GPC England's LMC Update: 22 August 2025
- emilymcdarby4
- Aug 26
- 8 min read
Dear colleagues
Following the GPC England meeting in July, we wrote to Stephen Kinnock MP, to set out the conditions that must be met by the time GPCE next meets on 18 September, to avoid the possibility of a future return to dispute.
Last week, the Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, wrote to all GPs highlighting his commitment to the GP contract partnership model and GMS contract negotiations. While it is good to get dates for talks about the GP contract in the diary, the key asks from GPC England have as yet gone unanswered. The Government must listen to the genuine concerns of GPs if it has any hope of the new 10-Year Plan succeeding in meeting the three national objectives. GPs can support those objectives while also pointing to where the plan fails in its described implementation.
There is a growing consensus across the profession that the current trajectory of the NHS in England threatens the survival of the independent contractor model and, with it, the trusted family-doctor relationship our patients rely on and want to protect. GPC England is fully committed to support and enhance the independent contractor model of general practice. The Government now has an opportunity to provide the necessary assurances to the profession and GPC England is preparing for all possible outcomes in readiness for its meeting in September and what lays ahead of us.
As ever thank you for all you are doing in challenging circumstances, and we will continue to work hard on your behalf to get the best possible outcomes for you and your colleagues working in NHS general practice.
NHS England update to practices
NHSE wrote to general practice and local systems this week regarding contractual changes from October 1st.
The Joint GP IT Committee of the BMA and RCGP will meet on 3 September and be able to take a view as to whether the changes made to the GP Connect Update Record functionality are sufficient to meet the required safeguards sought by the profession, and GPC England will take their advice. GPC England will be meeting on 18 September and updated guidance will be published around that point, on both GP Connect Update Record (not currently contractual) and also regarding online consults being kept switched on throughout core hours for non-urgent (routine) consultation requests, depending on the outcomes from the committee.
Many practices have escalated concerns to their LMCs and to GPC and the BMA regarding this week’s letter. Specific concerns have been voiced regarding the You & Your GP Practice document, citing “The practice team will consider your request for an appointment or medical advice and tell you within one working day what will happen next.”
NHSE have clarified that the ‘within one working day’ is the automated SMS/email which is sent by our systems acknowledging receipt of the patient’s query, and is not an expectation of clinical judgement. We have asked for this wording to be amended. The expectations on response times have not changed from the existing expectations, as set out in the regulations which were imposed on the profession under the previous government, and which have been in place since April 2023. Likewise with regards to opening hours of practices, subcontracting arrangements to cover practice education, or arrangements with local OOH organisations will remain and there is no change.
In this unprecedented crisis, GPs are facing a painful paradox: patients are crying out for appointments, while many GPs are overwhelmed and practices are struggling to find enough funding and resources to match patient demand. To support you through this, we’ve launched the GP Support Hub - a dedicated space to help you navigate the challenges of underemployment, unemployment and financial uncertainty. Whether you're overstretched or struggling to find work, we’re here for you.
We have also raised this with the Secretary of State and have written to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State at DHSC urging him to meet with us to address this growing problem.
GPs in ARRS: have your say
We want to hear from you! The BMA is undertaking a review of the ARRS (Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme), with a focus on the amendment allowing GPs to be hired under the scheme.
There are two different surveys:
(1) One for GPs who are currently or have previously been employed under the ARRS – we want to hear about your experience of the role: take the survey here
(2) One for contractors, regardless of whether you’ve used the Scheme – your views on its impact, effectiveness, and implementation: take the survey here
We really want to understand your experience, so we can tell NHS England and the Government what is and isn't working well, as we work to push for better terms and conditions for GPs.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey that applies to you.
10 Year Health Plan – BMA Analysis and SRM
Ahead of the BMA’s upcoming SRM on Sunday 14 September, the BMA has published its comprehensive analysis of the UK Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and its potential implications for doctors in England. This includes an emphasis on the particular challenges facing general practice – including the risks posed to the partnership model by the proposed introduction of IHOs (Integrated Health Organisations) and a new Neighbourhood Health Service.
National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme - request for applications
The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme deadline for applications for the first wave closed earlier this month. inviting applications to join the first wave of the programme. GPCE produced a brief ‘focus on’ document outlining the programme, the threats and opportunities involved and a checklist of key questions and issues for practices and those thinking of signing up. The process occurred under tight timelines, and GPCE is collecting examples of applications and would be grateful if these could be emailed to info.gpc@bma.org.uk
Rabies vaccination - an update
The previous LMC update set out NHS England’s position with regards to the contractual requirements for post-exposure rabies vaccination.
We are seeking to challenge this interpretation on the basis that post rabies exposure vaccination is not listed within the SFE (statement of financial entitlements) and therefore does not translate into a vaccination included within the 2021 contract changes
Medical Performers List
Your GPCE officers have met with NHS England to discuss issues with the Medical Performers List. As a result, advice has gone out to all heads of professional standards to explain that careful consideration of the nature of (as well as the contractual arrangements for) the care being delivered by a GP is required before any proposed removal from the Performers List. NHS England were also clear that it is their role to remove practitioners from the list, and not for GPs to remove themselves, or initiate this process. Read our full letter to affected members.
Tirzepatide
NHS commissioning of Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for obesity management remains restricted to those meeting the NHS England eligibility criteria, i.e. patients with a BMI of 40 or above and four or more qualifying comorbidities, as outlined in NHSE’s interim national commissioning guidance.
Individuals who have previously accessed Tirzepatide via private clinics can only continue treatment under the NHS if they meet eligibility requirements upon assessment by an ICB–commissioned weight management service. If these criteria are not met, patients should be advised of this. GP may want to reassure such patients that stopping Tirzepatide (when used for weight loss) is not associated with withdrawal symptoms and encourage ongoing healthy lifestyle measures to manage weight loss.
Any person presenting to an NHS service with questions about their private Tirzepatide prescription, including stopping or tapering off the drug, should be directed to speak with their private provider.
For practical advice for primary care settings, including a template letter to private providers, please visit our Focus on guidance: Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
NHS.net e-mail addresses for newly qualified GPs
GPs who have recently qualified may wish to move their account to the locum container within NHSmail (soon to be renamed NHS.net Connect). This is in order to maintain their NHS e-mail address along with access to Microsoft's Apps for Enterprise if they no longer have an employing organisation and will be undertaking locum work in the near term. Read here for advice on how to do this.
OpenSAFELY data provision notice
Practices using EMIS Web (Optum) and SystmOne (TPP) should continue to accept the DPN (data provision notice) for OpenSAFELY to allow expansion to non-COVID-19 analyses now that it has been sent.
OpenSAFELY has the full support of GPC England and the Joint GP IT Committee and, as NHS England becomes the data controller of the outputs of queried data, any data protection risks are held by NHS England. It is a legal requirement for practices to accept the DPN. Data will only be made available under the legal direction once the practice has signalled approval.
Primary care doctor guidance
GPCE has published guidance for Government, employers and practices relating to doctors working in general practice who are not qualified GPs and are not on the GP training scheme. This outlines recommendations for the role and the extent of the care they can provide in general practice settings. This is also available on the Guidance for GP practiceswebpage (‘Advice for employers’).
Focus on managing patient care safely post 1 October 2025
As part of the GMS contract changes 25/26, from 1 October 2025 practices are contractually required to ensure that patients can access services via online consultation software, during core hours (8am–6.30pm). We advise practices to review their workflow and triaging arrangements, to continue to manage patient care safely. All GP practices should prioritise safe working, ensuring patients receive care in an environment in which clinical colleagues can safely work.Read our focus on managing patient care safely.
England LMC conference 2025 - deadlines
The England LMC conference will be held on 7 November at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.Motions must be submitted electronically through the BMA website by noon Monday 8 September, instructions for which can be found in appendix 3 of the email sent out on 15 July. Registration deadline - noon - Wednesday 1 October 2025 - LMCs are asked to ensure that their LMC representatives and observers are registered correctly via this link. It is the LMC's responsibility to ensure that their representatives and observers are registered before the deadline.
If you have any queries regarding this conference, please email info.lmcconference@bma.org.uk
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 and the RCGP also has information on GP wellbeing support.
Visit the BMA’s wellbeing support services page or call 0330 123 1245 for wellbeing support.
- Read more about the work of GPC England and practical guidance for GP practices
- See the latest update on X @BMA_GP and read about BMA in the media
Read the GPCE bulletin:
Dr David Wrigley
GPC England deputy chair
Email: dwrigley@bma.org.uk
Email: info.lmcqueries@bma.org.uk (for LMC queries)
Email: info.gpc@bma.org.uk (for GPs and practices)
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