I am very sorry to announce that Dr Robert Morley has now retired after sixteen years’ exemplary and conscientious service as Birmingham LMC executive secretary. Bob of course took over from Charlie Zuckerman, who was felt by many to be quite irreplaceable, but has gone on to not only fill those sizeable shoes, but further raise the profile and influence of Birmingham LMC to an even higher level. Many of us will have been grateful personally over the years for Bob’s wise words and council and General Practice (though seemingly still under pressure from all sides) has benefitted from his firm, but far sighted and strategic approach. We will genuinely miss his wisdom and experience and I am sure all of us would like to sincerely thank Bob for all his tireless work in the cause of General Practice in Birmingham and of course Nationally over the last few decades.
However, I am delighted to announce that Wendy Loveridge has been appointed as our new Director of Practice Support/Committee Secretary as of 1st July 2020. Most of you will know Wendy very well as our Practice Support and Liaison Manager since 2016, and prior to that as the facilitator of our Practice Managers’ Support Group for very many years. Wendy was also a longstanding Practice Business Partner for over sixteen years, a very experienced Business Manager and her knowledge and expertise around the many various business and managerial issues facing general practice is second to none.
Wendy is Birmingham LMC’s first female secretary, a milestone and watershed of which the committee and I are extremely proud. She is also of course our first non-medical secretary, which is another major milestone. Please rest assured however that as well as benefiting from Wendy’s skills, knowledge, and expertise the LMC will continue to have the expertise and resources to provide all the professional, partnership and pastoral support that our constituent GPs may require. We are confident that there will be a seamless transition and that you will all continue to receive the same responsive and high quality service from the LMC that you have come to expect and that you all deserve.
In further staffing changes we are very pleased to inform you that our Business and Office Manager Julie Mason has now been promoted to Director of Operations at the LMC and Jenni Downes (whose background is General Practice) will be joining the LMC as Executive Officer.
The contact details will remain the same for Birmingham Local Medical Committee. It would be appreciated if all e-mails could be forwarded to birmingham.lmc@nhs.net. The telephone number remains the same as 0121- 454 5008.