GMS Contract Changes - Online Consultation Requests
We recently published advice for practices following the recent vote by the BMA’s GP committee to go into dispute over the 1 October contract changes concerning patient access. The document set out:

Download LMC Advice on the 1st October Contract Changes for GP practices.

The BMA have circulated a message about the dispute with accompanying resources for practices - read the full message. There are likely to be further updates in the coming weeks so please look out for more guidance from us.

Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) - Risk of Medication Error Notification
The Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Team have issued an important notification which categorises the new formulation of Rybelsus as ‘Do not prescribe – not yet classified’ due to a change in the formulation, which could lead to prescribing and dispensing errors. GPs are asked not to prescribe the new formulation at present to allow more time to explore how to safely transition across. Read the full notification. 

NHS.net Email 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 email 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 from the BMA on how to do this.

GP Unemployment 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 colleagues through this, the BMA have launched the GP Support Hub - a dedicated space to help navigate the challenges of underemployment, unemployment and financial uncertainty. 

GP Pensions Newsletter
The recent GP pensions newsletter from the BMA’s Pensions Committee includes news of a recent win in terms of now being able to log GP appraisal work for up to 3 days, and a link to NHS England’s compensation factsheet for complaints relating to PCSE’s pension administration. 

Private (Non-NHS) Prescribing: Call for Evidence
The Department of Health and Social Care have issued a call for evidence seeking views on the effectiveness of clinical governance, oversight and regulation of private prescriptions. Further details and how to respond can be found here. Closes 4 November 2025. 

New GOV.UK Pay Arrangements for Locum Pension Payments
From 1st October 2025 it will be possible for locum GPs using PCSE's online portal to submit their Locum B forms and pay their employer and employee pension contributions to use the GOV.UK Pay service, rather than sending money via BACS and then updating the 'recording income stream' section on the portal. This should reduce the work for locum GPs and will also allow a more rapid updating of the records held by PCSE as the payment will instantly be tied to the Locum B submission. 

LMC Buying Group Update – 2026-27 Flu Vaccine Information Now Available
In April, the Buying Group launched a new members’ portal to replace its old website. The portal allows members to view details about suppliers, request quotes and see which suppliers they’ve used over the last four years.

The 2026-27 flu vaccine offers have recently been released and this information which includes pricing and how to order have been added to the members portal. If you haven’t yet registered for access for the members’ portal you won’t have been sent this important information.

To set up login details go to: https://buying.plexusportal.co.uk/Register. Please note that the email to set up your password is automated so may end up in your junk/spam folder so check there and mark the email as not junk/safe sender so any future notifications go direct to your inbox.

Over the next few months, the Buying Group will be offering free cost analyses to members so if you’d be interested in taking part look out for an email from the Buying Group’s Jenni Brooks.

The Buying Group is managed by Plexus Support Services Ltd and their contact details are below if you have any questions:

Tel: 0115 979 6910

Email: info@plexussupport.co.uk   

Website: https://www.plexussupport.co.uk

Ordering MCCD Books
The new medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) was introduced as part of the statutory medical examiner system in September 2024. Practices should have been sent guidance on how to order MCCDs with a unique passcode. Email mccd@dhsc.gov.uk if you did not receive the guidance and passcode, or if you need a new passcode. For more information see: Ordering and retaining medical certificates of cause of death (MCCDs). 

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.

Assistance Dogs in GP Surgeries
Assistance Dogs UK have published a short guide for practice managers offering practical, straightforward guidance on welcoming highly trained assistance dog partnerships. Service providers, including GP practices, must not to treat disabled people less favourably by refusing services or providing a lower standard of service because a person is accompanied by an assistance dog. Download the guide. 

LMC Jobs Page
A reminder that practices in the Humber area can post their GP and practice manager vacancies free of charge on the Humberside LMCs Jobs page. Complete the online form to submit a vacancy.

Doctors to be Allowed to Prescribe Flu Medicines All Year-Round 
The government has announced it will allow doctors and pharmacists to prescribe flu medicines year-round to reduce winter pressures and protect the NHS. Read more. 

10 Year Health Plan – BMA Analysis 
The BMA has published its 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. The LMC summary of the plan can be read here. 

Repeat Prescriptions 'Only Order What You Need' Campaign
A new NHS campaign across Humber and North Yorkshire aims to reduce the growing problem of medicines waste. The campaign, Only Order What You Need, encourages patients to be more mindful when reordering repeat prescriptions, highlighting the impact that unused medicines have on the NHS, the environment, and patient safety. An estimated that £26 million worth of medicines are wasted annually because they are not needed – money that could otherwise be reinvested in vital health services. 

Practices are asked to:

Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Update
After raising concerns about the OMMT Code of Practice with the CQC, GPC England were advised that CQC would be taking a proportionate approach. 

Since then, CQC has published an update to its position: Training staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability - Care Quality Commission. 

 

The CQC revised position confirms that it’s for practices to determine and ensure that learning disability and autism training is ‘appropriate to the person’s role’ and that it ‘will take a risk-based approach to this’. It also notes that ‘We do not tell you specifically how to meet your legal requirements in relation to training. You are responsible for ensuring your staff are appropriately trained to meet the requirements of the regulations.’ And that ‘If we see that staff have not yet received training appropriate to their role, we will check what action you have taken to mitigate any potential risks for people using services and seek to understand your plans to address this.’ 

Rabies Vaccination
Following recent concerns about NHS England's advice on the contractual requirements of post-exposure Rabies vaccination, GPC England have formally written to NHSE to outline the Committee's position. They are challenging this interpretation on the basis that post rabies exposure vaccination is not listed within the SFE and therefore does not translate into a vaccination included within the 2021 contract changes. 

GPC Update
The GPC publish regular updates for LMCs, covering contractual issues, policy, news updates and more. Read the latest updates, published fortnightly by the GPC.