CQRS and Retired QOF Indicators, Updated Position
NHS England have apologised for the error which resulted in the HSCIC statement that “it is a requirement for general practices to ensure they continue to provide the services linked to these indicators”. All parties have agreed that this is incorrect and not in accordance with the agreement negotiated between GPC and NHS Employers. HSCIC have now replaced the statement with “Practices continue to undertake the work and code activity related to retired indicators as clinically appropriate. This data extraction will help inform commissioners and provide statistical information but is not intended for performance management purposes”. The HSCIC documents have been republished. The GPC is also writing to the CQC to alert it to this issue and to seek assurance that it will not use redundant QOF indicators to judge the performance of practices as the level of coding will now be so variable. Our advice remains unchanged; this extraction is not mandatory and it is for you decide how you respond to the request, as well as whether you continue to focus on achieving these targets and how you record the clinical results and what codes, if any, you use. These QOF targets are no longer part of the contract or linked to any funding under the contract.  Whatever decision you make with regard to this extraction, your payments under the contract will not be affected.

Workforce Minimum Data Set Request from NHS England, updates position
We advise practices to await further guidance before proceeding with the preparation of the data and GPC will issue further information as soon as possible. GPC has contacted the Department of Health (who has directed the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) to undertake this collection) to take up practice concerns with regard to the level of information requested and will be meeting urgently with both organisations to discuss the actions being taken to address the issues raised. GPC are also contacting the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to help clarify the legal position for practices in respect of the Data Protection Act (DPA).

Managing Workload to Deliver Safe Patient Care, GPC Guidance
The BMA’s GP committee has launched new guidance, Managing Workload to Deliver Safe Patient Care, which gives GP practices practical guidance (including template letters to assist in declining inappropriate requests) and measures to work within manageable limits to deliver safe quality care. The aim is to help GP practices cope with the escalating workload which is leaving many practices struggling to provide adequate time for patients. This comes as NHS England has launched a major new project to reduce workload in general practice. In order for GPs to be able to concentrate on delivering patient care, it also calls on local CCGs and NHS managers to stop inappropriate workload demands on GP practices, as well as providing the support they need to deliver essential services. The GPC chair is writing to CCGs highlighting this new guidance and asking them to make “GP service pressure” a standing item on all future CCG board meetings.

The guidance includes advice on:

• Stemming inappropriate workload that prevent GP practices from delivering core services to patients;
• Challenging misguided bureaucracy and reducing its burden on GPs and practice staff;
• Making the most of new ways of working, including practices working together, and implementing new developments in IT;
• Fighting for adequate resources for clinical work and re-examining which additional or enhanced services practices can provide;
• Working in partnership with patients to empower them to better manage their care.

Doctor in Training, GPC Contract Negotiations
Following the BMA’s decision to stall negotiations on both the consultant and doctor in training contracts in October, the government instructed the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) to compile evidence and offer recommendations on the areas of disagreement.

The BMA, alongside the other relevant parties including NHS Employers, the Department of Health and others, submitted evidence to the DDRB in December. The GPC’s GP Trainees Subcommittee contributed to the BMA submission in relation to GP trainee terms and conditions. Further information about the stalling of the negotiations and the full BMA evidence submission can be read on the BMA website. Evidence from all parties has now been shared by the DDRB and each organisation will be given the opportunity to comment later this month. The DDRB also expects to send supplementary questions in due course. An oral evidence session will be arranged for March before the DDRB publishes its recommendations to the government in July 2015.

GP Health
GPs are reminded that GP Health is a free, confidential health and wellbeing service open to all GPs working within a practice within Tees. The service offers supporting a number of areas including psychological, counselling, mentoring and psychiatric help. It is hoped that access to this service will assist individual GPs to remain within general practice and, in turn, will assist with GP retention within Tees. Further details area available via the GP Health website.  Owing to the increased demand for CBT, GP Health has recruited Christine Campy to assist in this area. Christine is a lecturer in CBT at Teesside University and has a masters degree in CBT. You can contact Christine for support by email to Christine.campy@hotmail.co.uk.