Apologies Drs Caroline Fraser, Robert Donald

Minute of the meeting of Grampian Local Medical Committee held in the Conference Room, Summerfield House, Aberdeen on Monday 19th August 2013 at 4.30 pm

Present Drs Denise McFarlane, Neil MacRitchie, Russell McInnes, Peter Kiehlmann, Sandra Grant, Rebecca Riddell, Caroline Howarth, Ewan Paterson, Karen Innes, Stuart Reary, Thomas Philip.

Apologies Drs Caroline Fraser, Robert Donald.

RD (trainee rep) has now completed his training and is standing down from the committee meantime. He hopes to attend in the future.

Last meeting minutes – no corrections.

In attendance Audrey Ritchie

Matters arising

a)Levy issue - Alan Sharp (Financial Director) was not at negotiating meeting. As yet this issue has not been resolved. At the negotiating meeting DF raised the issue re there has been no repayment to LMC for levy paymentsnot paid for the past 2 years.

b)PLT cover – nothing new.

GMed issues – increased payments were made over the recent crisis weekend. This will happen apparently at weekends only, and only when cover is lacking even at the last minute.

Have asked for a substantial review of GMed payments.

David Taylor’s (Medical Director) replacement will be included in further discussions. For an upcoming meeting which DMcF will attend,a GP who does Aberdeen GMed shifts would be welcome. RR to speak to someone who works Aberdeen shifts.

Committee was asked to let the office know of any GMed issues.

c)Constitutions and Elections. This is on the GPSub agenda. There is currently no new LMC constitution. Need to approve the agreed GPSub constitution and put forward a similar LMC constitution. Plan is to have nominations for election in December 2013 with elections taking place in January 2014. Year will be on a calendar rather than school year basis.

d)SGPC reps from LMC are DMcF, CH, SR. NMacR remains on this committee as GPC rep.

e)Pathways – no change. Only issue is re urea breath testing. Pharmacy contract has not taken this on board as part of the Pharmacy contract. Governance issues about the test.

f)Contract development. There is disagreement with NHSG re the wording of a letter to practices re the contract QP reports. Should have 8 weeks from eKIS going live, but that doesn’t fit with the timing of some review meetings. Further discussions to ensure clarity will take place.

Also recent letter from SG re total needed in the year. There will be a reduction of 5% needed for ACPs for each full month of delay in roll out of eKIS from the 30th June. This is 5% of the total number, not 5% off the 15% (of the 5% of the list). No clarification yet if this 5% abatement will reduce the total number of ACPs required for next year, or whether that will remain at 30% of the 5% of the list size.

1. Office.

Now vacated. PO Box for new LMC address not possible so new address is-

Dr Neil MacRitchie,

LMC Secretary,

Peterhead Health Centre

Links Terrace

Peterhead

AB42 2XA

1. Community Hospitals Contract.

Meeting on Wednesday.

1. MMR catchup.

LES which went out to practices is the LES which pays for vaccinating patients in the catchup programme.

1. Benefits reform.

Reference made to attached letter. NMacR to reply. Totally unhappy it was sent out. It was felt that the letter was against joint working. Contact has been made with MSP. Government Health Minister speech referred to.

1. Bowel screening.

Notification went out to practices (which was not negotiated with LMC) that practices must nominate a GP to attend workshop. This is not compulsory and this notification was put out by Public Health without discussion with the Health Board. This must be optional. NMacR to write to cancerleads [subsequent agreement at GP Sub that M McCrone would write in his capacity as chair of PCIMG].

1. Enhanced Services Review

This is to go further. Individual enhanced services to be looked at. Lothian model to be considered. One possible suggestion is having an all-encompassing contract to give stability of costs and income. Very early stages at present.

1. Payment verification visits

Deferred until next meeting due to time constraint.

1. Primary Care event 6 September. Few members attending.

1. GMed–covered already.

1. Reducing bureaucracy in Primary Care.

Cabinet Secretary has asked SGPC for examples of bureaucracy. Committee invited to give examples over the next couple of days.

Suggestions offered at the meeting included IT (hand held devices were discussed), delays in appointments in Secondary Care, and prescriptions/Med 3s not being issued in hospital.

1. Workforce survey – has been meeting with the author. Slight change appears to have been made in terms of recording GP hours which was not agreed, NM will reply to Simon. Will go Grampian-wide. Purely voluntary.

1. Feedback

1. SGPC – meets Thursday

1. GPC - election of new Chair. Communication with practices was a major topic of discussion.

1. ESG– doesn’t meet till later this week, but NM circulated a standard audit template suggestion. It has what is in the contract. Purely optional and practices can do their own audit if they wish. Supported.

1. Premises – approving of spending what little money there is. Forward sight – a Health Centre north of Aberdeen may be developed by the purchase of secondary school land. Any agreement for spending is going on projects concerned with Health & Safety issues. No agreement under any other format.

1. NHSG/LMC meeting – as above plus Adoption Medicals being looked at in Moray.

Refusal of referrals still being looked at and is with the Legal Team at present.

Advertising by private medical agencies discussed. NHSG and LMC agree this would not happen.

1. Pathways – no meeting.

1. 20:20 – meets next week.

AOB – nil

Date of next meeting – Monday 16th September