To receive an update from Dr Reid Baker, Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee (LMC).

At this point in the meeting the Chairman advised Members that Agenda Item 6 – Update on General Practice Provision in Lincolnshire had been brought forward ahead of the Minutes and Actions.

The Chairman welcomed Dr Reid Baker, Director of the Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee (LMC) who was in attendance to present Members with an update on General Practice Provision in Lincolnshire.

Members were provided with a presentation that highlighted the following:

• Statistics for the number of GP Practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), doctors and appointments in Lincolnshire
• A summary of the challenges and pressures in General Practice
• Financial considerations and how to keep the practice viable
• Lincolnshire Interface Collaborative
• Next steps and ways to support

A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix A to the Minutes.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

• Members requested that a copy of the presentation slides be circulated to all Councillors and to town and parish councils.  In response, Dr Reid Baker confirmed that he was happy for the presentation slides to be circulated..

• A Member queried the ways in which Councillors could support the work being undertaken by the Lincolnshire LMC.  In response, Dr Reid Baker explained to Members that being invited by the Overview Committee and sharing knowledge and helping people to understand the challenges faced by GP practices was a good step forward to ensure that people were better informed. 

• A Member highlighted concerns with the slow turn around for blood tests.  In response, Dr Reid Baker supported that phlebotomy was a vital diagnostic tool and explained that not all GP practices undertook in-house phlebotomy services.

• A Member commented that the relationship between doctors’ surgeries and hospitals did not always operate as well as it should.  In response, Dr Reid Baker confirmed that relationships between doctors’ surgeries and hospitals could be improved.  Members were further advised that the increased turnover of healthcare staff made building relationships challenging and that GP practices could only carry out the services they had been commissioned to undertake.

• The Chairman highlighted that three treatment centres in the whole of Lincolnshire was a significant concern.

• A Member queried the optimal situation for the provision of digital services in Lincolnshire.  In response, Dr Reid Baker advised Members that the cost associated with digital solutions impacted on budgets and that systems such as Ask My GP primarily provided capacity saving benefits.  Members were further advised that GP practices were sometimes faced with the decision to partially self-fund or to stop using digital solutions because of financial pressures.

• A Member queried whether a fully integrated digital solution across all areas would be a better option.  In response, Dr Reid Baker explained to Members that the current system could be unsafe due to practitioners not being able to see information across all service areas and authorities.  Dr Reid Baker supported that re-examination of a single digital solution was necessary for both safety and efficiency.

• A Member commented on the two reports presented to the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire Meeting on 11th June 2025 and highlighted that the report on behalf of the Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee had provided a more realistic perspective.

• A Member queried the ideal GP model.  In response, Dr Reid Baker explained to Members that it was the Integrated Care Board’s (ICB’s) responsibility to work to their best of their ability within challenging financial constraints and that they understood the pressures experienced by GP practices.  Members were further advised that GP practices were very efficient with funding and that costs would be significantly higher to achieve a range of quality services.

Dr Reid Baker concluded that he was not in favour of moving to a salaried GP model and that a GP Partnership model was the preferred and most effective option which was supported by data. 

• The Chairman highlighted the critical importance of healthcare computer systems communicating across different areas and hospital trusts to ensure that people’s health was not put at risk.

• A Member queried whether the establishment of the Lincoln Medical School at the University of Lincoln had been able to increase the number of doctors in the area.  In response, Dr Reid Baker explained to Members that he was working with the University of Lincoln to look at medical school curriculum to encourage more doctors to come into the area.  Members were further advised that Lincolnshire had the highest joiners and leavers rate of GPs and had a significant number of GPs approaching retirement age.

• A Member further commented that more work was being directed to GPs according to the NHS 10-year plan.

In response, Dr Reid Baker acknowledged the good work undertaken by urgent treatment centres and advised Members that he was supportive of encouraging early discussions with the ICB on requirements for GP practices, especially in relation to winter planning.

Members were further advised that support for GPs was limited and that measures could be taken to assist with capacity such as utilising discharge co-ordinators to reduce the number of failed discharges from hospitals.

Dr Reid Baker explained to Members that NHS Pharmacy First were in a challenging position and needed more funding support to make the service sustainable. 

Further to a discussion, it was agreed that a request be made for Dr Reid Baker to attend a future Reserved Members’ Day.

No further comments were received.

The Chairman thanked Dr Reid Baker, Director of the Lincolnshire LMC for his valuable and informative update.

N.B Dr Reid Baker, Director of the Lincolnshire LMC left the Meeting at 11.08am.