The LMC meetings usually take place on the first Monday in the month (unless that falls on a Bank Holiday). The LMC does not normally meet in August because of absence due to holidays but a meeting can be called if special circumstances arise. LMC meetings are usually held in the Lecture Suite, Manor Learning and Conference Centre, Manor Hospital commencing at 7.45pm – with hot food available from 7pm. See dates for the current year below:
lmc dates 2017
The LMC is funded in two ways:
(i) Statutory Levy
This pays the running costs of the LMC e.g. premises, officers remuneration, stationery and administration, insurances etc. All GMS practices have the Statutory Levy deducted at source by NHS England and all GPs employed at GMS practices are automatically eligible to vote/stand for election. PMS practices do not pay the Statutory Levy but can opt to pay the Voluntary Levy by completion of a mandate authorising NHS England to deduct it on behalf of the LMC. In the case of PMS practices individual GP principals have to contribute to the levy in order to be eligible to vote/stand for election. There is currently a special rate for sessional GPs of £50 per annum which is payable by cheque directly to Walsall LMC and payment of this entitles sessional GPs to vote/stand for election.
(ii) Voluntary Levy
This pays the charitable and Defence Trust contributions made by LMC. The LMC supports a few charities, making annual contributions, i.e. Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, Cameron Fund, Sick Doctors Trust. LMC also has to pay a capitation based payment to the General Practitioners Defence Fund annually. This is to cover advice and support from GPC regional liaison officer and BMA legal team for LMC constituents as and when required. GPs have to opt to pay the Voluntary Levy by completion of a mandate (as above).
Elections take place every four years to elect the LMC Committee members. Currently, for electoral purposes, Walsall area is divided into constituencies which follow the local authority boundaries. Each constituency has one LMC representative for every seven GPs (or part of seven) practising in that constituency. Only levy paying GPs are entitled to stand for election or to vote in the election. The electoral process currently produces 23 committee members. The committee has discretion to co-opt additional members as and when need arises.
For a description of what the Local Medical Committee does please see document “The Work of the LMC in England and Wales” – please bear in mind this document dates from 2000 and therefore contains some out of date terminology.
