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LMCs

The LMC is made up of democratically elected members who serve for an agreed period — Birmingham”s LMC is sub-divided into three Locality Groups which reflect the three local Primary Care Trusts within the city — each negotiates directly with PCT executives.

Although there have been countless changes within the NHS and community care the Local Medical Committees across the UK are the single element of continuity throughout all the re-organizations since the NHS was inaugurated with statutory functions set out by Act of Parliament.

Primary Care Trusts

The statutory role of the LMC is to “monitor the contract”, a role authorized by various government Statutory Instruments which regulate the involvement of GPs in negotiating with PCTs so that the aspirations and professional interests of the General Practitioner form a vital part in how primary care organizations perform Primary Care Trusts have a statutory responsibility to consult the LMC on a number of key issues:

The LMC has a right to consult with Primary Care Trusts to advize them of a variety of concerns to General Practice. The Birmingham LMC takes a pro-active role in working with PCTs and the Strategic Health Authority to ensure that GPs aspirations and interests are built into development plans - such as the negotiations for the annual PCTs purchasing intentions as well as contributing to the negotiations over the design of Enhanced Services.

General Practitioners

The LMC has an important role to play in the handling of complaints by advising GPs and assisting them at hearings - whether at informal procedures, independent reviews or disciplinary sessions - Birmingham LMC is the independent voice of General Practice and is ideally placed to support Practitioners in these difficult circumstances. Similarly Birmingham LMC plays an active part in supporting GPs who are experiencing professional conduct procedures or local poor performance measures.

Birmingham LMC has a major role to play where a GP is unable to practice through ill health - not only from an advisory role but because the LMC has a statutory role in securing an expert opinion about continued fitness-to-practice - very important in securing continued salary for LMC members particularly if the practitioner is suspended because of ill-health.

The Birmingham LMC has a statutory role where a practitioner is under investigation because of sickness certification, record keeping, treatment decisions or fee charging.

The LMC has a specific role in considering certain types of complaints by doctors about GPs Apart from the statutory functions Birmingham LMC undertake a range of voluntary duties determined by the needs of member, which include:

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LMC Origins

The origins of LMCs go back to the 1911 Lloyd George state health insurance scheme. The BMA at that time was determined that the profession should have a voice in its day-to-day running. It ensured that locally elected committees of GPs were recognised in the 1911 National Insurance Act as the representative voice of the “panel” doctors. Local Medical Committees are still recognised under Act of Parliament and approved by Primary Care Trusts.