali, the GPC equalities lead was the motion’s proposer.

The motion in full:

The committee is deeply concerned about the lack of clarity regarding the alleged suspension of the Chair of GPCE, given the significant contractual and political changes expected until 2024. The committee:

i) Expresses sympathy towards the Chair and the challenges surrounding her absence.

ii) Commends the Acting Chair and Officer Team for their dedication, work, and leadership during the Chair’s absence.

iii) Emphasizes the utmost importance of proper, effective, democratic representation of the profession.

iv) Regrets that it has no choice but to declare a vote of no confidence in the current elected Chair of GPCE and demands prompt elections for a new Chair (and subsequent Officer Team) in accordance with Standing Orders.

Seconders: Paul Evans, Bruce Hughes, Ivan Camphor, Mark Steggles, Diana Hunter, James Booth, Shaba Nabi, Matt Mayer, Rob Barnett

The Doncaster Design. A Universal Wellbeing Service

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Understanding FGM and your responsibilities as healthcare professionals

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a deeply ingrained harmful cultural practice that is still carried out in certain communities across the world, mainly in some countries in Africa, the Middle East and certain parts of Asia. FGM can have serious physical, emotional and psychological implications and is illegal in the UK. As healthcare professionals, particularly those working in travel health services, we have the potential to identify young children travelling overseas who may be at danger from FGM. We also have a professional responsibility and a duty of care to protect young girls from this risk.

As we approach the summer months and the possibility of encountering those travelling for FGM increases, it is important to be reminded of the risk and what to do if FGM is suspected. 

Read the full article here Understanding FGM and your responsibilities as healthcare professionals.  The article appeared first on Health Academy. 

Adoption and Gender reassignment questions

PCSE have shared information regarding adoption and gender reassignment and the patient registration process. They have collated the questions and answers, these are available to view by clicking on the buttons below.

Gender reassignment
Adoption

GP Registrars joining your practice

When a GP Registrar joins your practice, it is essential that they are on the National Performer List (NPL). You can check the dedicated website here to see if they are already on the Performer List.

A GP Registrar needs to submit their application no earlier than six months prior to obtaining their certificate of completed training (CCT) and no later than three months prior to CCT.
 
To help you support your registrar with their application and to avoid delays, you can access a guide here.

Wellbeing resources

As we continue to face overwhelming pressures in general practice, we encourage practices to continue to focus on their own team’s wellbeing and take time to meet to reflect on their wellbeing and what they can do to protect it. This will meet the requirements of the QOF targets in the GP contract to do your Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for 2023/24 (england.nhs.uk)

The BMA have produced a document  2799_gp-practices-taking-time-to-reflect-on-wellbeing—may-2023.pdf which includes some tangible recommendations and tools for improving workload and safe working.

A range of wellbeing and support services are available to doctors, from BMA’s  Counselling and peer support for doctors and medical students (bma.org.uk),  NHS practitioner health service Accessing The Service (practitionerhealth.nhs.uk) and Samaritans Samaritans| Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen. The organisation Doctors in Distress also provides mental health support for health workers in the UK, providing confidential peer support group sessions Home – Doctors in Distress – Support For Healthcare Workers (doctors-in-distress.org.uk)

Research Opportunity

Dr Cora Salkovskis

Postdoctoral research fellow

E-mail: cosa@diis.dk

 

I am looking for NHS staff to participate in a research project and share their experiences of working in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project aims to investigate exactly how both the pandemic as a period of ‘crisis’, pre-existing austerity measures, and ongoing strain on the NHS, have impacted the mental health and wellbeing of yourself and your colleagues, as well as the system of healthcare in the UK.

The interview will last 1-2 hours and will seek to explore the ways in which media reporting, public perception, health policy and decision-making, and individuals’ experience of providing healthcare ‘on the frontline’ might not neatly correlate. It seeks to encourage you to discuss and preserve your experiences of the pandemic; telling the story from inside the hospital, ICU, care home, or ambulance from your perspective to ensure that the voices of healthcare professionals are a central part of a period of protest, reform, and recovery.

Further details about the interview can be found here: https://www.diis.dk/en/projects/we-are-looking-uk-frontline-healthcare-workers-to-tell-us-about-their-mental-health

For information about the broader project, see: https://www.diis.dk/projekter/wars-pandemics-and-the-human-mind-competing-conceptions-of-trauma-in-the-21st-century

If you are interested in taking part please contact me at cosa@diis.dk. Your contribution can be fully anonymised.

Doncaster RASH (Primary Care Rapid Access to Support)

Primary Care Rapid Access to Support and Help creates priority access to mental and physical healthcare services for NHS Primary Care colleagues who are identified as necessary to the delivery patient care.  We will support you to access care quickly when you need it.  This service is for those who work in General Practice and in Pharmacy.

Why do we need Primary Care Rapid Access Support and Help?
Primary Care is under unprecedented pressure with increased demand and a strain on limited resources.  To help maintain the health and productivity of our Primary Care colleagues Doncaster LMC have created Primary Care Rapid Access Support and Help with the help of a grant from NHS Doncaster CCG.  Our aim is to support people to continue working or to return to work as soon as possible.

How does it work?
1.      Colleague self refers to Doncaster LMC.
2.      Doncaster LMC assess suitability for Primary Care Rapid Access Support and Help according to the eligibility criteria.
3.      Doncaster LMC assist referral of colleague for priority access support and help.

Who is eligible?
The colleague
·        is a current NHS employee or a self-employed contractor to the NHS
·        is working in Primary Care in Doncaster (General Practice, Pharmacy or PCN additional roles)
·        is necessary for the delivery of patient care
·        has a physical or mental health complaint  that impairs their ability to work or otherwise impacts upon workplace productivity
and (the candidate) having discussed the complaint with their GP, PWP (Psychology Wellbeing Practitioner) or appropriate other clinician, feels it requires referral for specialist assessment or treatment
·        Provides written consent to the terms of service of Primary Care Rapid Access Support and Help

How do I get more information or apply?
Contact Doncaster LMC and we will talk you through the process office@doncasterlmc.co.uk

Or apply using the following link Rash Application – Doncaster LMC

Heart Failure Management

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LMC Buying Group

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