No.

309

June 2017 Locums We Need you!

A plea to all locums out there.

At one time, the LMC was kept informed of the locums in Cornwall
along with your contact details in the form of email etc. However,
during the last year, this information has not been passed to us,
therefore we are at a bit of a loss to know who is out there.

One of our tasks is to keep a database of the GPs in Cornwall

Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

along with their contacts and unfortunately now this part of our
database is very much out of date. We would like to keep this as up
to date as possible your advantages to this being that you will be
sent the LMC Newsletter each month and kept in contact with
happenings in the County.

Therefore, the only way that we can now do this is to ask that you
contact us with your contact details should you so wish (it is not
compulsory).

So, if you wish to let us have your details please can you email
them to admin@kernowlmc.co.uk
LMC Newsletter

Deadline for the July issue is 5pm,

Wednesday July 26th

Inside this issue:

Your Chairman writes
New Retained Doctor Scheme
2017
Police requests for medical notes
Baby blood spot tests HepB.
Occupational Health
Needlestick.
Pathology Requestor Codes for
RCHT.
PCSE claims guidance.
Sessional GP Newsletter
2
Please see the link to this months
3 Sessional GPs newsletter, which in
this edition, amongst other issues,
4
focuses on the results of the Session-
al GPs survey, and updates on recent
progress achieved with Capita on
pension issues.

CQC next phase. 5

Items for the Newsletter should be
Medical Records Roll Out.
sent to the Editor, Dawn Molenkamp
at Victoria Beacon Place, Room
Events 6 B314, Station Approach, Victoria,
Roche, St Austell, PL26 8LG
Vacancies 7-12 Tel :01726 210141
e-mail dawn@kernowlmc.co.uk
Dr Basil Bile 13
Your Chairman writes ..
A substantial number of you attended our latest Future of General Practice meetings recently. We hope
that they provided a springboard for discussion in your practices, closers and localities. For those who
were unable to attend, the main theme of the evening was around the STP process. Cornwalls STP
(Sustainability and Transformation Plan) is called Shaping Our Future (SOF). Whatever one thinks of
STPs and what they are for, the process has provided a unique opportunity to work with other providers
and agencies and critically examine how we want to provide health and social care in Cornwall. Indeed it
might well be the first time that you have had an opportunity to give your opinion on how we should spend
our budget.

I want to stress the word our because it belongs to us as a community - not the CCG, the Council, RCHT,
Derriford, CPFT etc. WE have a collective responsibility to decide how we spend or dont spend our mon-
ey.

Whatever doubts the recent election has sewn in peoples minds around Brexit, electoral pacts or com-
mons votes, I am yet to hear of an increase in Health Service budgets beyond that seemingly meagre
amount already promised. Effectively we have no choice - we have to find some way of navigating our
way through the next few years whilst transforming our healthcare landscape. This wont be possible if we
see the provision of healthcare through the lens of our collective previous experience. We will need vision,
innovation, hope and enthusiasm.

If you dont get involved, you wont get a say - so, lets hear your voice and with it your ideas, wisdom and
vision.

Its called Shaping Our Future for a reason.

New Retained Doctor Scheme 2017

Are you a GP who:

wants to reduce your hours due to carer or parental responsibilities?
is in the later stage of your career, are thinking of retiring as a partner, but might consider working
reduced hours and maybe work in a different practice?
is currently a partner but would like to reduce your hours to a part-time salaried role?
Is a locum, but would like to take up a part-time salaried role?

then the new retained doctor scheme could be for you.

With enhanced funding up to 30/6/2019 consisting of
bursary of up to 4000 per year for 4 sessions
payment to host practice of 76.92 per session
For more information see:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/?s=04961
or contact john.edwards@hee.nhs.uk

NO . 3 0 9 Page 2
 Police requests for medical notes from general practice

There is clear guidance regarding the obligations that GPs have with respect to copying and/or release of the GP
record. For your reference, these circumstances are:

If the police do not have a court order or warrant they may request voluntary disclosure of a patients health rec-
ords under section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
However, while health professionals have the power to disclose the records to the police where section 29 ap-
plies, there is no obligation to do so.
In such cases health professionals remain bound by the long-established common law duty of confidentiality and
may only disclose information where the patient has given consent, or there is an overriding public interest. They
may also be required to defend their decision to disclose before the GMC which is a statutory tribunal.
Disclosures in the public interest based on common law are made where disclosure is essential to prevent a se-
rious threat to public health, national security, the life of the individual or a third party, or to prevent or detect seri-
ous crime. This includes crimes such as murder, manslaughter, rape, treason, kidnapping and abuse of children
or other vulnerable people. Serious harm to the security of the state or to public order and serious fraud will also
fall into this category.
Your practice is entitled to a fee for producing the notes. There is no set fee for producing these notes, as they
are not considered a subject access request that you may receive from a patient. Therefore the practice is able to
set its own fee.

In order for you to proceed with the police request, please find attached a pro forma that we recommend you
complete and send to the police authority. We recommend that you obtain each of the following:
1. Provide written patient consent to release of their records OR provide written confirmation as to the nature of the
serious crime allegedly committed by the patient and an explanation as to why the patients records, or other infor-
mation requested, are considered necessary for the specific purpose you are pursuing. You will require one of these
in order to fulfil your responsibilities as the Caldicott Guardian.

2. Confirmation in writing that the fee of xx will be paid within 28 days of the police receiving the record. This fee is
due to the disproportionate effort placed on an already overburdened GP practice to provide these notes which rec-
ognises the need to support the police in their investigation of a crime, where appropriate to do so.

3. Written confirmation from a senior police officer ranked Superintendent or above that he or she considers that
the crime being investigated is a serious crime in line with the examples provided above.

Once you are in receipt of each of these at the practice, and have checked the appropriateness of release of the rec-
ords, you should respond to the police authority as soon as possible.

Alternatively, should it be appropriate for the police to view the record (based on answer to 1 above), then there is
the option for them to view the record in the practice in the presence of a practice staff member. In this situation
there is no fee chargeable.
There is no set fee for providing records in this manner. Therefore it is the responsibility of individual practices to set
their own fee for this work. When completing the attached pro forma you must enter the fee you choose to charge.

It is vital that the police agree in writing to pay the fee, otherwise you will not be able to claim for the service. If the
police authority do not agree to pay the GP can decide whether they would like to provide the service free of charge,
or not at all.

Please note that if the police authorities have a court order or warrant for disclosure of the records, you may be re-
quired to comply with the request even where a fee has not been paid or agreed. This will depend on a number of
factors, including the terms of the court order or warrant.

GPs should, in all cases where there is no patient consent, consider whether the benefits to an individual or to socie-
ty of disclosing the records outweigh both the public and the patients interest in keeping the information confidential
before agreeing to disclose the records.

For any queries please email info.professionalfees@bma.org.uk.

NO . 3 0 9 Page 3
 Baby Blood Spot TestsHep B

Public Health service spec which will be offered out shortly but essentially there will be a 5 payment for
dry blood spots for babies born to HepB + mums

Occupational Health
Needlestick

As of last month there is a new Occupational Health service for GPs and Dentists, details can be found
here
Needlestick Injury advice and support to NHS GPs, dentists and healthcare workers, including trainees on
03333 449006.

Pathology Requestor Codes for RCHT

When requesting Requestor codes for our WinPath Pathology system we require the following infor-
mation:

Referrer/Consultant's full name:

Referrer/Consultant's base/ location:
Referrer/Consultant's role/position (e.g. GP, Ass GP, Cons...):
Referrer/Consultant's National GP/GMC number/Nursing Pin:
Referrer/Consultant's specialty:

Please note that Trainee GPs, Locum GPs and GP Registrars are not allocated requestor codes on Win-
Path. All requests for these GP types are to be done via the patient's usual/registered GP at that practice
I.E one of the senior partners/salaried GP's.

Please send these requests to citsservicedesk@nhs.net

PCSE claims guidance

GPC is aware that practices have been experiencing issues with primary care support services in Eng-
land, commissioned by NHS England and provided by Capita. The issues have been ongoing for some
time and we are aware of cases where practices or individual doctors have suffered losses due to the fail-
ing of these services. Practices and individuals that have suffered losses as a result of these issues
should be compensated - please follow this link for guidance on taking up a claim.

Page 4 C O R NW A LL & I S LE S O F S C I LL Y LM C NE W S LE T TE R
 CQC next phase

Please find a link to information about CQCs next phase of consultation http://www.cqc.org.uk/get-
involved/consultations/our-next-phase-regulation-consultation-2 . The latest GP bulletin from NHSE
has links to similar information.

Medical Records Roll Out

Over a year ago Capita / PCSE initiated a new medical records pilot in the West Yorkshire area, with the
intention of rolling it out nationally. Problems identified in the pilot site meant that further roll out was de-
layed and so practices have been left with an interim solution (which has had its own flaws). Initially the
system was overwhelmed causing an unacceptable backlog of notes, and the situation was further com-
plicated as it had no reliable way of tracking notes leading to a significant number of records be-
ing reported as missing. This was unacceptable and we insisted it had to be resolved. GPC have been
clear that the pilot could not be rolled out until we had the full assurance that it would improve the system,
rather than make it worse. We insisted that PCSE must show that they have learned from previous is-
sues, fully evaluated the pilot and demonstrated this to NHS England who is ultimately responsible for
overseeing the service. GPC provided constructive suggestions for improvement in the pilot area and
these have been taken into account, with extensive testing having now been completed, including a user
satisfaction in the pilot area. Following this IT and courier capacity has been expanded.

NHS England now believe the pilot is ready to be the rolled out, with the intention of providing improve-
ments to medical records processing system for practices. In contrast to the original plan this will be a
phased roll out which is due to start w/c 12 June in the North of England (Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester
and Nottingham). The timeframe of the roll out is over a long period stretching into next year, so any is-
sues that arise can be actioned without adding to the present disruption. If the new system is successful it
can be accelerated. We will be watching it very carefully and welcome intelligence from LMCs and local
practices as the roll out takes place.

One significant problem is outstanding medical records, and we have been pushing PCSE to resolve
these issues. In some cases the delay in transfer is because notes are still with the old practice. Practices
are probably unaware of this. PCSE will be communicating with practices with a list of outstanding notes
and we would encourage practices to release these records as soon as possible so that they can be
transferred to the new practice.

Information is provided to practices via the PCSE portal.

The contact for the South West is Millie Cooper millie.cooper@nhs.net

Page 5 C O R NW A LL & I S LE S O F S C I LL Y LM C NE W S LE T TE R
 Cornwall Dermatology Group
Are you a GP with a special interest in dermatology?

We have started an evening group for GPs with the Dermatology Diploma looking to keep up to date with dermatol-
ogy and fellow colleagues. Next meeting (all welcome):

Lanhydrock Hotel, Lostwithiel Road, Bodmin, PL30 5AQ

Thursday 13th July 2017

Chaired by: Dr Clare Tyler, Wadebridge and Camel Estuary Practice

Agenda
Challenging Dermatology Cases

7.00pm-7:30pm Registration & Hot Buffet

7.30pm-8:15pm Challenging Dermatology Cases

Dr Brian Malcolm, Dermatology Associate Specialist, NDFT

8.15pm-8:30pm Coffee & Pudding

8:30pm-9:15pm Discussion of Case studies

Dr Brian Malcolm, Dermatology Associate Specialist, NDFT

If you would like more information or to attend this event please RSVP:
Katrina Lyons

Email: Katrina.lyons@leo-pharma.com Mobile: 07500944913

Confirmation is essential for catering purposes

This Educational Event is kindly organised and supported by Leo Pharma and Dermal Labs to cover the
costs of speakers & catering.

Outpatient Showcase Event Friday 28th July 2017

RCHT are organising an outpatient event for the end of July to showcase some of the great improvements
in outpatient services. This is a key activity as part of the Trusts Outpatient Programme .
Friday 28th July 201712:00-15:00Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.

If you would like to attend the event, please register your interest by emailing
rcht.transformationteam@nhs.net

If you would more general information about the event, please email helen.cridland@nhs.net

NO . 3 0 9 Page 6
 Launceston Medical Centre, Cornwall

We are a large, friendly rural dispensing practice in the beautiful countryside of East Cornwall enjoying a
higher than average income. We look after a stable rural population whilst having the security of size
(17,900 list)

Our position offers excellent quality of life with stunning countryside and coastlines close by. We benefit
from easy access to Exeter and good transport links to the rest of the country.

We have recently been granted NHS funding for expansion of our purpose built premises and are looking
for enthusiastic patient centred Doctors to join our team. We are an innovative team, recently introducing
Paramedics to our Practice to assist with visits under GP supervision. The Practice team has a strong be-
lief in medical education and currently offer placements for 5th year medical students.

We are happy to consider both PARTNERSHIP and SALARIED roles to fit the preference of the success-
ful applicant.
Applications to Mr Peter Harper, Business Manager, Launceston Medical Centre, Landlake Road, Laun-
ceston, Cornwall PL15 9HH. Direct dial 01566 771060. Email peter.harper5@nhs.net

PORT ISSAC SURGERY

Port Isaac Surgery is looking to recruit a salaried GP for 4 sessions (negotiable).

We are a rural PMS dispensing Practice of just over 8,500 patients, working over 3 sites, with 5 full-time
GP Partners. We have a 100% QOF achievement and were awarded an Excellent rating by CQC for our
patient care.
We enjoy the benefit of having an integrated community nursing team who have their office in our
Wadebridge Surgery, along with our Midwife and Health Visitor. We also have an in house Physiothera-
pist and we run a regular Consultantled Rheumatology Clinic.
We are looking for someone to join our forward thinking and happy team, if you are interested or would
like further information, please contact our Practice Manager, Pat Shuttlewood at
pat.shuttlewood@nhs.net

Partner - Petroc Group Practice

We are a large friendly training practice located in Mid Cornwall delivering services through two purpose
built medical centres in Padstow and St. Columb Major. We have a vacancy for a Partner to be based at
St Columb Major Surgery. We have a list size of over 16,000, have consistently high QOF achievement
an excellent nursing team and deliver an extensive range of enhanced services.

For informal enquiries contact Ian Gibson, Practice Manager/Managing Partner on 01637 880262

Application is by CV to ian.gibson5@nhs.net

NO . 3 0 9 Page 7
 The Stennack Surgery, St Ives, Cornwall
Two fantastic GP opportunities in St Ives
Salaried GP (Maternity Cover) Salaried GP or GP Partner
6-8 sessions per week for 9-12 months 4-8 sessions per week
Mid-End August/September 2017 start 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 reduc-
ing 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!

To apply please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter ASAP to lydia.hale@nhs.net

For further information & any queries please contact a member of our Executive Management Team:

Dr Dan Rainbow (GP Partner) dan.rainbow@nhs.net

Dr Rupert Morrall (GP Partner) rupert.morrall@nhs.net
Lydia Hale (Practice Manager) lydia.hale@nhs.net

NO . 3 0 9 Page 8
 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
proactively 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: kathryn.pengelly@nhs.net

Visit our website at www.strattondocs.co.uk

Clinton Road Surgery, Redruth,

Urgent Care Practitioner (Paramedic)
Approx. 23 hours per week negotiable
Eligible for NHS Pension scheme
5 weeks A/L building to 6 weeks
We are a small community focused practice located in a historic mining community which is part of World Herit-
age Site. The Surgery is minutes away from the dramatic Cornish Coast. This is a particularly interesting time
for Clinton Road as we are developing a wide range of new services for the people of Redruth; we have recent-
ly established a Drug Action Clinic and will be starting Social Prescribing in the near future.
The team here at Clinton Road are looking for an experienced Urgent Care Practitioner to join us. We would
like to embrace the changes that are currently happening within primary care.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and forward thinking paramedic, who will support the GPs in seeing the
urgent on the day cases and assist with home visiting.
We are developing this exciting new role and are looking for an innovative practitioner to join us on this jour-
ney.

If you are interested and would like a detailed job description, please contact Mr Scott Bennett, Strategic Man-
ager, Clinton Road Surgery. scott.bennett1@nhs.net

NO . 3 0 9 Page 9
 The Stennack Surgery, St Ives, Cornwall

4 Fantastic Nursing Team Opportunities

We are looking for the following roles 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 neces-
sary experience, drive and enthusiasm to become both part of this team then we would like to hear from you:

Nurse Manager
Applications welcome from experienced Practice Nurses or Nurse Practitioners with a passion for both nursing
and management. The successful applicant would work closely with both our Practice Manager and GPs to
manage and ensure we maintain a nursing team that is the best fit for General Practice and our MIU for 2017
and beyond.
Qualified Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, or Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Primary Care Practice Nurse Experience (Essential) and Minor Injury/Illness Experience (Desirable)
Prescribing is not essential.

Minor Illness/Minor Injury Practitioner (Primary Care)

Applications welcome for a Minor Illness/Minor Injury Practitioner to join our 'Same Day Service' and Minor
Injuries Unit (MIU) Primary Care Team. The 'Same Day Service' and MIU provides on the day appointments
for all forms of acute illness including injuries and emergencies.
Nurse Practitioner or Advanced Nurse Practitioner with Minor Illness/Minor Injury Experience or Equivalent
Qualifications (Essential)
Prescribing Qualification (Desirable but not essential)

Practice Nurse
Qualified Practice Nurse

Healthcare Assistant
GCSE Maths & English Grade C or Above (Essential)
Healthcare BTEC or NVQ (Desirable)
Care Certificate (Essential or must complete within 6 months of start date)
Phlebotomy & Injection Technique certificates (Desirable)
Primary Care Experience (Desirable)
All roles
Up to 37.5 hours per week (Applications for part-time hours welcome)
Competitive salary depending on experience

Closing date for applications Friday 7th July 2017

Applications also welcome for combinations roles
To apply please send you CV and Covering letter to lydia.hale@nhs.net

NO . 3 0 9 Page 10
 Practice Nurse
Narrowcliff Surgery, Newquay Cornwall
We are looking for a Practice Nurse to join our progressive and innovative General Practice team in the beautiful
seaside town of Newquay in Cornwall..
The ideal candidate will be an experienced Practice Nurse with a desire to deliver high quality, patient-centred and
evidence-based care. They will be reliable, professional and friendly with a can do flexible attitude to work.

We are looking for someone who is an excellent communicator, good IT skills and who is able to work as part of a
team.

The successful applicant will be required to provide the full spectrum of Practice Nurse duties, including manage-
ment of long term conditions (asthma, diabetes, COPD), ECGs, cervical cytology, ear irrigations, childhood and adult
immunisations and travel vaccines.

For further information, or if you have any questions about this position, please contact: Julie Hill, Senior Practice
Nurse or Sue Beadle, Practice Manager.
If you have the necessary experience, drive and enthusiasm to become both part of this team as a Practice Nurse
we would like to hear from you.
Qualified Practice Nurse
Up to 30 hours per week (Applications for other hours welcome)
Competitive salary depending on experience
Closing date for applications Friday 14th July 2017
Narrowcliff Surgery Information:
7 partners and 2 salaried GPs and a large nursing team
13,000patients
Good CQC Rating
100% QOF performance & committed to high quality patient care
Training practice with a strong commitment to postgraduate and undergraduate training
Extended range of services on site: chronic disease monitoring, minor surgery, anticoagulation monitoring
and counsellors
Applications to: Mrs S Beadle, Practice Manager, Narrowcliff Surgery, Newquay TR7 2QF or

NO . 3 0 9 Page 11
 Healthcare Assistant
Narrowcliff Surgery, Newquay Cornwall

We are looking for a Healthcare Assistant to join our progressive and innovative surgery team in the beautiful
seaside town of Newquay in Cornwall. We are looking for someone who is an excellent communicator, good IT
skills and who is able to work as part of a team.
If you have the necessary experience, drive and enthusiasm to become both part of this team as a Healthcare
Assistant we would like to hear from you. The ability to work independently and as part of an integrated Prima-
ry Care Team is essential as are these skills:
Healthcare Assistant: GCSE Maths & English Grade C or Above (essential), Healthcare BTEC or NVQ
(desirable), Care Certificate (essential or must complete within 6 months of start date)
Phlebotomy & Injection Technique certificates (desirable)
Primary Care Experience (desirable)
phlebotomy, BPs and ECGs
wound care, ear irrigation,
NHS Health Checks, lifestyle advice
10-20 Hours per week
Competitive salary depending on experience
We have a degree of flexibility in planning shifts to fill this vacancy to suit the right candidate.
Applications to: Mrs S Beadle, Practice Manager, Narrowcliff Surgery, Newquay TR7 2QF or email sbea-
dle@nhs.net. Closing date for applications Friday 21st July 2017

Nurse Practitioner Wadebridge North Cornwall

We are looking to recruit a permanent Nurse Practitioner, with a prescribing qualification, to work as part of our
practice team. Experience in minor illness working within a GP practice setting would be an advantage.

25.5 hours per week over 4 days with additional hours to cover leave / sickness. Salary subject to qualifications
and experience.

We are a GP practice serving patients in the Wadebridge and Rock area of North Cornwall. Our team includes
7 GPs, 1 Nurse Practitioner, 3 Practice Nurses, 2 Healthcare Assistants and full administrative support.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be neces-
sary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as
CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

For full details and an application form please see the practice website www.wadebridgedcotors.co.uk
(recruitment) or telephone 01208 812222.

Closing date 14th July 2017

Applications to: Mrs Sonia Geach, Wadebridge & Camel Estuary Practice, Brooklyn, Wadebridge, Cornwall,
PL27 7BS.

NO . 3 0 9 Page 12
DR BASIL BILE

In just twelve months following the Brexit vote the number of nurses applying annually to come
from mainland Europe to work in our beleaguered NHS has plunged to precisely 47. A sobering thought
for even the most enthusiastic Daily Mail reader. And the world of agriculture has been equally clobbered
by a dramatic fall in fruit pickers sashaying over to bucolic Brittania to help harvest our crops. On the face
of it a pretty grim state of affairs.

However Dear Readers, all is not lost. Increasingly Doctors and Nurses are working part-time as it
is far too stressful to any longer countenance full-time employment in the caring professions. According to
a BMA survey of around 2,000 salaried and locum GPs more than half of them have suffered from stress
as a result of their occupation, and worryingly one in ten have actually taken time off because of work-
related stress in the last twelve months. As for GP Partners, they are equally angst ridden not least be-
cause GP Locums are now earning as much as they do but without any of the administrative burdens.

An obvious solution presents itself that could earn a few bob for our cash strapped practices. Our
part-time Family Docs and Florrie Nightingales could toil in the fields during their non-NHS hours, hired to
the sons of the soil for a modest consideration. Having all that exercise and sunshine would be wonderful-
ly beneficial for reducing stress levels, allowing our guys and gals to return mightily refreshed to the front
line. Happier medical staff. Happier patients. Happier farmers. What is there not to like?

Obviously given my status and body habitus it would be unseemly for me to be found stooping to
fondle low hanging fruit. I clearly need to have an executive role. On the other hand, our estimable Junior
Partner Dr Clint Thrust is as fit as a flea and twice as irritating, so farm labouring should suit him down to
the ground. Frankly I am getting more than a little miffed at the number of patients and practice staff who
have fallen madly in love with him. I suppose he is good looking in a wishy-washy northern sort of way,
although I think taking his shirt off during the recent heatwave surgeries displaying his pecs Poldark style
was a step too far. I have taken to sticking pins in an effigy of him before turning in at night. So far I have
only succeeded in skewering my thumb to the bedhead, but it is early days yet.

Moving on, strong and stable Theresas disastrous election campaign should have seen Jeremiah
Stunt become Our Man in Outer Mongolia. I nearly choked on my Avocado and Rum spritzer when he
came pottering smugly out of number ten following the so-called cabinet reshuffle with that blasted NHS
badge still adorning his lapel at a jaunty angle. And then it occurred to me there might actually be method
in her madness.

It has emerged, somewhat murkily, that hospital correspondence and results intended for the im-
mediate attention of Family Docs has actually been gathering dust for several years. According to the BBC
at least 1,700 patients may have been harmed by a colossal blunder that meant that thousands of patient
records were left to pile up in a warehouse. The number at risk is likely to rise as only two thirds of
700,000 notes found have been checked. It is feared that cancer test results and child protection notes
may be amongst the documents.

The National Audit Office said there were questions to answer about the handling of the incident.
Perhaps our beloved Sec of State for Health has been less than wholly transparent about this unholy
mess. Maybe thats why the Blessed Theresa opted to keep him in post so he could take the crap instead
of her. After all, shes not been short of brown stuff to wade through of late

Page 13 C O R NW A LL & I S LE S O F S C I LL Y LM C NE W S LE T TE R