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| Council Minutes 16 October 1999 |
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Present: Richard Fieldhouse (Chairman), Tina Ambury
(Deputy Chairman), Tony Downes, Anita Goraya (English Secretary), Tara Watson
(Treasurer), Stuart Blake (Scottish Secretary), Jane Harrison (Welsh
secretary), Ralph Berman.
1) Apologies: Lorrie Symons, Peter Harvey,
Ed Penman, Shaun O'Connell, Maureen Baker (RCGP Observer), Susan
Walker
2) Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as
a true and accurate record.
3) Chairman's oral report
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a) TW & RF held a series of several
successful meetings with the NASGP's accountants Jones Avens Ltd regarding
registering for VAT and other tax issues.
b) RF met with Lady Sally Irvine,
Chairman of Newcastle City health trust ref. NP issues - practice-pack &
PLP SFQ.
c) Doctor magazine are doing a double spread just prior to
Conference to help publicise.
d) Superannuation is still a "sticking point".
SB outlined the slightly different system in Scotland; perhaps we should
approach the parliaments separately? Agreed. |
4) NASGP Council membership - new members welcomed.
Officers - RF chair, TA deputy chair, SB Scottish sec, JH Welsh sec, SW NI sec,
RB English sec, TW Treasurer. AG acting UK/Company sec. LS & EP to be asked
if they wish to participate and a final decision to be reached at
Conference.
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a) TA proposed that RB be co-opted to
Council. TD seconded. Agreed unanimously. RB accepted
co-option. |
5) Draft Aims & Objectives
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a) Draft and feedback was discussed.
b)
Discussion around the possibility of a name change and the types of GPs were
considered. Division is PMS/needs directed (local) or GMS/red book (TD), not
'salaried' & 'independent'. Crux of the matter is not the name, it is who
NASGP represents.
c) The brand name' NASGP must be retained.
d) Definition
of types of GP represented should not be too strict.
e)
NASGP should continue
to be an open, umbrella organisation welcoming all-comers.
f) choice of who,
what & how the definition of representation takes place should be left to
local groups.
NASGP - Independent GPs "working together for quality NHS
provision"
g) AG to draft a 'philosophy' to open A & Os,
incorporating a working definition of 'independent' and highlight the
NASGP as
"the voice of independent GPs". RF to distribute a draft to members, groups,
delegates for feedback prior to and debate at, conference. |
6) Business plan & accounts.
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a) Ltd company status - protection of
directors' liability.
b) Council members should be directors. PAYE, NI,
accountants' fees and any VAT liability for conference will have to be paid
when & if they arise.
c) PAYE status discussed.
d) VAT not yet
liable.
e) Accountant fees should be paid by regular standing order in
future. agreed.
f) Business plan presented. Breakdown of membership
details discussed.
g) ERBS to continue holding the database -
agreed.
h) Newsletter running to be tendered out -
agreed.
i) Remuneration for Council members on representative duties
for NASGP should be paid as arise - agreed.
j) Membership survey at
conference on prospective membership fees - agreed. |
7) Good Medical Practice & Revalidation. TA
& RF outlined the backgrounds and remit of these processes to the Council,
and presented the progress so far. TA & RF to keep Council informed of
any new developments.
8) Wales.
TD reported that the Welsh Office NP
initiative has undergone evaluation and been submitted to the Welsh assembly as
to its re-institution (funding was withdrawn April 1999). Decision now
awaited.
9) Handbook. Projected costs outlined. Poor
response to sponsorship trawl so far. Need £23,500. Possible sources;
£5000 from MDU, increased membership of ~£5/member still leaves
£6,500 to be found. Discussion centred around the possibility of renewing
the handbook in an A4 format for a rolling/ongoing change, rather than a
completely new edition; AG to pursue this line of action.
10) Conference.
PH's email updating council
received.
11) Newsletter.
Mandy Galloway is to submit a
tender for taking over the day-to-day running of this. Tender awaited prior to
decision.
12) Practice Pack. RCGP CEC minutes & letter
from Prof. Mike Pringle (Chair of RCGP Council) endorsing the pack and
supporting the NASGP efforts to promote it were received. RF to approach DoH
ref. possible funding.
13) Complaints & whistle-blowing.
TW voiced
her recent experience; felt let down by practice - lack of support, ignorance
of process.
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a) TW to generate a discussion forum item
on this subject on NASGP website.
b) TW to lead on collating a
discussion document. |
14) Letter from Wessex Research Network (WReN)
received. TW (local to WReN) to reply.
15) SW regional registrars conference; invite to
speak at this received. NASGP will accept invitation, representative to be
decided at later date (Ed Penman).
16) Letter ref. Acquired rights GPs received.
RF
to write to JCPTGP to ask for clarification of acquired rights
issue.
17) AOB.
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a) Stock order system of obtaining drugs for
doctors' bags in Scotland was raised by Moray Grigor (NoSSG) and asked if there
was any mechanism in which the NASGP could facilitate this for NPs.
b) SB
will speak to Hugh Whyte of the Scottish DoH. |
18) Next meeting Saturday 12th February 2000 RCGP
9am to 5pm.
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