As someone who has witnessed and experienced firsthand the troubling incidents of misconduct and abuse by Doctors and GP Partners in a local primary care surgery, I believe it is imperative to safeguard and protect patients to ensure a safe healthcare environment.

Patients who have experienced/witnessed abuse and misconduct at the hands of medical professionals often find themselves in a vulnerable position, struggling to raise their voices against the very individuals they should trust the most.

Each year, numerous cases go unreported, leaving many victims without closure or justice, further diminishing public trust in healthcare systems.

According to recent studies, a significant percentage of misconduct cases are not communicated to regulatory bodies, which are crucial in maintaining and improving standards.  In many instances, fear of repercussion or simply not knowing the correct process leads to under-reporting. It is alarming to realize the gap in the system that allows such behaviours to perpetuate without the chance for regulatory overview or correction.

However, people who can play a vital role in closing this gap and diminishing/eradicating abuse are Local Medical Committee (LMC) Chairs, Vice Chairs, Board members, Honoury Secretaries and Administrators.

Local Medical Committees (LMCs) represent local area GPs who form part of a PCN (Primary Care Network).  Local Doctors can reside on the LMC as well as in GP - they are elected by their local peers every 2-4 years.  For NHS Local Medical Committees (UK), March 31st marks the end of the standard UK financial and contracting year for most GP surgeries and Local Medical Committees (LMCs). They are entirely funded by the GPs themselves (self-serving) through a statutory levy deducted from practice incomes.  Salaried, locums and sessional GPs are heavily under-represented on the committees.  GP Partners are primarily responsible for decision making on the LMC, which is a contentious issue. 

NHS General Practitioners (GPs) serve as our first point of contact for medical needs, transparency and accountability and are of utmost importance.  However, a significant gap exists that impacts patient CARE and TRUST in the system: complaints against NHS GP Doctors are not currently mandated to be fully disclosed and acted upon when reported to Local Medical Committee (LMC) members.  LMC members currently do not investigate or process individual patient complaints, and they have no statutory obligation or role to report any patient complaints made to them.  Yet, it is to be made fully aware that an Administrator can have access to a patients' records within their role on the LMC, whilst maintaining confidentiality.  This opaque process hinders effective oversight and resolution, often leaving patients feeling unheard and powerless.

Nobody manages the LMC's day to day operations however the law mandates that the LMC must consult with the ICB and NHS England with all issues within GP.  NHS England and The Secretary of State for Health hold balancing power as they control the NHS Perfomers List and National GP contracts - an LMC must adhere to the legal definitions of GP set out by these health authorities.

What concerns me, is that a GP under complaint can be in practice and on a LMC, evading complaints for instance.  Their behaviour in practice can go unnoticed whilst serving on a LMC - this isn't right.  Other LMC members could be 'in the dark' about a member - this can mean they can unknowingly elect them on to higher ranking, perpetuating further potential abuse not only within GP, but also on PCNs and within the LMC.

Imagine the frustration of patients who go through the trouble of filing a complaint, only to find it linger in bureaucracy, with no certainty that it reaches the necessary regulatory bodies who can make systemic changes.  Every complaint holds the potential to improve our healthcare system, yet without a mandate for LMCs to report these issues to pivotal organizations like the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Integrated Care Board (ICB), Secretary of State, PHSO, Healthwatch, and Social Services, and board members, opportunities for improvement may be lost.

To safeguard patient interests and enhance the quality of care provided, we propose a mandate requiring:

• any patient complaint about a LMC member on their committee - a NHS GP, when disclosed to the Chair, Vice Chair, Honoury Secretary, Administrator, all Board members of a LMC, must be reported promptly and comprehensively to the regulatory bodies;
• any patient complaint about a LMC member on their committee; a NHS GP, when disclosed to the Chair, Honoury Secretary, Vice Chair, Administrator, other Board members of an LMC, must be reported and presented to all committee board members for consideration immediately, whilst respecting patient confidentiality.

Such a mandate would ensure that complaints receive appropriate attention and allow for collective action and informed decision-making amongst existing LMC board members.  This is relevant as collusion may occur at the executive level.

All NHS patients must serve a copy of complaint(s) against a LMC member (the same NHS GP) in writing, to the LMC they reside on, alongside their own reporting patient complaints channels.

This petition calls for:

• patients to serve GP Doctor complaints to LMCs to which they reside on; 
• calls for generalised scrutiny on LMCs; their members (where complaints are concerned); 
• independent oversight on nominee election;
• annual review of all members of a LMC inconjunction with the ICB, NHS England, The Secretary of State (to consider all/if there are any complaints against members in GP practice) prior to any election.  

According to Healthwatch England, one in three people who complained about NHS services felt their complaints were not handled effectively or fairly. This statistic underscores the necessity for a more robust complaint handling process, particularly where GP practices are concerned. By instituting a formal reporting requirement, we aim to enforce accountability, bolster patient confidence, and ultimately enhance the quality of care delivered by our beloved NHS.

We are calling upon the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and other relevant regulatory bodies, to implement this vital reform.  By doing so, we secure not only the integrity of our healthcare system but also empower patients with the knowledge that their concerns are being addressed seriously and efficiently.

This change is not merely administrative but a pivotal step towards ensuring a more informed and responsive healthcare system. We need your support in making this vision a reality.

Please join us in calling for transparent and accountable healthcare by signing this petition. Your support is crucial in driving this change forward and ensuring that every patient's voice is heard and valued.  Please sign and share.