Derby & Derbyshire LMC

05/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Evening with Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer. We were pleased to welcome 72 colleagues from DDLMC, NLMC and LLRLMC.

It was encouraging to see so many GPs make the time to come together, particularly given the ongoing pressures across General Practice. The discussions in the room reflected the realities many of us are dealing with. Dr Bramall's session offered useful perspective on the challenges facing the profession.

Your engagement helps strengthen our collective voice and supports the work ahead.

03/02/2026

Dr Merryl Watkins has announced that she is retiring from her role as chair of Derby and Derbyshire Local Medical Committee (DDLMC).

Dr Watkins took on the role of chair only six months after joining the committee and has successfully led it for the past four years, supported by medical director, Dr Ben Milton, and the DDLMC operational team.

However, she says it is time for her to hand over the reins to someone who can lead DDLMC into the future.

Dr Watkins said: “My colleagues know how dedicated I am to grassroots general practice, and chairing the committee has been a delight.

“However, I believe that it’s the right time for a more vocal and outgoing chair who can help raise the profile of DDLMC.”

She added: “It has been a privilege to be part of such a great team. Everyone is so interactive and interested in making general practice the best it can be.”

Dr Watkins will remain an active committee member, representing Derby City South Primary Care Network area, as well as continuing as a GP at Parkfields Surgery in Alvaston.

Following Dr Watkin's announcement, the election process for a new chair has been launched. The position is open to elected DDLMC committee members only, who are invited to make their submissions via email before Friday, 13 February.

Dr Watkins has invited interested committee members to contact her for an informal chat about their suitability for the role.

For more information visit the DDLMC website: https://www.derbyshirelmc.org.uk/news

02/02/2026

Did you know? There’s so much more to General Practice than phone lines and facetoface appointments.

GPs and their teams work incredibly hard behind the scenes every single day — from managing long term conditions and supporting vulnerable patients, to organising vaccinations, safeguarding, training future clinicians, and so much more. 💙

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the amazing teams who make it all happen. 👏💚

02/02/2026

Derby & Derbyshire GP Practice Appointment data from December 2025.
Information source NHS Digital

30/01/2026

It was fantastic to see a Derby GP feature on NHS Day last week, highlighting the important role of general practice in the wider health and care system.

NHS Day is a BBC-wide celebration of the NHS. The day featured interviews on television and BBC Radio Derby with various front-line NHS staff, patients and carers highlighting areas of outstanding care, current pressures, and how the NHS is ensuring it is fit for the future.

As part of the day Dr Drew Smith, GP partner at Wilson Street Surgery in Derby city was interviewed by BBC Radio Derby.

His interview focused on the current challenges faced by general practice, the importance of patients accessing the most appropriate service for their health needs and the positives of working as a GP in a city practice.

Other highlights of the day involved a visit to Derby's NHS 111 call centre to learn more about how calls are handled, and a trip to the emergency department at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

NHS Day provided a wide‑ranging look at the people, services and partnerships that make up the NHS in Derby and Derbyshire, including primary care.

You can read more about NHS Day in Derbyshire on the NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB website: https://joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk/news/nhs-staff-and-patients-celebrated-in-special-nhs-day/

Drew's full interview is available on BBC Sounds until Thursday 19 February (listen at 1 hour 09 minutes): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002py52

Patients and carers, frontline NHS staff, and leaders across were celebrated in the media last week as part of a national day for the NHS.

28/01/2026

Did you know your GP surgery receives just 31p a day to care for you?

That’s less than the cost of an apple or a few slices of bread.

GPs are doing their best with limited resources — let’s support them by using services wisely.

👉 Learn more from Derby & Derbyshire LMC’s latest infographic.

https://www.derbyshirelmc.org.uk/general-information-hub/infographics

26/01/2026

Derby & Derbyshire GP Practice Appointment data from November 2025.
Information source NHS Digital

21/01/2026

We regularly update our website with vacancies on behalf GP practices across Derby and Derbyshire. If you're looking for a new opportunity in Primary Care, visit our website to view the latest roles.

https://www.derbyshirelmc.org.uk/vacancies

19/01/2026

Derby & Derbyshire GP Practice Appointments data from November 2025.
Information source NHS Digital

15/01/2026

A Practice Manager told us their IGPM membership — funded by DDLMC — has been invaluable in helping them tackle complex issues and feel more confident in their role. We love hearing this. Supporting practices across Derby & Derbyshire is exactly why we do what we do.

13/01/2026

GPs are invited to register for a webinar on fitness to practise and fairness, taking place in January.

Organised by NHS - Midlands and the General Medical Council (GMC) Midlands and East of England team, the webinar will focus on:

- GMC processes
- How the GMC work with responsible officers to manage complaints about doctors
- The work to eliminate the disproportionality in referrals of overseas and ethnic minority doctors
- How the GMC is addressing bias

Participants can choose from a lunchtime or evening session:

- Thursday 29 January, 12.30pm to 2pm
- Tuesday 3 February, 6pm to 7.30pm

The webinar is suitable for GPs, trainee GPs and locums.

Visit the DDLMC website membership login area for details and to register: https://www.derbyshirelmc.org.uk/information-hub/internal-updates/joint-regional-nhsegmc-webinar-message-sent-on-behalf-of-vijay-rawal