LIVERPOOL LMC - Liverpool Local Medical Committee

LIVERPOOLLMCMARCH 2006b1 Greenbank Road ! Liverpool ! L18 1HGTelephone: 0151 522 1122Fax: 0151 522 1125Chairman: Dr S Sarker Secretary: Dr R N BarnettVice-Chairman: Dr A Taylor Treasurer: Dr H McKendricke-mail: rob.barnett@liverpool-lmc.org.ukweb site: www.liverpool-lmc.org.uk

Patients Presenting With Dental ProblemsCirculated with the newsletter is a GPC Guidance Document entitled "Patients Presenting With Dental Problems- GP Responsibilities". In view of the change to the dental contract, the LMC is currently in discussion with thelocal dental committee with a view to issuing a statement that could be displayed in GP surgeries as well asdental practices, giving information to patients on what to do when they have dental problems. There is concernthat the change in the dental contract may result in patients with dental problems attending their GPinappropriately. Colleagues are reminded that it could be medico-legally indefensible for a GP to providetreatment for a dental problem.Background MusicColleagues are respectfully reminded that if background music is being played in a waiting room, or staff room,or music is played on the telephone whilst a caller is on hold, a licence will probably be required. This could beenforceable by law. The fact that it is a doctor's surgery does not exempt one from requiring a licence. If thesupplier of the equipment, eg for example a telephone company has not provided the practice with details ofthe licence, then the practice should ensure that the premises are covered.Practices may either require a PPL licence or PRS licence or both, depending on the source of the music.Further information is available from the LMC office.Rapid Access TIA Clinic At Royal Liverpool University HospitalColleagues are reminded that there is a one stop rapid access TIA clinic held at the Royal Liverpool UniversityHospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Practices should already have been sent a rapid access referral form.Lithium Levels & QOFThe LMC continues to be contacted by practices regarding the acceptable therapeutic levels for lithium. As thelocal laboratories use different reference ranges compared to the blue book, provided a patient's lithium levelsare within the local therapeutic range, it is acceptable to use Read Code 44W80.Sick NotesA poster has recently been sent to hospital trusts remindingpatients that when they attend a hospital out patient appointment,it may be appropriate for them to ask for a sick note rather thanhave to attend a GP practice. A copy of the poster is beingcirculated to each practice with this newsletter as well.Changes To GMS ContractDocuments Circulated WithThis Newsletter:* GPC Guidance Document - "PatientsPresenting With Dental Problems - GPResponsibilities".* GPC Guidance Document - "ReferralManagement - Frequently AskedQuestions".Colleagues will be aware that there will be some alterations to theGMS contract. These will become effective in April 2006.Circulated with the newsletter are GMC focus documents on theQuality & Outcomes Framework and Practice BasedCommissioning. There will be an Open LMC meeting on 13 March2006, (details of which have already been faxed to practices) todiscuss the changes to QOF and the new Directed EnhancedServices.* "Focus On Towards Practice BasedCommissioning Directed Enhanced Service(England Only)".* "Focus On The Quality And OutcomesFramework 2006 - W hat has Changed".* GP Registrar e-Bulletin - Jan 2006.* Poster - "Do You Need A Sick Note ForW ork?".GPC RepresentationDr R N Barnett was recently re-elected as Regional Representative on the General Practitioners Committee ofthe BMA For the period 2006 - 2009.

Drug Company SponsorshipColleagues are advised to think carefully before accepting 'free' sponsorship for projects undertaken in GPpractices. The Department of Health encourages the NHS to work in partnership with private industry, howeverhelp should only be accepted if it is going to be of benefit to patients. Also, it is important to appreciate issuesaround patient confidentiality and professional responsibility when allowing non-NHS organisations to work inpractices. If colleagues are approached with offers of sponsorship, it is important not to be pressurised intoaccepting. It may also be sensible to discuss the matter with a senior member of the Medicines ManagementTeam. The LMC has been advised by the PCTs that no projects offered by the pharmaceutical industry havebeen approved by the PCTs, and any such projects that come to the attention of the PCTs will be assessed bythe Medicines Management Team. The results of the process will be made known to all practices.GPs who are employed by the PCTs are reminded that they must abide by the PCTs' policy on CommercialSponsorship; independent contractors should be aware of the policy.Finally, colleagues are respectfully reminded that hospitality for meetings should be secondary to the purposesof the meeting and should be modest and in line with what the NHS would provide.Treating Infertility On The NHSFrom 1 April 2006, there will be new treatment guidelines for managing infertility in Liverpool and the surroundingarea. Practices will be fully briefed on the matter, however, colleagues might be interested in knowing that thenew guidelines will only allow for NHS treatment for couples for whom there are no children either from theircurrent or any previous relationships. Couples who have adopted children will also be ineligible for NHStreatment. In addition, for treatment to be available, treatment has to begin before the patient's 40th birthday.GP Urgent AdmissionsColleagues will be aware that there have been problems with the Ambulance Service in transporting patientsto hospital. The protocol in which patients would be transferred within one or two hours from the time of the GPrequest has failed to work for a number of years. Following a small pilot undertaken by Mersey RegionalAmbulance Service, a new "High Dependency Service" is being introduced to handle GP urgent admissions.This service will ensure that someone arrives at the patient's home within a predetermined time and will thenensure that the patient is transported to hospital within an agreed time. In some situations there will be multioccupancy of the ambulance, but this will be determined by the condition of the patient and the nature of theillness. Further information about this change in service will be circulated in due course.LMC ELECTIONS 2006 - 2010Colleagues will be aware that nominations were sought for membership to the LMC. As the number of principalvacancies equalled the number of nominations received by the Returning Officer, an election was not necessary.There is still a 2-year vacancy for a non-principal. Listed below is the membership of Liverpool LMC from April 2006:Serving until March 2008Serving until March 2010Dr R N BarnettDr B DasDr M F DuffyDr M GabbayDr S L GhoseDr A KukaswadiaDr H McKendrickDr T K RastogiDr S RoseDr S SarkerDr B SchmidtDr B K SinhaDr P Spofforth(Non-principal vacancy)Dr J BirchDr M BurnsDr E Gaynor*Dr M Goddard*Dr J C GrahamDr S A Hamad*Dr V W HoDr C Kempfen*Dr D W Reade*Dr C Sendegeya*Dr S P SharmaDr S B P SinghDr A S TaylorDr K VithlaniDr S Goyal(Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner)* denotes new members ofthe Committee