Welcome to Worcestershire LMC's January news briefing .
As you will all be aware 2024 was a year of change for the LMC, with a review of all our systems resulting in the introduction of our new structure. We have worked as a Board with the committee to deliver a new structure for Worcestershire LMC Limited and a new constitution for Worcestershire LMC. This has resulted in a LMC with strong governance, financial stability and a structure that enables us to work effectively within the system to ensure that we can offer a service provision that will support GPs and their practices in the areas that are important to them.
Please take the opportunity to visit our 'Meet the team' website page. We encourage you to contact either Tracey at the LMC office or any other member of your local LMC constituency team should you wish to raise a concern or discuss anything with us.
2024 has flown by and we have promises of a new 10-year plan for the NHS to be launched in Spring 2025. After the Darzi review gave a bleak picture of the current state of the NHS, hopes are pinned on the 10-year plan. We know from what we have heard so far that the focus will be to shift services from hospital to community, a focus on digital technology and wellness. Integrated care boards (ICBs) have already been asked to focus on neighbourhood health, with NHS England taking on their performance management.
However, the elephant in the room is still the lack of any confirmation of the funding of such change. The infrastructure will be required to deliver neighbourhood health and primary care estates are already under pressure.
We also need an urgent review and uplift in the core funding for general medical practice. With the additional burden of NIC payments and the uncertainty of funding going forward, we need to create the real possibility of an uplift to the core contract. To do this we need to make a stand and support each other and the profession with the current collective action.
There is no doubt that 2025 will be a challenging year and a year of significant change.
Please be assured that the LMC will be here to help you, supporting all our practices throughout the year ahead.
Tracey Summers
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