The General Practitioners Committee: Are you interested in getting involved?


August 2008

Have you a vision of how general practice should be run?
Nominations are sought for the election of voting members of the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) as regional representative for the constituency below:

Local Medical Committee covered:
  • Barnsley/Doncaster/Rotherham/Sheffield.
Please find here: The General Practitioners Committee - Getting involved with your representative body
Many GPs may not be aware of the role of the General Practitioners Committee (GPC). This guide is intended to provide you with information about the GPC and its relevance to your working life. It explains the role of the GPC, local medical committees (LMCs) and the election process.

Effective representation of the profession has always been important and arguably never more so than at present. To be fully effective, it is vital that the General Practitioners Committee is fully representative of the whole profession and this is where you have a part to play. Involvement with the GPC and your local medical committee is perhaps one of the most important ways in which you can influence the future development of your career.

The GPC, like any organisation, needs new faces and ideas from time to time. Any GP* is welcome to stand for election. We would particularly encourage and welcome nominations from groups that are currently under-represented on the GPC – women doctors, salaried and freelance doctors, doctors with disabilities and doctors from minority ethnic groups. New members receive support, induction and a warm welcome.

*subject to simple qualifying criteria

A message from the GPC Chairman:
The GPC wants and needs new members
The BMA's General Practitioners Committee represents all UK GPs - principals and sessional doctors, independent contractors and salaried doctors, general medical services (GMS) and personal medical services (PMS) doctors, men and women. It is important that the composition of the committee reflects the diversity and all the interests of the profession. To achieve this, the more doctors we have standing for election for the GPC seats, the better.

I am aware of the general disenchantment with politics but, you don’t need me to tell you of the many threats and challenges facing the profession at present. That is why I am more determined than ever that, during my chairmanship, I do all I can to make the GPC seem relevant to, and working on behalf of, those we represent. To achieve that, we need to be truly representative of the profession. An obvious example of a barrier to that is the relatively low number of women on GPC, something that needs to be rectified, particularly at a time when such a high proportion of women are entering general practice.

We want to improve this under-representation and have taken steps to do so. Practical measures have been introduced to encourage a wider number and range of GPs to stand for the elections. In addition to meeting with several organisations representing minority interests to try to ensure we address any perceived shortfalls, we provide an information pack about the GPC, give each new member a mentor to show them the ropes, offer crèche facilities to parents with young children, and arrange induction sessions to familiarise new GPs with the way the committee works.

The GPC's remit covers all the areas of work affecting all GPs. If you want to change things, you need to get in there and do something about it. I would urge anyone even vaguely considering election to ask for the information pack and discuss it with your LMC or the GPC office. Don’t let the fact that the present incumbent has been there for years put you off. He or she may be fine but the GPC wants and needs new members with new ideas and interests so that it represents the broadest possible spectrum of GP opinion and can continue to work effectively in the future.

Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman, General Practitioners Committee

About the GPC
  • The GPC is the only fully inclusive, UK-based, organisation which represents all GPs.
  • It has sole negotiating rights with the Departments of Health on issues affecting GPs.
  • It works at national level on behalf of local medical committees (LMCs), and their equivalents who determine, through an Annual Conference of Representatives of LMCs, the broad policy framework within which the GPC works.
About local medical committees (LMCs) and their equivalents
  • Your LMC is an independent, self financing body that represents your interests as a GP.
  • It is a statutory body and the strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care organisation (PCO) must consult it on issues that affect you.
  • LMCs offer helpful advice and guidance to GPs on a wide range of issues.
  • LMCs are entitled to collect a ‘statutory levy’ from GMS GPs although some LMCs work on the basis of a voluntary contribution. These payments are tax allowable, and returned to GPs as expenses. PMS GPs and non–principals can contribute to ensure involvement and representation and these payments too are tax allowable.
About the election process
There are three ways of election to the GPC:

Regional constituency elections
  • These are held triennially, with one third of the regional seats being elected each year.
  • They comprise groupings of (typically 2-4) LMCs.
  • There is one GPC representative per constituency.
  • To be eligible to stand, vote or nominate another in a constituency you must:
    - provide personally, or perform NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election, and contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC, thereby supporting the work of the GPC on behalf of all GPs (please also see page 10)
    - be a GP on the doctors retainer scheme and contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency, or
    - be a medically qualified LMC officer
  • You will need five nominators.
  • Contested elections are determined by single transferable vote.
Seven GPC members are elected through the Annual Conference of LMCs. The ‘two sessions’ requirement (as above) is a requirement for nomination. All GPs on the retainer scheme, and medically qualified LMC secretaries are eligible, regardless of their level of commitment to providing or performing NHS general or personal medical services. Contested elections are determined by single transferable vote. Those elected will serve on the GPC for one year.

Ten GPC members are elected through the Annual Representative Meeting of the BMA and the same ‘two sessions’ qualifying condition applies to candidates.

How often does GPC meet
GPC has around 10 meetings each year, normally on the third Thursday of the month. No meetings take place in June or August

Where are the meetings held
In London, at BMA House.

Support from the GPC office
The GPC and its subcommittees are supported by a professional secretariat.

Expenses and honoraria
A daily rate is payable:

To members of the GPC, or its subcommittees for attending:
  • meetings of the GPC, subcommittees or task groups
  • meetings between representatives of the committee and outside bodies
  • LMC conferences
  • attending meetings of outside bodies when representing the committee.
GPC subcommittees – what they are, how they are elected, how they work
The GPC has a number of subcommittees which deal with the following areas:
  • Commissioning and service development
  • Clinical and prescribing
  • Education, training and workforce
  • GP trainees
  • Contracts and performance
  • Information management and technology
  • Practice finance
  • Representation of GPC
  • Sessional GPs.
Most members are elected from GPC but some eg sessional GPs, GP trainees, also include ‘external’ members.

Most subcommittees will meet twice each year although the work arising from the subcommittees will be carried out throughout the year.

What is expected of GPC and subcommittee members
Preparation for meetings, written work (responding to consultations etc), development of guidance notes, speaking to the media for those who feel comfortable with this. Training opportunities are provided to help.

Preparation for the role
It is recognised that GPC is a large body and is potentially daunting for new members. An induction programme is therefore offered to all new members to help them play an active part in the Committee’s affairs from a very early stage. The programme usually takes place on the afternoon before the first meeting of each session in July and takes the form of a series of presentations from a member of the negotiating team, from other experienced GPC members and from members of the GPC and BMA staff to help explain the way the organisation functions and the resources which are available to the Committee and its members.

In addition a mentor is assigned to each new member. The mentor will be a more experienced GPC member, often from the same region of the UK, tasked with helping the new member ‘learn the ropes’ and so to play an active part from a very early stage.

Child-care
Costs of childcare are reimbursed for committee members. Examples include: an additional amount paid to a usual carer because of an earlier start and/or later finish; paying for childcare on a day when the parent would otherwise be looking after the child/children him/herself. Free childcare is available in the form of a crèche.

Improving representation
Sessional (salaried and freelance) GPs
There are several ways in which sessional GPs can and should become involved in and contribute to the decision-making processes that affect their future.

The importance of getting proper representation on the GPC, as the only body representing all UK GPs, is hard to overstate. All GPs, whatever their contractual status who have performed GMS or PMS services for a minimum of two sessions a week for a period of six months prior to election, are able to stand for election as a regional representative to the GPC*. Elections are held in a third of the regional seats each year, those elected holding office for three years and the notices indicating in which constituencies there are to be elections are posted in the BMJ during February or March each year.

The issues that affect performer providers and salaried and freelance GPs differ in a number of major ways and it is vital that sessional GPs' views are represented on the GPC.

Dr Vicky Weeks
Chairman, Sessional GPs Subcommittee

British International Doctors Association (BIDA)
The GPC has long been conscious of the fact that doctors from the ethnic minorities are not proportionately represented in its membership. The GPC has been looking at all the possible ways of remedying this deficiency but unfortunately, there do not seem to be any easy answers.

The best remedy, however, lies in the hands of those GPs themselves. The GPC is a democratic body. More than 25% of general practitioners are from ethnic minorities and there is absolutely no reason why we should not achieve and maintain better representation provided we use the democratic machinery and use it appropriately. Apathy has been our worst enemy but every year there are opportunities for election to the GPC.

If you feel you are able to contribute to the discussions in GPC and have a vision and a wish to contribute to the development of general practice and primary care in a way which is sensitive to your needs and to the needs of your patients, please consider standing and make sure that you vote in the next GPC elections.

Dr Surendra Kumar
President, British International Doctors Association and GPC member

Opting out no longer an option - Women doctors and medical politics
The percentage of women general practitioners (GPs) continues to rise and with more than two thirds of GP specialty registrars being female this trend is set to continue.

Currently women make up much less than a quarter of the General Practitioners Committee (GPC), with currently on 17 female GP members, despite continued efforts to further engage women in medical politics.

The GPC recognises that it much encourage new and fresh membership so that it truly reflects the diversity within the practising profession.

Women doctors are highly skilled in negotiation, team working and adapting to changing needs. These are just the sills needed in modern politics, so women need to put themselves forward, and for this a wholesale change is required in our attitude to power and politics.

Both men and women need to embrace a responsibility to our profession as well as to our families. Increasingly, more doctors are working flexitime. Part-time working is compatible with full commitment and can accommodate non-clinical responsibility.

If you want to change the world, you must get involved and not lose your principles on the way.

The Medical Women's Federation (MWF) is committed to supporting women doctors achieving their potential in all fields of medicine.

As GPC members and active members of the MWF, we would love you to put yourself forward for GPC and are happy to be contacted to discuss any issues further. Previous experience in medical politics is not necessary, merely an open mind and a desire to make general practice the career it deserves to be.

Dr Clarissa Fabre
Vice Present MWF
GPC representative for East and West Sussex

Dr Susan Overal
GPC member of MWF
LMC Devon Executive
Hon Sec Plymouth Medical Society

Contact through: The Medical Women's Federation at Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX Tel: 0207 387 7765

Election of regional representatives 2008-2011
Nomination of members
Nominations are sought in the election of voting members of the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association as regional representatives for the following constituency:

Local medical committee covered
  • Barnsley/Doncaster/Rotherham/Sheffield.
Candidates must be:
  • GPs who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency and who provide personally or perform NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election (28 October 2008), or
  • GPs who are on the doctors retainer scheme and who contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency; or
  • Medically qualified officers of a local medical committee in the constituency.
Nominations should be made on forms available from the General Practitioners Committee at the British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP.

Each nomination form (see attached) must be signed by the candidate, five proposers and a representative of the local medical committee who can confirm that the candidate and nominators contribute to the voluntary levy.

Nomination forms and statements in support of candidature should be returned to: Andrew Young, General Practitioners Committee, British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP by no later than 5pm on Friday 12 September 2008.

If an election occurs, ballot papers will be issued on 7 October 2008.

Completion of nomination forms
Instructions to candidates

One of the GPC’s regional constituency seats is up for election. Successful candidates will be elected for a three year period until June 2011.

1. To be eligible to stand, vote or nominate another in a constituency, you must be:
  • a GP engaged exclusively or predominantly in providing personally or performing NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election (28 October 2008) and contributes to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency
  • a GP on the doctors’ retainer scheme and contributing to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency, or
  • be a medically qualified LMC officer.
2. Section 1 of the nomination form should be completed by you. This includes a brief statement of experience which should avoid the use of little known abbreviations or acronyms.

3. Ask 5 nominators to complete Section 2.

4. Ask an LMC secretary, chairman or treasurer in the constituency in which you are standing to complete Section 3. This allows them to certify, after checking with any other LMC if necessary, that you, the candidate and your 5 nominators contribute to the voluntary levy of an LMC in the constituency.

5. If you are a medically qualified LMC officer candidate, please ask another officer of your LMC to complete section 3 on your behalf. (Should your nominators contribute to the levy to different LMCs section 3 should be completed by a relevant officer, after checking with those other LMCs that your nominators contribute to the current voluntary levy).

6. It is your responsibility as the candidate to ensure that all parts of the form are completed legibly. It is important to include contact details in case we have any queries about how the form has been completed. With this in mind, we would recommend that you keep a copy of the completed nomination form.

7. It is also your responsibility to return the completed nomination form by post or by hand, to the General Practitioners Committee, BMA House by the specified deadline of 5pm, Friday 12 September 2008. Forms received after that time will not be accepted. Faxes are not acceptable. There have been occasions when forms have got lost in the post therefore we advise you send your form by registered post to avoid disappointment.

8. You may also submit a 250 word statement in support of your candidature which will be circulated if there is a contested election in your constituency. The word limit will be strictly enforced, and statements of more than 250 words will be truncated.

Eligibility for election - payment of the voluntary levy
It is a pre-requisite to standing for or voting in a regional election onto GPC that the nominees, nominators and electors must all pay the current LMC voluntary levy* which contributes to the work of the GPC, as well as the nominee working a pre-requisite number of two sessions a week in the area covered by the LMC. These pre-requisites are clearly stated in the BMA Bye-laws.

Until the 1st April 2004, the voluntary levy was paid on an individual practitioner basis. Any candidate putting themselves up for election filled in a nomination form which the LMC secretary, chairman or treasurer would sign to certify that the nominee and nominators contributed to the voluntary levy of an LMC in their constituency.

With the introduction of the new GMS contract the situation has altered from a practitioner-based voluntary levy to a practice-based levy. Under this new arrangement all doctors working within a practice, whether partners or sessional GPs will be covered by the practice voluntary levy and be eligible for election or to vote.

Sessional GPs are all those GPs who are non-principals, including salaried GPs, FCS GPs and locum GPs. Under the new practice based arrangement they will have the same opportunity to stand for or vote in elections in the constituency in which the practice in which they predominantly work is located. They will need to ensure that they complete at least two sessions a week in voluntary levy paying practices to meet the eligibility criteria. In the BMA Bye-Laws the two session requirement is expressed as ‘providing personally or performing NHS primary medical services for a minimum of 52 sessions distributed evenly over six months in the year immediately before election.’ In the situation where a locum works in many practices, some of whom pay the voluntary levy and some that do not, they will need to ensure that at least two of those sessions a week are in a voluntary levy paying practice.

The new levy arrangements will allow sessional doctors to fully participate in the democratic processes of the GPC provided that the practice pays the voluntary levy. In the infrequent situation where the practice does not pay, it will be possible for individual, sessional GPs to contribute independently to the LMC voluntary levy. This will ensure their eligibility to stand or vote if they are outside of a voluntary levy paying practice. Doctors working outside of GMS or PMS practices altogether for instance in alternative provider medical services (APMS) or an out-of-hours (OOHs) provider will need to pay an individual levy as APMS and OOHs organisations are unlikely to be contributing to the LMC levy.

When certifying a candidate’s right to stand for election an LMC secretary, chairman or treasurer should ensure that any doctor standing is working in a voluntary levy paying practice and where the candidate is a locum, that the practice in which they predominantly work is also within their constituency.

Any queries in relation to this should be directed to Andrew Young on 020 7383 6621.

*unless they are a medically qualified LMC secretary

GPC elections 2008 - timetable

Action

When

By
     

Return nomination forms and election addresses to BMA House by

5pm, Friday 12 September 2008

Candidates

Issue list of all candidates to candidates, LMCs and the GPC office

Friday 19 September 2008

ERBS and office

Address labels for those eligible to vote received by ERBS

Tuesday  23 September 2008

LMCs in constituencies where contested elections will be held

Prepare ballot papers and collate election addresses for contested elections

Tuesday 23 September 2008 -
Monday 6 October 2008

ERBS

Voting in contested constituencies  -  ballot papers and election addresses despatched to all voters in relevant constituencies.  Includes 1st class reply paid envelope.

Tuesday  7 October 2008 –
Tuesday 28 October 2008

ERBS

Return ballot papers to ERBS by

5pm Tuesday 28 October 2008

Electorate

Inform all candidates, LMCs, and the GPC office of election results by

Friday 31 October 2008

ERBS and office

© British Medical Association 2008

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