General practitioners committee

DO YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

DO YOU HAVE A VISION OF HOW GENERAL PRACTICE SHOULD BE RUN?
Nominations are sought for the election of voting members of the GPC as regional representative for the constituencies below.
LMCs (local medical committees) covered-
  • Forth Valley/Fife/Lothian/Tayside
Nominations for the Forth Valley/Fife/Lothian/Tayside regional election must be received by 5pm on Thursday28 April2016
PLEASE FIND ENCLOSED:
INFORMATION ON GETTING INVOLVED
ELECTION DETAILS
NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
NOMINATION FORM

YOUR VIEW COUNTS

General practitioners committee

GETTING INVOLVED WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVE BODY

Many GPs may not be aware of the role of the GPC.This guide is intended to provide you with information about the GPC and its relevance to your working life. It explains the role of the GPC, local medical committees and the election process.

Effective representation of the profession has always been important, arguably never more so than at present. To be effective, it is vital that the GPC is fully representative of the whole profession and this is where you have a part to play. Involvement with the GPC and your LMC is perhaps one of the most important ways in which you can influence the future development of your career.

The GPC, like any organisation, needs new faces and ideas. Any GP can stand for election. We particularly encourage nominations from groups that are currently under-represented on the GPC – women doctors, salaried and freelance doctors, doctors with disabilities and doctors from minority ethnic groups. New members receive support, induction and a warm welcome.

A message from the GPC Chairman:

The GPC wants and needs new members

The BMA General Practitioners Committee represents all UK GPs - partners and sessional doctors, GMS and PMS doctors, men and women, whether members of the BMA or not. It is important that the composition of the committee reflects the diversity and all the interests of the profession. To achieve this, the more doctors we have standing for election for the GPC seats, the better.

I am aware of the general disenchantment with politics but you don’t need me to tell you of the many threats and challenges facing the profession at present. That is why I am determined that, during my chairmanship, I will do all I can to make the GPC seem relevant to, and seen to be working on behalf of, those we represent. To achieve that, we need to be truly representative of the profession and currently there are still too many GPs not being adequately represented on the GPC.

We want to improve this under-representation and have taken steps to do so. Practical measures have been introduced to encourage a wider number and range of GPs to stand for the elections. In addition to meeting with several organisations representing minority interests to try to ensure we address any perceived shortfalls, we provide an information pack about the GPC, give each new member a mentor to show them the ropes, offer crèche facilities to parents with young children, and arrange induction sessions to familiarise new GPs with the way the committee works.

The GPC remit covers all the areas of work affecting all GPs. If you want to change things, you need to get in there and do something about it. I would urge anyone even vaguely considering election to read the information pack thoroughly and discuss it with your LMC or the GPC office.

Best wishes

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Chairman, General Practitioners Committee

The general practitioners committee and local medical committees
About the GPC
  • The GPC is the only fully inclusive, UK-based, organisation which represents all GPs.
  • It has sole negotiating rights with the Department of Health on issues affecting GPs.
  • It works at national level on behalf of LMCs and their equivalents who determine, through an Annual Conference of Representatives of LMCs, the broad policy framework within which the GPC works.
About LMCs and their equivalents
  • Your LMC is an independent, self financing body that represents your interests as a GP.
  • It is a statutory body and the Strategic Health Authority and Primary Care Organisation must consult it on issues that affect you.
  • LMCs offer helpful advice and guidance to GPs on a wide range of issues.
  • LMCs are entitled to collect a ‘statutory levy’ from GMS GPs although some LMCs work on the basis of a voluntary contribution. These payments are tax allowable, and returned to GPs as expenses.PMS GPs and sessional GPs can also contribute to ensure involvement and representation and these payments too are tax allowable.
The Elections Process

There are three methods of election to the GPC:

1. Regional constituency elections

  • These are held triennially, with one third of the regional seats elected each year.
  • Each constituency comprises a group of (typically 2-4) LMCs.
  • There is one GPC representative per constituency.
  • To be eligible to stand, vote or nominate another in a constituency you must be one of the following:
  • A GP who provides personally, or performs NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election (the ‘two sessions’ requirement), and contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC, thereby supporting the work of the GPC on behalf of all GPs (please also see page 10).
  • A GP on the doctors retainer scheme and contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency.
  • A medically qualified LMC secretary.
  • You will need five nominators.
  • Contested elections are determined by the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method.

2. LMC Conference

  • Seven GPC members are elected through the Annual Conference of LMCs. One of these seats is reserved for a candidate who has never served on GPC before. The ‘two sessions’ requirement (as above) is a requirement for nomination. All GPs on the retainer scheme and medically qualified LMC secretaries are eligible, regardless of their level of commitment to providing or performing NHS general or personal medical services. Contested elections are determined by Single Transferable Vote. Those elected will serve on the GPC for one year.

3. Annual Representative Meeting

  • Ten GPC members are elected through the Annual Representative Meeting of the BMA and the same ‘two sessions’ qualifying condition applies to candidates.

Membership

GPC members are expected to:

  • Prepare for meetings
  • Complete written work (responding to consultations etc.)
  • Help develop guidance notes
  • Speak to the media (training will be provided)

New Members

GPC is a large body which makes it potentially daunting for new members. An induction programme is therefore offered to all new members to help them play an active part in the Committee’s affairs from a very early stage. The programme usually takes place at the start of the session and takes the form of a series of presentations from a member of the negotiating team, from other experienced GPC members and from members of the GPC and BMA staff to help explain the way the organisation functions and the resources which are available to the Committee and its members.

In addition a mentor is assigned to each new member. The mentor will be a more experienced GPC member, often from the same region of the UK, tasked with helping the new member ‘learn the ropes’ and play an active part from a very early stage.

Subcommittees

The GPC has a number of subcommittees which deal with the following areas:

  • Commissioning and Service Development
  • Clinical and Prescribing
  • Education, Training and Workforce
  • GP Trainees
  • Contracts and Regulation
  • Information Management and Technology
  • Practice Finance
  • Representation of GPC
  • Sessional GPs

Most members are drawn from GPC but some subcommittees eg Sessional GPs, GP Trainees, also include ‘external’ members.

Most subcommittees will meet three times each year although the work arising from the subcommittees will be carried out throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does GPC meet?

GPC has around 10 meetings each year, normally on the third Thursday of the month. No meetings take place in May or August

Where are the meetings held?

In London, at BMA House.

How is the GPC supported?

The GPC and its subcommittees are supported by a professional secretariat.

Are expenses paid for attending meetings?

A daily rate is payable to members of the GPC or its subcommittees for attending:

  • meetings of the GPC, subcommittees or task groups.
  • meetings between representatives of the committee and outside bodies.
  • LMC conferences.
  • meetings of outside bodies when representing the committee.
Is child-care available?

Costs of childcare are reimbursed for committee members. Examples include: an additional amount paid to a usual carer because of an earlier start and/or later finish; paying for childcare on a day when the parent would otherwise be looking after the child/children him/herself.A free crèche is also available.

Improving Representation

Sessional (Salaried and Freelance) GPs

Sessional GPs comprise an important and vital part of the workforce and our numbers continue to increase year on year. Being a Sessional GP is a positive career choice and we are a diverse group with wide ranging portfolios and many different skill sets. And yet as a group we remain significantly under-represented both nationally and locally.

As a profession we have continued to undergo substantial change, and although these changes affect all GPs, the impact upon Sessional GPs can vary in important ways compared to contractor/principal GP colleagues. The GPC is the only body representing all UK GPs, and increasing Sessional GP representation on this body cannot be overemphasised. Standing for election as a regional GPC/BMA representative is one of the most important ways in which Sessional GPs can and should become involved in the decision-making processes that affect their future.

The future shape of the NHS and our place within it depends on us, so stand for election and ensure that the Sessional GP voice is heard.

Dr Vicky Weeks

Chairman, Sessional GPs subcommittee

British International Doctors Association (BIDA)

The GPC has long been conscious of the fact that doctors from the ethnic minorities are not proportionately represented in its membership. The GPC has been looking at all the possible ways of remedying this deficiency but unfortunately, there do not seem to be any easy answers.

The best remedy, however, lies in the hands of those GPs themselves. The GPC is a democratic body.More than 25% of general practitioners are from ethnic minorities and there is absolutely no reason why we should not achieve and maintain better representation provided we use the democratic machinery and use it appropriately.Apathy has been our worst enemy but every year there are opportunities for election to the GPC.

If you feel you are able to contribute to the discussions in GPC and have a vision and a wish to contribute to the development of general practice and primary care in a way which is sensitive to your needs and to the needs of your patients, please consider standing and make sure that you vote in the next GPC elections.

Dr SurendraKumar

Chairman, General Practitioners Forum, British International Doctors Association & GPC member

Opting Out Is No Longer an Option

Women Doctors AND Medical Politics

The percentage of women General Practitioners (GPs) continues to rise and with more than two thirds of GP Specialty Registrars being female this trend is set to continue.

Women make up just under a third of the general practitioners committee (GPC).There are currently 22 female GP members, which is 30 per cent of GPC, despite continued efforts to further engage women in medical politics.

The GPC recognises that it must encourage new and fresh membership so that it truly reflects the diversity within the practising profession. This is particularly important at the present time, with the enormous rise in the number of salaried doctors, and the increasing number of private employers and APMS practices.

Women Doctors are highly skilled in negotiation, team working and adapting to change. These are just the skills needed in modern politics. We need women to put themselves forward and for this a wholesale change is required in our attitude to power and politics.

Both men and women need to embrace a responsibility to our profession aswell as to our families. Increasingly, more doctors are working flexibly. Part-time working is compatible with full commitment and can accommodate non-clinical responsibility.

If you want to change the world around you, you must get involved and not lose your principles on the way.

The Medical Women's Federation (MWF) is committed to supporting women doctors achieving their potential in all fields of medicine.

As a GPC member and an active member of the MWF, I would encourage you to put yourself forward for GPC and am happy to be contacted to discuss any issues further. Previous experience in medical politics is not necessary, merely an open mind and a desire to make general practice the career it deserves to be.

Dr Fiona Cornish

GPC Representative MWF

Contact through:The Medical Women's Federation at Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, LondonWC1H 9HX Tel: 0207 387 7765

BMA GPC (general practitioners committee)

Election of regional representative 2016-2019

Nomination of members

Nominations are sought in the election of voting members of the GPC of the British Medical Association as regional representatives for the following constituencies:

LMCs (local medical committees) covered

  • Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire
  • Hertfordshire
  • North and South Essex
  • Barking &Havering/Redbridge & Waltham Forest/City & E London
  • Cumbria & Lancs
  • Wigan & Bolton/Bury & Rochdale/W Pennine
  • Northern Ireland
  • Ayrshire & Arran/Borders/Dumfries & Galloway/Lanarkshire
  • S & W Devon/Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
  • Hamps & IoW
  • Kent
  • Surrey and Croydon
  • E Yorks/N Lincs/Lincs
  • Calderdale/Kirklees/Leeds/Wakefield
  • Forth Valley, Fife, Lothian and Tayside

Candidates must be:

  • GPs who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency and who provide personally or perform NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election or
  • GPs who are on the doctors retainer scheme and who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency, or
  • A medically qualified secretary of a LMC in the constituency.

Nominations should be made on forms available from the GPC at the British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP (email: ) and on the BMA website,

A Nomination Form is attached to this leaflet.

Each nomination form must be signed by the candidate, five proposers and a representative of the LMC who can confirm that the candidate and nominators contribute to the voluntary levy.

Nomination forms and statements in support of candidature should be returned to:Jonathan Longley, Committee services, British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP by no later than5pm onThursday 28 April 2016.

In constituencies where contested elections occur, ballot papers will be issued onThursday 17 May 2016.

COMPLETION OF NOMINATION FORMS

Instructions to candidates

15 of the GPC’s regional constituency seats are up for election this year.A list of these constituencies, specifying the LMCs covered is attached. The election in the Forth Valley, Fife, Lothian and Tayside is to replace the incumbent representative who will step down from their role in June 2016.Therefore the successful candidate will be elected for a two year period from July 2016-June 2018.

At the date of publication of this election pack, a review into optimising the structure and function of the GPC and GPDF is underway. Although it has been agreed that the current three year term will remain, candidates are advised it is possible that terms, constituencies and roles of representatives might be modified within the twoyear term.

  1. To be eligible to stand, vote or nominate another in a constituency, you must be one of the following:
  • a GP engaged exclusively or predominantly in providing personally or performing NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election (17 June 2016) and contributes to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency (please see next page).
  • a GP on the doctors’ retainer scheme and contributing to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency.
  • a medically qualified LMC secretary.
  1. Section 1 of the nomination form should be completed by you.This includes a brief statement of experience which should avoid the use of little known abbreviations or acronyms.
  1. Ask 5 nominators to complete Section 2.
  1. Ask an LMC secretary, chairman or treasurer in the constituency in which you are standing to complete Section 3.This allows them to certify, after checking with any other LMC if necessary, that you and your 5 nominators contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency.
  1. If you are a medically qualified LMC secretary candidate, please ask another officer of your LMC to complete section 3 on your behalf.(Should your nominators contribute to the levy of different LMCs section 3 should be completed by a relevant officer, after checking with those other LMCs that your nominators contribute to the current voluntary levy).
  1. It is your responsibility as the candidate to ensure that all parts of the form are completed legibly.It is important to include contact details in case we have any queries about how the form has been completed.With this in mind, we would recommend that you keep acopy of the completed nomination form.
  1. It is also your responsibility to return the completed nomination form by post or by hand, to the GPC, BMA House by the specified deadline of 5pm onThursday 28 April 2016.Forms received after that time will not be accepted.Faxes are not acceptable.There have been occasions when forms have got lost in the post therefore we advise that you send your form by registered post to avoid disappointment.
  1. You may also submit a 250 word statement in support of your candidature which will be circulated if there is a contested election in your constituency.The word limit will be strictly enforced, and statements of more than 250 words will be truncated.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTION