The Local Medical Committee is a statutory body recognised by successive NHS Acts as the professional organisation representing all doctors working in primary care to the Primary Care Trust. The LMC represents the views of GPs to the NHSE, and to any other appropriate organisation or agency.

Barking and Havering Local Medical Committee was formed in 1973, when it split from the North East London LMC in order to work closely with the Barking & Havering Family Practitioner Committee, based at St. George's Hospital, Hornchurch.

The LMC is entirely funded by a statutory/administrative levy paid by all GPs, whether GMS, PMS or APMS. The LMC receives no NHS or public funding. The cost is dependent upon the number of patients on an individual's list and the LMC budget.

In addition to the statutory levy, GPs are asked to contribute to a voluntary levy, which is used to finance the LMC's contribution to the national GMS Defence Fund which supports legal cases of significance for all GPs. It also enables the LMC to make regular donations to charities such as the Cameron Fund, Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the Royal Medical Foundation (Epsom College), which help GPs and their families in times of crisis.


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