Catalogue

County Durham and Darlington Local Medical Committee

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• County Durham and Darlington Local Medical Committee
  • County Durham Local Medical Committee (Ref: CDLMC )
  • Minutes of County Durham Local Medical Committee: (Ref: CDLMC 1/)
  • Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee (Ref: CDLMC 2/)
  • Minutes of the Pharmaceutical Charges Sub-Committee (Ref: CDLMC 3/)
  • Darlington Local Medical Committee (Ref: CDLMC)
  • Minutes of the Darlington Local Medical Committee (Ref: CDLMC 4/)

Catalogue Description

Records of County Durham and Darlington Local Medical Committees

Local Medical Committees
The British Medical Association (BMA) was founded, as the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, in Worcester in 1832 when there was no regulation of the profession; anyone could practice as a doctor. It lobbied for a regulatory body, which led to the setting up of the General Medical Council in 1858. The Association's membership grew rapidly and became the British Medical Association in 1856.

In 1911, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, introduced a National Health Insurance Bill, giving statutory recognition to the Local Panel Committees as the representative, local voice of the doctors who took patients on their "panel". The 1911 National Insurance Act required the Local Insurance Committee to consult, through the Local Panel Committees, all panel doctors on a wide range of issues.

In 1912, the BMA established a national committee to represent all panel doctors, the Insurance Acts Committee, which was recognised by the Government as the authoritative voice of General Practitioners. The profession broadly supported the introduction of a State medical scheme but strongly opposed the introduction of a salaried service. It was feared that the loss of the independent contractor status would undermine the GPs' ability to practice without state interference and ultimately put patients' care at risk. In 1913 the Local Panel Committee became known as the Local Medical Committee (LMC), representing all General Practitioners in their geographical area which is historically coterminous with the successive Primary Care Organizations or other healthcare administrative areas.

The establishment of the NHS in 1948, after the 1942 Beveridge Report, endorsed a number of issues that General Practice demanded:
· Independent contractor status upheld freedom to practice without State interference
· Freedom of choice by patient and doctor whether to take part in the NHS
· Freedom of choice for the doctor of form and place of work
· Adequate medical representation on all administrative bodies in the NHS

Due to the fixed amount of money in the "pool" system, by 1964 General Practice faced a serious crisis. GPs felt neglected and under - funded, morale was poor and recruitment was very low. General Practice had lost faith with both the Government and GP leaders. This crisis led to the Family Doctors Charter, which received widespread support of the profession (including 18,000 undated resignations) and was then negotiated with the Government.

This led to the establishment of the famous 'Red Book' , which increased in complexity over time. The Trade Union and Industrial Relations Act of 1974 led to the BMA being recognised as the Trade Union representing the medical profession. It should be made clear that LMCs are not Trade Unions. The NHS Acts of 1977 and 1984 reinforced and expanded the statutory recognition and functions of LMCs.

Structures continue to change in the NHS, but the LMC is still the only local, elected and representative body of General Practitioners.

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