GPC England's LMC Update: 26 June 2025

emilymcdarby4
1 day ago
5 min read

Dear colleagues

As we await publication of the 10 Year Health Plan, last month saw the release of the NHSE draft model ICB blueprint. This document outlines NHSE’s vision around the future functions of ICBs, their role in supporting the neighbourhood health service and the three shifts: treatment to prevention, hospital to community and analogue to digital.

Although still draft, the proposals provide both challenges and opportunities for General Practice, cross cutting multiple organisational layers. In response, GPCE has produced guidance summarising the proposed changes and risks, and sets out the impact of these for General Practice. It highlights and discusses key issues that practices and LMCs will need to consider as part of their short to longer term planning.

This is intended as a basis to develop discussions and strategic thinking amongst GPs and LMCs ahead of the publication of the 10 Year Health Plan. General Practice faces a critical choice. Step up and lead the transformation: forming collaboratives, taking on contracts, building the infrastructure –or risk being sidelined with hospitals or community trusts becoming the default neighbourhood health provider.

If we cannot engage, our future, and that of General Practice as a profession may be defined by others.

If you have any thoughts on the issues raised, please contact info.gpc@bma.org.uk

Carr-Hill formula reforms

The Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced yesterday that the 10 Year Health Plan will have a focus on health inequalities, through a review of the Carr-Hill formula funding for GP practices.

In response to this, the GP Committee England chair Dr Katie Bramall said:

“It is crucial that those who need care the most get it, but not at the risk of creating more disparities by simply moving around resources to plug the existing shortfalls in care. This is why need a minimum investment standard for general practice within the upcoming Ten-Year Plan. The funding and timeline of such reforms is crucial as rushing this could lead to more practice closures and have unintended consequences on patient access and continuity of care. Any change must account for differences in patient demographics, including deprivation, without practices losing out.

The BMA has long called for reform of the Carr-Hill funding formula and will work alongside the Government to ensure that any future changes provide fair and full remuneration that recognises GP workload and current pressures on the profession. We also to see focus on change that protects and builds neighbourhoods, with a focus on recruiting and retaining new doctors using incentive schemes, prioritising under-doctored areas.”

ARM 2025

This week the BMA ARM (annual representative meeting) took place. Hosted in Liverpool and online, over 550 colleagues gathered to debate the issues affecting our profession, and set BMA policy for the future. Read the GPs committee's report to ARM >

National Insurance hike fuelling crisis in general practice

Following years of underinvestment and rising patient demand, delegates voted for the BMA to lobby the Government for an immediate exemption from the rise in employers’ NI contributions, and for reimbursement. Read more

Updated FAQs – online consultation contract requirements

Following further discussions with suppliers, NHSE and the profession, GPC England has updated its FAQs on online consultations ahead of the implementation of contractual requirements in October. We expect to update these FAQs again in August to reflect ongoing discussions.

GP Premises Survey 2025

We’re calling on all practice managers and premises-owning partners across England to take part in our GP Premises Survey 2025, to help us gather essential data on the condition of GP buildings. This evidence will directly shape our proposals and negotiations with Government – supporting our case for the urgent investment and backing your practice needs.

If you're unsure about some details, simply select 'don't know' where needed – every response, even partial ones, contributes to building a clearer national picture.

Help us advocate for better premises and stronger support for general practice - take the survey

MP FOI request template

Further to a member receiving an FOI request from an MP to their practice we have put together a template response, which may be of use to those receiving these types of requests.

Please see attached the template which leaves space for you to reply to the individual FOI request as usual, but then provides background to the pressures GPs are currently facing, and calls on the MP to support GPs.

UEMO General Assembly

The BMA delegation attended the spring general assembly of the European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO) on 6 and 7 June. During the meeting Dr Peter Holden, who is Vice-President of UEMO, and the BMA Head of Delegation, led an important discussion on recognising general practice as a speciality on a European wide level. As a result, delegates agreed in principle a shared statement with UEMO to go to both the European Parliament and European Commission calling for this change to be made. This statement will be ratified at the next general assembly in the autumn.

Visa challenges for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

The BMA’s GP Registrars Committee and the RCGP Registrar reps are conducting a survey to raise awareness of the lack of employment opportunities for GPs getting their CCTs, and to push for better visa options and earlier access to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), with the Government. Please share with all practice trainees.

Please complete the survey by 18 July 2025 (responses are confidential and anonymised).

Blended learning survey for GP registrars and trainers

If you are a GP registrar or GP trainer in England and have direct experience of blended learning as part of GP training, we’d like to hear your views. The short survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

GP wellbeing resources

A range of wellbeing and support services are available to doctors, and we encourage anybody who is feeling under strain to seek support, such as the BMA’s counselling and peer support services, NHS practitioner health service and non-medical support services such as Samaritans. The organisation Doctors in Distress also provides mental health support for health workers in the UK. We have produced a poster with 10 top tips to help support the wellbeing of you and your colleagues.

The Cameron Fund supports GPs and their families in times of financial need, whether through ill-health, disability, bereavement, relationship breakdown or loss of employment. The RCGP also has information on GP wellbeing support.

Please visit the BMA’s wellbeing support services page or call 0330 123 1245 for wellbeing support.