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Elections to the Committee
13 nominations have been received for 10 places on the committee. It was decided a few years ago, that in order to achieve a better balance on the committee, two of the places up for election should be reserved for female candidates and one for a non-principal doctors. We have receive to nominations from female candidates and these two doctors are therefore automatically elected to the committee. Voting papers for the remaining eight places (one for a non principal) will be circulated shortly.
Choose and Book
The North Staffordshire PCTs have given notice that they are to terminate the Choose and Book LES. They are of the opinion that the funding associated with this represented "pump priming" and that use of this system is now part of standard practice and offers no direct benefit to patients. This is interesting as when it was first introduced the DoH tried to persuade us that it would "improve patient care".
The Clinical Commissioning Groups have looked at funding the Choose and Book system but are not able to do so.
Practices will have to make a cost effectiveness decision as to whether it is worthwhile to continue to use this system or more cost effective to move back to sending referrals on paper. We have written to all local hospitals informing them that they should ensure they have systems in place to receive and process paper referrals from 1st April 2012. The advice of the GPC at the time of the introduction of the "New Contract" was that new work should be resourced. In the case of Choose and Book this resource is being removed.
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance company has introduced a policy for patients with pre-existing conditions which carries a requirement for the patient to attend their GP or consultant who must place a note in their medical records confirming that the patient has discussed the planned trip and that the doctor is of the opinion that the patient is medically fit to travel and endure the trip in question. They go on to state that in the event of a claim, if the patient is unable to provide the Claims Handlers with a copy of this entry the claim will not be paid. Colleagues are reminded that such consultations are outside the NHS and are chargeable. You may also wish to bear in mind the possibility of "blame" for illness and other costs should the company consider your assessment not to be adequate. Refusal to provide such as service may be appropriate.
Life Insurance Reports
There is an increasing tendency for life insurance companies to request a full copy of a patients medical record under the "Access to Medical Records" legislation rather than request a medical report. They claim that this is quick and more efficient that awaiting a medical report, although as the maximum chargeable fee for providing copies of the medical records is £50.00 no doubt there is a financial incentive.
The GPC are current trying to engage with the Association of British Insurers to discuss this issue. There is a feeling that this is an inappropriate use of the Data Protection Act. Insurance Companies should not seek data relating to negative HIV results, genetic tests and single STIs.
Applications for Access to Medical Records under the Data Protection Act are only valid when the request has been made in writing and any fee paid. Access should be given within 40 days of receiving the application and the fee. 40 days is probably a longer than is taken to provide a medical report. Practices should ensure that the patient is fully aware that the whole medical record has been requested. Providing a patient personally with a copy to pass on to the insurance company if they so wish should discharge a duty under the Access to Medical Records legislation. In such circumstances the insurance company should be informed that a copy has been supplied to the patient and that you cannot guarantee that they will pass a complete copy to the company.