Government and GP representatives have agreed reforms to GP contracts in a move aimed at bringing back the family doctor in a scheme that will involve a funding boost of £889m and moves to end the ‘8am appointment scramble’. The new deal agreed between the government and British Medical Association will free up doctors from red tape and box-ticking targets to concentrate on treating patients. The burdensome red tape on GPs will be reduced by scrapping 32 of 76 targets such as reporting on staff wellbeing meetings or explaining how they are reviewing staff access to IT systems. The new agreed contract will modernise general practice by requiring GP surgeries to allow patients to request appointments online throughout working hours from October, freeing up the phones for those who need them most, and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on medical need. The reforms are part of the government’s Plan for Change to make general practice fit for the future and will support GPs in taking the first steps to end the 8am scramble for appointments, which so many patients currently endure every day – in turn improving access to GPs for everyone. The deal for family doctors is backed by the biggest funding boost for General Practice in years, reversing the decade-long cuts to general practice funding as a share of the NHS budget. Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Rebuilding the broken NHS starts with GPs. Patients need to be able to easily book an appointment, in the manner they want, with their regular doctor if they choose. “Today, we have taken the first step to fixing the front door to the NHS, bringing back the family doctor, and ending the 8am scramble. “Over the past decade, funding for GPs has been cut relative to the rest of the NHS, while the number of targets for GPs has soared. That’s why patients are struggling to get an appointment.

“This government is cutting the red tape that ties up GPs time and backing them with an extra £889 million next year. In return, more patients will be able to request appointments online and see their regular doctor for each appointment. Through the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, we will work with GPs to rebuild the NHS and make it fit for the future.”

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England national director for primary care and community services, said: “Improving patients’ access to general practice is a huge priority for the NHS and this contract sets out the next steps to put the family doctor at the heart of the shift to a neighbourhood health service. “This is the first time in four years that the GP contract has been accepted as proposed and I hope it will be seen as positive for practices, GP teams and patients when introduced in April. “It shows how NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have listened and delivered on the priorities that matter most to patients and general practice teams, including a significant increase in funding and extra flexibility in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to recruit more staff including GPs.”  

Representatives from the Kherson region in Ukraine have visited Lincolnshire and signed an agreement with councillors to work together to benefit both areas.

Full-fibre broadband provider, toob, launched its service to tens of thousands of homes across Lincoln late last year as part of its strategic partnership with CityFibre. The reliable 900mbps service is now available to order in the city offering an affordability that is making digital inclusion more accessible. Headquartered in Portsmouth, multi-award-winning full-fibre broadband provider, toob, has been ranked in the top five for The Sunday Times 100 Tech, Britain’s fastest-growing private technology companies list and was recently voted Best Value Broadband Provider by Broadband Genie. Since 2019, toob has developed its network and customer base supplying service across 16 UK counties to more than 75,000 connected customers. toob’s industry leading broadband has extended its geographic footprint, with residents across Lincoln now able to benefit from toob’s 900Mbps full-fibre broadband services. Unlike traditional broadband, toob uses CityFibre’s cutting-edge fibre optic cable technology, which runs directly into the home. This full-fibre technology delivers faster connection speeds, no matter the time of day, and greater reliability when compared to traditional copper broadband. The full-fibre network promises Lincoln residents a faster, more reliable internet connection with 12x faster download and 48x faster upload speeds than the UK average. (Source: Ofcom 2023) With the #toob promise of no in-contract price rises, the price agreed on sign up will remain the same throughout the contract duration. toob believes that full-fibre broadband should be available for all and not just the few, so despite the difficult economic climate, toob’s price remains as reliable as its service. Nick Parbutt, CEO, toob, said: “I am delighted to bring toob’s full-fibre broadband service to Lincoln. For too long customers have been taken for granted by their broadband suppliers, with poor service and above inflationary price increases. “toob is focused on what customers really need, fast, reliable broadband at an affordable price. toob provides customers all the benefits of ultrafast broadband with speeds of 900Mbps for only £29 per month. Our service is delivered through our partnership with CityFibre using the latest full-fibre technology, which is the most reliable technology available.”

Lincolnshire Hospices are to get a £420,000 share of Government money for upgrades and refurbishments. The cash will be distributed immediately for the 2024/25 financial year, with a further £75 million to follow from April. More than 170 hospices across the country will receive funding, including those run by Marie Curie and Sue Ryder, as well as independent hospices like Zoe’s Place in Liverpool. To benefit in Lincolnshire are:

• Butterfly Hospice, Boston: £12,215
• Lindsey Lodge, Scunthorpe: £78,577
• St Andrew’s, Grimsby: £92,589
• St Barnabas, Lincoln: £236,601

Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England. From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives. “The immediate cash injection, allocated through Hospice UK from the department, will enable hospices to purchase essential new medical equipment, undertake building refurbishments, improve technology, upgrade facilities for patients and families and implement energy efficiency measures.” The larger £75 million investment will support more substantial capital projects, including major building works and facility modernisation, throughout the next financial year. Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said: “The announcement before Christmas of £100m of additional funding for hospices in England was a significant boost, and today’s news of the allocation of the first £25m of this funding will be a huge relief for our members. “Several years of rapidly rising costs have curtailed the extent to which hospices have been able to invest in their infrastructure for the longer term. This additional support will enable them to do so – and relieve the immediate pressures on hospice finances. “The hospice sector is ready to support the government’s ambition to shift more care into the community. This couldn’t be more important for people approaching the end of life, when it’s vital to have the right care, in the right place.

“The greater stability provided by the government’s funding injection this year and next gives us a golden opportunity to now reform the palliative and end of life care system, so it’s fit for the future.”

All ten greater Lincolnshire councils have met and agreed to work together on proposals for what local government reorganisation could look like for the county, including Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire. The Government has made clear its intention to change all remaining two-tier local authority areas in England and replace county and district councils with new unitary authorities. Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, wrote to all council leaders in two-tier areas and small neighbouring unitary authorities to invite them to develop unitary proposals. The invitation gave guidance for developing these proposals, including the expected population of each new authority area and that consideration should be given to existing district boundaries and reducing disruption to vital care services. It also set out the timeline; interim plans should be submitted by March 21st, with more detailed proposals following by November 28th. Greater Lincolnshire’s ten council leaders, listed below, have committed to work together to explore all options, and form plans.

• Cllr Anne Dorrian, Boston Borough Council
• Cllr Naomi Tweddle, City of Lincoln Council
• Cllr Craig Leyland, East Lindsey District Council
• Cllr Martin Hill, Lincolnshire County Council
• Cllr Philip Jackson, North East Lincolnshire Council
• Cllr Richard Wright, North Kesteven District Council
• Cllr Rob Waltham, North Lincolnshire Council
• Cllr Nick Worth, South Holland District Council
• Cllr Ashley Baxter, South Kesteven District Council
• Cllr Trevor Young, West Lindsey District Council

The LIVES Community Emergency Medical Service (CEMS) team has been providing vital, compassionate care to residents at Bernadette House Residential Care Home in Lincoln, a facility specialising in dementia care. By bringing advanced medical expertise directly to the home, the CEMS team has helped residents maintain their dignity and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. The CEMS team are part of the charity LIVES, and are dispatched by the ambulance service, requested by on-scene ambulance crews, or respond directly to cases where they can provide support. Acting as a ‘hospital team on the road’, CEMS clinicians can assess, treat, diagnose, and even prescribe medication, including end-of-life care. For patients with infections, for example, the team can administer initial doses of antibiotics and IV fluids. This often stabilises patients enough for oral medications, eliminating the need for stressful hospital visits. The team also has access to GP and medical records, ensuring seamless, informed care. One of the most profound impacts of the CEMS team is in supporting residents who wish to pass away at home. By providing palliative care, they ensure individuals remain comfortable, settled, and surrounded by loved ones. “Instead of being surrounded by machines, we can ensure people are settled and have their family beside them,” said Scott, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner with the CEMS team. Scott recently attended a patient at Bernadette House who was very frail and had a RESPECT form in place, indicating a preference for care at home over hospitalisation where possible. The patient, who had cognitive impairment and a deteriorating condition following a fall, was found to be entering the final stages of life. The team provided palliative medication, ensuring the patient was pain-free and comfortable. “We recognised that hospital treatment was no longer appropriate and that moving her would have meant passing away in the back of an ambulance,” Scott explained. “After consulting with the family, we focused on keeping her comfortable.” The patient passed away peacefully, with her family present. Bernadette House later contacted the LIVES team to express their gratitude for the dignified and compassionate care provided. In addition to palliative care, the CEMS team attends a range of emergencies, from cardiac arrests to road traffic collisions, always ensuring the patient remains at the heart of their work. Watch the full film and learn more about LIVES and the CEMS team: https://www.lives.org.uk/what-we-do/cems/

 

Fly-tipping incidents have dropped by 13% across South Holland District. The latest figures reveal that fly-tipping incidents fell from 2,732 cases in 2023 to 2,402 in 2024. Several areas have seen substantial reductions, including Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas (down by 51%), Pinchbeck and Surfleet (down by 33%), and Spalding St Mary’s (down by 25%). This success is a result of collaborative efforts between enforcement teams, volunteers and residents who actively report incidents. The Kingdom enforcement team has played a crucial role in this decline by patrolling the district, raising awareness about responsible waste disposal, and issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to offenders. Additionally, the council’s communications campaign has helped educate residents on the consequences of fly-tipping and the proper ways to dispose of waste. Cllr Anthony Casson, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection at South Holland District Council, said: “This fantastic reduction in fly-tipping proves that our enforcement measures and public awareness campaigns are making a real difference. “However, this success wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of our local residents and others who take pride in their communities. Thank you to everyone.”

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Ivan Westbrook

North Lincolnshire Council is investing in the future of the Plowright Theatre, thanks to a £160,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The funding will enable the replacement of most of the venue’s roof, ensuring the theatre remains a community and cultural venue for years to come. Work has already begun on the project, with completion expected by the end of March. The Plowright Theatre, built in 1958 and owned by North Lincolnshire Council, is a key part of Scunthorpe’s entertainment scene. A recent survey confirmed the existing roof had reached the end of its lifespan and despite multiple repairs over the years, continuing with patchwork fixes meant there was a risk of leaks causing damage to the auditorium, performance equipment, and the building’s interior. Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for culture, heritage and arts, said: “This investment is fantastic news for the Plowright Theatre and for the local community. “By replacing part of the roof now, we are protecting this much-loved venue and ensuring it remains a vibrant space for live performances in North Lincolnshire.”   Image credit: Google maps