Flu Vaccines • Items for the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Dawn Molenkamp at Victoria Beacon Place, Room B313, Station Approach, Victoria, Roche, St Austell, PL26 8LG Tel :01726 210141 • e-mail [email protected]Your Chairman writes Sessional GP Newsletter 2 General; Data Protection Regulation 3 Medical Performance Advisory Group. NHS Property Services Update. Verification of death policy Cornwall Health 4 111 and OOH new Service Hep B vaccine supplies New PGDs 5 Improving access for all. BMA guidance—training Cornwall 111 6 Events 7 Vacancies 8-12 Dr Basil Bile 13 Inside this issue: Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LMC Newsletter No. 311 August 2017 The LMC Buying Group are just in the middle of our annual round of negotiations with flu vaccine suppliers to get the best discounts we can and deliver best profit per dose to practices (letter to come out in next month/two months to confirm our preferred suppliers for 2018). They have been round the table with three of the flu vaccine suppliers and we asked this very question of why it isn’t a level playing field regards delivery of vaccines. They were told that the pharmacies often get deliveries earlier because the suppliers want to shift their single dose packs first before the big packs of multiple vaccines and many practices do not want these (due to lack of fridge space). So, if a practice is happy to receive some/all of their flu vaccines in single packs, they can and just need to ask their flu supplier to do this and therefore get an earlier date. This is the response they were given by Pfizer so it’d be helpful for practices happy to take the single doses earlier to let us know if they encounter any problems. Deadline for the September issue is 29th September 2017 Indemnity “Indemnity fees are kill- ing our profession” Please sign at the bottom of the article which is to be passed to Jeremy Hunt.
Transcript
Flu Vaccines
• Items for the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Dawn Molenkamp at Victoria Beacon Place, Room B313, Station Approach, Victoria, Roche, St Austell, PL26 8LG Tel :01726 210141
Medical Performance Advisory Group. NHS Property Services Update. Verification of death policy Cornwall Health
4
111 and OOH new Service Hep B vaccine supplies New PGDs
5
Improving access for all. BMA guidance—training Cornwall 111
6
Events 7
Vacancies 8-12
Dr Basil Bile 13
Inside this issue:
Co
rn
wa
ll &
Is
les
of
Sc
illy
L
MC
Ne
ws
lett
er
No. 311
August 2017
The LMC Buying Group are just in the middle of our annual round of negotiations with flu vaccine suppliers to get the best discounts we can and deliver best profit per dose to practices (letter to come out in next month/two months to confirm our preferred suppliers for 2018).
They have been round the table with three of the flu vaccine suppliers and we asked this very question of why it isn’t a level playing field regards delivery of vaccines. They were told that the pharmacies often get deliveries earlier because the suppliers want to shift their single dose packs first before the big packs of multiple vaccines and many practices do not want these (due to lack of fridge space). So, if a practice is happy to receive some/all of their flu vaccines in single packs, they can and just need to ask their flu supplier to do this and therefore get an earlier date. This is the response they were given by Pfizer so it’d be helpful for practices happy to take the single doses earlier to let us know if they encounter any problems.
Deadline for the September issue is 29th September 2017
Indemnity
“Indemnity fees are kill-ing our profession”
Please sign at the bottom of the article which is to be passed to Jeremy Hunt.
The summer has seen no let up in the rounds of meeting which we, as your representatives, attend. Most of these have a routine feel to them with information and views being exchanged. Some are about building relationships and some are about saving them. We review ideas both local and national, some sensible and some completely barking. We hope either that we keep the worst of these away from ever entering the General Practice consciousness and try and fine tune the others that are either worth preserving or are coming our way no matter what we do or say. Recently I have been engaged with discussions at CCG level about the contracts held by the CCG with secondary care providers. New national contracts were introduced earlier this year and we have been looking at ways of evidencing whether or not providers are keeping to agreed parameters. This is not as easy as you might think. It’s fair to say that most of us are battle weary of trying to knock back ‘GP to do lists’ and “please make sure that’ commands that we do not list many of the very frequent transgressions. Indeed, the sum total of the CCGs three months of evidence would not fill a week of that from my practice if I were to collate it properly. So it was back to the drawing board for the evidence gathering and a redou-bling of efforts to hold providers to account. Phew, I hear you say, at least the LMC as got our backs (I hope you think that) - providers have had nearly six months to sort this out. Exactly, how hard can that be ? How disappointing therefore to find that although practices have had since 2004 to get used to their con-tracted hours and responsibilities that some still don’t seem to understand them. Our core hours are 0800-1830. We MUST be available during those times. That means having a process whereby your phone is answered at 0800 hrs either by the practice or by an intermediary, not 111. It also means that work that flows into the practice during core hours must be dealt with EVEN if this means doing a visit after 1830 or seeing a patient after 1830. It does not mean telling someone to phone back after 1830 for the OOH ser-vice. This sort of practice undermines all of us, increases pressure on the OOH service (which we as GPs own) and is actually a breach of contract. It makes our job at the LMC very difficult when we are faced with evidence of this sort of behaviour. We cannot defend practices who do such things and it makes our job very difficult at the top level trying to bring providers to account. Reasonably they ask for a quid pro quo, so please don’t do it. if you are struggling for whatever reason, please let us know so we can help.
Page 2
Your Chairman writes ……..
Sessional GP Newsletter
Here is the link for this month’s newsletter from the Sessional GP Subcommittee - click here .
The GDPR will apply in the UK from 25 May 2018. The government has confirmed that the UK’s decision to leave the EU will not affect the commencement of the GDPR.
The GDPR applies to ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’. The definitions are broadly the same as under the DPA – ie the controller says how and why personal data is processed and the processor acts on the controller’s behalf. If you are currently subject to the DPA, it is likely that you will also be subject to the GDPR. If you are a proces-sor, the GDPR places specific legal obligations on you; for example, you are required to maintain records of personal data and processing activities. You will have significantly more legal liability if you are responsible for a breach. These obligations for processors are a new requirement under the GDPR. However, if you are a con-troller, you are not relieved of your obligations where a processor is involved – the GDPR places further obliga-tions on you to ensure your contracts with processors comply with the GDPR.
The GDPR applies to processing carried out by organisations operating within the EU. It also applies to organi-sations outside the EU that offer goods or services to individuals in the EU.
The GDPR does not apply to certain activities including processing covered by the Law Enforcement Di-rective, processing for national security purposes and processing carried out by individuals purely for personal/household activities.
Personal data
Like the DPA, the GDPR applies to ‘personal data’. However, the GDPR’s definition is more detailed and makes it clear that information such as an online identifier – eg an IP address – can be personal data. The more expansive definition provides for a wide range of personal identifiers to constitute personal data, reflect-ing changes in technology and the way organisations collect information about people.
For most organisations, keeping HR records, customer lists, or contact details etc, the change to the definition should make little practical difference. You can assume that if you hold information that falls within the scope of the DPA, it will also fall within the scope of the GDPR.
The GDPR applies to both automated personal data and to manual filing systems where personal data are ac-cessible according to specific criteria. This is wider than the DPA’s definition and could include chronologically ordered sets of manual records containing personal data.
Personal data that has been pseudonymised – e.g. key-coded – can fall within the scope of the GDPR depend-ing on how difficult it is to attribute the pseudonym to a particular individual.
Sensitive personal data
The GDPR refers to sensitive personal data as “special categories of personal data” (see Article 9). These cat-egories are broadly the same as those in the DPA, but there are some minor changes.
For example, the special categories specifically include genetic data, and biometric data where processed to uniquely identify an individual.
Personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences are not included, but similar extra safeguards apply to its processing (see Article 10).
As yet there is very little detail and as more is published we will include it in the newsletters and nearer the im-plementation date we will be holding workshops for practice data controllers.
For further information please see the ICO website.
This statutory committee of NHS E meets to review performance issues across the GP spectrum in the South West. It has a broad membership and an equally broad remit. You will have received emails from it in the past. From time to time we identify important themes that need disseminating and I take it upon my-self to highlight two recent issues.
Addisonian crisis: remember the possibility and impending threat in any patient taking steroids, including high dose inhaled. Ensure compliance with oral medication, give patient/carer advice and information. All patients on steroids taken at a level that could result in Addison's should be considered for a 'special pa-tient note' for OOH.
If you were not aware, it is your responsibility to inform NHSE of any criminal convictions or GMC warn-
ings or restrictions.
Page 4
Medical Performance Advisory Group.
Verification of death policy –Cornwall Health
Cornwall Health has introduced a new verification of death policy on 1st August 2017 following discus-sions with NHS Kernow and CPFT.
From now on Cornwall Health clinicians will no longer visit patients in nursing homes or community hospi-tals to verify either expected or unexpected deaths. In these circumstances nursing staff will be expected to verify death and in the case of unexpected deaths contact the coroner.
Cornwall Health clinicians will continue to visit patients at home or in residential homes to verify death.
This new policy has been developed in conjunction with NHS Kernow and CPFT have made alterations to their policy on verification of death to reflect the Cornwall Health policy. Nursing homes have been ad-vised of the new policy and their responsibility to ensure their staff are trained appropriately.
Dean Marshall
Medical Director
Cornwall Health
NHS Property Services Update
Attached to this newsletter is an update for all practices in NHS Property Services premises from Dr Ian Hume GPC.
Last year Kernow Health asked practices to vote on whether they would support bidding for the brand new Integrated Urgent Care Service for Cornwall that brings together 111 and OOH. Practices told us that what happens out of hours affects in-hours and with extended access on the horizon, plus inevitable changes to MIUs, you wanted General Practice locally to be in control of the new service. We bid successfully for the service and it will launch on the 1st December under the brand name ‘Cornwall 111’. Many of you will already work in the service and we will not impose major change. KH CIC want to make the service a great place to work; a place where GPs feel supported, with roles that are rewarding and where you are remunerated properly. Kernow Health will very shortly open their rota for booking so that people can commit to working the shifts that they want to work in December, over Christmas and the New Year, and in the first quarter of 2018. This is our service and we need to make it work. GPs will still be contacted by the Devon Doctors rota team over the next few weeks as they have a re-sponsibility to fill the shifts up to 1st December. Any commitments to shifts beyond this date should be made to Kernow Health and our new service.
111 and Out of Hours new service from 1st December 2017
CORNWALL & ISLES O F SCILLY LMC NEWS LETTE R Page 5
New PGDs authorised for practices in the South West
Your team can now download new PGDs that have been authorised for the vaccination of patients regis-tered with practices in the South West of England.
These PGDs are authorised from national templates from Public Health England, are valid for use from September onwards and include:
For the introduction of hexavalent vaccine
DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB v01.00
DTaP/IPV/Hib Booster v01.00
For the seasonal influenza vaccination programme
LAIV PGD v05.00
IM Influenza PGD v03.00
ID Influenza v03.00
Hepatitis B vaccine supplies
Please see the Public Health England’s letter attached to this newsletter concerning arrangements for pa-tients (excluding neonates) who need Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Ensuring everyone can access services on an equal footing is a key priority for the NHS. One of the seven core requirements for implementing improved access, as set out in the NHS Operational Planning and Con-tracting Guidance 2017-19, is to address issues of inequalities in patients’ experience of accessing general practice, identified by local evidence, and put actions in place to resolve this.
To support commissioners and providers of general practice services to address this, NHS England has pro-duced a practical resource – Improving Access for All: reducing inequalities in access to general practice ser-vices - which aims to promote understanding of groups in the community who are experiencing barriers in ac-cessing services and help to address those barriers as improvements in access to general practice services are implemented.
The resource is intended to provide:
• a guide to assessing local issues, supporting local equality analyses and providing examples of how barri-ers arise at different points on the patient pathway journey, starting at the point where the patient identifies a health problem through to getting appointments and the experience of attending general practice services;
• practical tips on a wide range of issues related to protected characteristics and other groups who experi-ence barriers to healthcare, for example through homelessness;
quick links to video clips, learning materials for practice staff, case studies, examples of good practice and a wealth of information on NHS England’s website.
Improving access for all: reducing inequalities in access to general practice services
CORNWALL & ISLES O F SCILLY LMC NEWS LETTE R Page 6
BMA guidance - Helping you meet your training obligations
This is mainly aimed at practices in England due to the specific issues they have faced with inappropriate training demands/requests from CCGs and CQC, but it should be of interest to all practices.
The advice can be found here.
Cornwall 111 – ROTA news for our OOH service starting 1st December 2017
About 2 weeks ago Kernow Health CIC emailed details about taking over the new integrated 111 / Out Of Hours Service from 1st December 2017 and how important it was for Cornwall to be in control of these vital services at a time of immense change.
As part of the transfer, we have urgently developed the rota that will initially cover the period 1st December to Monday 2nd April at 0800 hrs; this rota will be broadly the same as it is currently with additional shifts added to meet the predicted demand. Our new rota team are in place and will be working from Cudmore House. The Rota Manager, Michelle Brassington, can be contacted on 01872 221109 or by email [email protected]
If you currently work in OOH in a regular work pattern or pick up shifts ad-hoc, or do not currently work OOH and would like to, can you please contact Michelle as soon as possible to discuss your requirements for the new service. Michelle will be unavailable from 4/9-13/9 due to annual leave, but will respond to your email or
Now completely booked up – we are running a total of 5 sessions and although you may not have heard from me yet as I am waiting to arrange a 5th session, we have been able to accommodate you all but we have now reached the limit. Thank you everybody for your support and glad we have been able to help.
LARC UPDATE – 12th October - Summercourt
I have had numerous requests for updating sessions for the two contraception enhanced services.
In response to this we have arranged to offer both on 12th October 2017 at the Carvynick Country Club near Summercourt (TR8 5AF)
MORNING - IUD provision
AFTERNOON - Implant provision and overview of hormonal methods
Lunch will be provided for those attending both sessions
These are suitable for
Existing fitters needing to refresh and update New fitters who need a knowledge base prior to practical training Clinicians who counsel women regarding their contraceptive choices
Each half day session will provide 3 hours of education suitable for FSRH and local reaccreditation
Further information, programme and an application form can be found on the website www.crescetis.com
We have planned to run the above course as part of our training programme, however for this course to run we need 10 delegates – definite bookings. So far, we have 4 definite delegates.
If you wish to book your staff members on this course please can you complete the booking form and re-turn it to me by 8th September at the latest and I will then let you know if the course if running.
The booking form is attached at the back of the Newsletter.
Salaried GP or GP Partner 4-8 sessions per week Start date flexible
We would like to welcome two enthusiastic, energetic, dynamic, committed and forward thinking GPs into our team. We are a progressive practice providing an extended range of high quality services, working from our inspiring Victorian grade 2 listed premises in this picturesque seaside town.
• 6 partners and 6 salaried GPs, 2 Nurse Practitioners and large nursing team
• Pro-active, supportive & harmonious team with Pharmacist and Clinical Admin Team committed to re-ducing GP workload
• 12,500 patients
• Outstanding CQC Rating
• 100% QOF performance & committed to high quality patient care
• Strong commitment to postgraduate and undergraduate training
• Growing Research Practice
• Extended range of services on site: MIU, minor surgery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, counsellors, shared care substance misuse and anticoagulation monitoring
• Active Patient Participation Group & Friends of Stennack Surgery
• Opportunities for GPs with special interest.
• Spectacular sea views guaranteed with all home visits!
For further information & any queries please contact a member of our Executive Management Team:
Situated in the beautiful Cornish seaside town of Looe, we are a friendly and supportive semi-rural 4 WTE part-ner practice serving circa 9500 patients. With a partner owned harbour side surgery, plus two smaller surgeries nearby (one dispensing), we are looking for a partner to join our team. What we offer • 4-6 sessions a week with 8 weeks holiday, salaried applications also considered. • A high achieving environment 100% QOF and CQC Good • Encouragement in developing your medical interests • Established training practice at all grades • Stability with an average partner age of 43 years • GMS partnership actively engaged with shaping the future of general practice in Cornwall What we need • Commitment, enthusiasm and a team orientated approach • A focus on clinical quality alongside business aptitude • A flexible and positive approach to forthcoming changes in General Practice Contact our Practice Manager, Mark Allen, for more information: [email protected] or 01503 266960 or send your CV and covering letter to Old Bridge Surgery, Station Road, Looe, Cornwall PL13 1HA. www.oldbridgesurgery.co.uk
Partner- Looe, Cornwall
NO. 311 Page 9
CORNWALL – THE FALMOUTH HEALTH CENTRE PRACTICE
Replacement GP Partner or Salaried GP 6-8 sessions
Due to the retirement of our senior partner we are looking to recruit the right individual to complete our team. We are one of the best surgeries in Cornwall; high achieving and forward thinking. We are a suc-cessful and dynamic practice combining the best of the traditional qualities of General Practice with inno-vation and aspiration. Our premises is a spacious purpose built Health Centre and as such there is no capital buy in for new partners.
Falmouth is a vibrant university town and is the winner of the Sunday Times readers vote ’Best Place To Live’ 2017 and also benefits from good access to high quality State and Private Schools.
Maximum QOF attainment
9000 patients
5 GP partners , nurse practitioner, 3 practice nurses , 2 HCAs and 2 phlebotomists
Pharmacy on site and also co-located with community nurses, health visitors, community matron, social services care coordinator, community midwives, podiatry, dental services and out patients.
Protected Doctors meeting time daily and weekly MDT meetings
12 minute routine appointments
CQC Good or outstanding in all domains
Nurse led chronic disease management
Medical student and VTS training practice
Low home visit rate
EMIS Web, EPS, eConsult, paperless
GP interests include minor surgery, cycling, education, surfing, women’s health, horse riding, open water swimming and sexual health!
Want to join our team and find out the secret of combining the achievement of excellent clinical outcomes with a great work/life balance? Send your CV and covering letter to Geoff Dennis, Practice Manger. [email protected] or for more information call Geoff on 01326 310160 or 07921 240856 or visit our web site – www.faldoc.co.uk.
Our partners in the photo above (from left to right): Paul Davoren, Nick Rogers, Vicky Hartnell, Denise Lasbury, Rachael Wilson
NO. 311 Page 10
Partner/Salaried GP Vacancy
Bude, Cornwall
Bude “Best Coastal Resort” Sunniest place in the UK!
Our semi-rural coastal practice has 6 Partners and we are looking for an enthusiastic GP to join our friendly team and can be flexible about sessions and start dates.
Our practice
• GMS high QOF achiever providing excellent medical care with a wide range of LES & DES
• 11,000 patients
• EMIS Web
• Fully supported by nursing, & administrative teams with Nurse led Chronic Disease Management Clinics
• Special interests encouraged, dedicated time for peer-review and clinical work to support revalidation and best practice
• Close working links with BASICS, RNLI, Probus Surgical Centre
• Purpose built rented premises (no buy in)
We are committed to high clinical standards, good patient care and are looking for a forward-thinking GP to proac-tively contribute to the development of the practice.
Please apply with CV and letter to
Miss Kathryn Pengelly, Practice Manager, Stratton Medical Centre, Hospital Road, Stratton, Bude, Cornwall EX23 9BP
Enquiries and informal visits welcome please telephone 01288 352133 or email: [email protected]
Visit our website at www.strattondocs.co.uk
NO. 311 Page 11
If so, we are looking for you to join our enthusiastic and dynamic Trauma & Orthopaedic team at the Roy-al Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. We are aiming to find one or more GPs to complement our team, work-ing up to 3 flexible sessions a week, in our Fracture Clinic. The successful appointees will be offered a period of close training in all aspects of the assessment, diag-nosis and management of orthopaedic trauma. This will incorporate initial shadowing of senior clinicians with a proven background in training and gradual clinical exposure leading to independent, but supervised practice. You will be working alongside orthopaedic consultants and junior doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and plaster technicians in a clinic setting based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Our Fracture Clinics assess over 22,000 patients a year, with a range of upper and lower limb trauma in an adult and paediatric population. This is a consultant led and delivered service; every Fracture Clinic on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site has a minimum of one, but often two, consultants, as well as ortho-paedic trainees. Our trauma service is at the forefront of innovation and surgical research and we will train and supervise you in how we manage simple and complex trauma as well as gaining critical insights into what can be treated without surgery, when surgery is required, as well as seeing and assessing the re-sults of surgery. This will involve the clinical assessment of new and old injuries, the review and interpre-tation of x-rays, and a collaborative role in the decision making process. You would be joining a surgical department supported by a first class radiology service, providing patients with immediate access to digital x-ray and often CT scanning, with ultrasound, MRI and Nuclear Medicine scanning as necessary. The successful candidates will be expected to cover a total of 3 morning sessions per week, with their ex-act schedules being negotiable and mutually agreed. This is a very new initiative and we hope to develop a collaborative and progressive approach to joint working and training in the management of orthopaedic trauma. Our aspiration is to promote ever closer working relations and strengthened links between spe-cialty services and primary care and in the long term we would like to develop closer links and encourage GP trainees to pursue attachments with the long term goal of improving patient experience and orthopae-dic knowledge in both primary and secondary care. Interviews are likely to be in September. If you require further information please contact Mike Butler or Mark Norton on 01872 252580 or email [email protected] or [email protected]
Are you a General Practitioner who is keen to develop a special interest in the management of Orthopaedic Trauma?
NO. 311 Page 12
The Stennack Surgery, St Ives, Cornwall
Experienced Practice Nurse
We are looking for an Experienced Practice Nurse to join our progressive and innovative General Practice and Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) team in the beautiful seaside town of St Ives in Cornwall. We currently have a nursing team of approx. 12 staff including: Healthcare Assistants, Assistant Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Research Nurses and Nurse Practitioners providing the nursing expertise we need both for General Practice and our Minor Injuries Unit. If you have the necessary experience, drive and enthusiasm to become both part of this team as an Experi-enced Practice Nurse we would like to hear from you.
• Qualified Practice Nurse (Essential)
• 2 years minimum working as Practice Nurse in General Practice (Essential)
• Treatment Room Skills (Essential)
• Evidence of further study/training in at least one of these Chronic Diseases: Diabetes, Asthma/COPD or Car-diovascular Disease (Essential)
• Cervical Screening Training (Desirable)
• Childhood Immunisation Training (Desirable)
• Aptitude to work towards Clinical Team Lead/Nurse Manager (Desirable)
• Up to 37.5 hours per week (Applications for part-time hours welcome)
6 partners and 6 salaried GPs, 2 Nurse Practitioners and large nursing team
Pro-active, supportive & harmonious team with Pharmacist and Clinical Admin Team
12,500 patients
Outstanding CQC Rating
100% QOF performance & committed to high quality patient care
Strong commitment to postgraduate and undergraduate training
Growing Research Practice
Extended range of services on site: MIU, minor surgery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, counsellors, shared care sub-stance misuse and anticoagulation monitoring
FOWEY RIVER PRACTICE - CORNWALL
PRACTICE/RESEARCH NURSE
An opportunity has arisen for a motivated Practice/Research Nurse to join our patient centred friendly team.
We are a four Partner, semi-rural, three site GMS Practice with nearly 8,000 patients. We provide high quality, tradi-tional patient centred care, in a beautiful part of Cornwall.
Practice nurse ideally for a minimum of 2 days a week (previous practice nursing skills advantageous) Asth-ma/COPD trained would be desirable
Research nurse for a minimum of 1 day a week - research experience preferable, but not essential (all necessary training will be provided in post)
Longstanding training practice (both GP & Nursing) with current ST3 in post
Supportive, friendly culture
Training would be encouraged/offered where necessary
Hours negotiable, pay dependent on experience and qualifications
Please contact [email protected] for a job description & application form, please enclose a copy of your CV.
One hundred million smackeroos is serious dosh in any language. According to The Times
(London not Cornish version) that is precisely the sum that is to be paid to “Recruiters” charged with
finding enough doctors to plug the staffing gaps in the NHS with the advent of the much heralded
“seven- day NHS.” The lavish exercise will take place over the next three and a half years, with agen-
cies being paid twenty thousand quid for every GP found. Frankly, if they are prepared to split the
profit they can come and find me. I will be hiding under my consulting room desk as per bally usual.
Half of the doctors needed will have to be from beyond these shores, a process described in
painfully politically correct terms as “ethically employing international medical professionals”. This
manpower er… sorry, personpower shortfall is all on account of some clever spark back in the nine-
teen eighties deciding to close down several London based medical schools without so much as a by-
your-leave or thank you, including my very own alma mater Charing Cross (the hospital not the sta-
tion before you ask.) Happy days, many of which were spent in the dissecting room trying desperately
to reconstruct the clumsily severed nerves in a cadaver’s arm by twisting strands of fascia together
before the anatomy demonstrator arrived to inspect our fledgling surgical skills. No doubt it’s all virtual
and digital nowadays. No more being knee deep in formalin. No more creative anatomy. Medical stu-
dents today don’t know they’re born.
Meanwhile NHS Fruitcake has excelled itself with its latest looney suggestion, namely that al-
ready stretched Family Docs should review each other’s referrals at least once a week, to make sure
all options are explored and that patients are seen and treated in the right place, at the right time, and
as quickly as possible. With the greatest of respect, the best way to ensure those worthy objectives is
to stop putting irritating and time-wasting administrative obstacles between GPs and their patients,
including this thinly veiled attempt to subvert the referral process. Calling it ‘Clinical Peer Review’
fools nobody. It’s all about putting pressure on GPs not to do the best for their patients in order to im-
prove NHS statistics. How dumb do they think we are? Very dumb obviously.
So dumb in fact that they have decided to make it easier to become a GP. Contestants strug-
gling to qualify as Family Docs will be given two more resits for the Royal College of Garrulous Practi-
tioners monumentally tedious membership exam, allowing six attempts in all.
A Health Education England review has unearthed the fact that many trainee quacks failed the
Emarseygeepee because of problems unrelated to clinical competence, ie spending too many nights
down the pub.
The eminently admirable queen bee of the Arseygeepee Helen Stoke-Lampoon quoth: “We
desperately need more family doctors practicing in the UK, but not through the back door”.
Quite right old fruit. We are a proud profession. Arriving via the tradesman’s entrance must be
avoided at all costs. In my day we didn’t have all this fuss and bother of having to embrace Royal Col-
legiacy. We could practice the noble art of Family Doctory on the basis of having passed the cycling
proficiency test, or at least you could if you described it on the headed notepaper as Cyc Prof after
the magical letters MB.BS…
Dr Basil Bile
CORNWALL & ISLES O F SCILLY LMC NEWS LETTE R Page 13
