Minor Surgery DES

The LMC Board continues to consider our strategy for Minor Surgery from April 2025. We have written to Dr Caroline Trevithick (CEO, LLR ICB) to request to commence discussions for 2025/26. In addition, we are liaising with other LMCs and have highlighted this with GPC England.

THE ONGOING LMC VIEW IS THAT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR GP PARTNERS TO BE EXPECTED TO SUBSIDISE THE NHS.

It is unacceptable that Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland GPs are subsidising the NHS by £197,109 from their own pockets for the privilege of providing a minor surgery service. There are 345 GP Partners in LLR, meaning that each partner is paying an average of £571 per year.

Last month I quoted the hospital NHS Tarriff for a joint injection from 2022/23, however I have now located the amount for 2024/25 which has increased from the £571.00 to £611.001 (a 7% increase, compared to the ZERO% increase that the ICB gave to general practices).

In the meantime, please calculate how much you are subsidising the NHS each year for this service, discuss within your practice team, and consider:

  1. As part of Collection Action, stop providing the service completely and refer patients to secondary care.
    • The Enhanced Service enables practices to claim for procedures done but does not require practices to perform any specific procedure.
    • Continue to provide the service until you have used any drugs purchased by the practice.
  2. Cherry pick procedures. Only provide those which take less time/experience and so can be provided within the funding provided. Refer all others to secondary care.
  3. Decide to continue to provide the service but set a limit that your practice is willing to subsidise the NHS. Once the limit is reached either create a waiting list or refer to secondary care (consider giving patients a choice).
  4. Calculate the amount your practice is subsidising the NHS, and:
    • Inform your patients.
    • Write to your MP
    • Discuss the issue and your proposed changes with your PPG.
  5. Do not sign up to the Minor Surgery Enhanced service for 2025-26 until the LMC advises it is appropriate to do so.


The LMC will continue to update you about this crucial matter.

Last Updated on 15 January 2025