Norfolk Local Medical Committee represents Norfolk and Waveney's GPs; this is a statutory function which goes back to the National Insurance Act of 1911. As the National Health Service evolved during this and the previous century, LMCs' key roles have been maintained in successive Acts of Parliament, the most recent being the Health and Social Care Act, 1999.

LMCs, of which there are nearly 120 stretching from Orkney to the Isles of Scilly, are totally independent of the NHS and the government, are run for GPs by GPs and are funded by GPs. This is because GPs are not "employed" by the NHS but are "independent contractors", which is to say they and their practices operate NHS "franchises" on behalf of the NHS, subject to terms and conditions which are regularly renegotiated nationally and locally. This also means that only certain services are available to patients from their GPs on the NHS, ie those which the government contracts GPs to undertake.

GPs are either "principals", "salaried" or "freelance locums". Principals are "independent contractors" and operate under two broadly similar contracts "General Medical Services" (GMS) and "Personal Medical Services" (PMS). The differences between these are technical and are to do with NHS funding but there is no difference in the service provided to patients. About 20% of GPs (or primary care doctors) are not principals; they are either salaried by a practice or work as freelance locums. However all GPs are, whatever their title, independent contractors and have the same qualifications/experience.

Norfolk LMC comprises GPs who are elected triennially by their peers on a constituency basis currently comprising the previous PCT localities within Norfolk and Waveney, and meets on the third Tuesday of the calendar month, in Norwich. Its constituencies are coterminous with the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). The LMC has a permanent office in Wymondham which is staffed by a full time Executive Officer and a part-time Assistant. The Committee retains the services of two GPs, a Chairman (elected by the Committee) and a Medical Secretary (appointed by the Committee) who, together with the Executive Officer and two Committee Members, constitute the LMC Executive.

The LMC has strong links with the British Medical Association (BMA) through the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) based in London. The GPC also comprises GP representatives from all UK regions and a two-way dialogue continually operates with the views of Norfolk's GPs being relayed to the GPC in return for news, guidance and policy from the centre.

The business of Norfolk LMC is largely performed by the Officers and compromises a number of basic functions. The Committee is the interface between GPs and the wider NHS and there is a need for constant dialogue and interaction with the various facets of NHS within Norfolk, such as PCTs, the hospital and ambulance trusts and NHS Direct. It also regularly interacts with wider community services such as Norfolk Social Services, the police, the coroner, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists. It has links with patients' representatives, medical undergraduate (UEA) and postgraduate training. The Officers provide a contact point for GPs seeking help to resolve ethical, contractual and financial problems and provide factual information to resolve queries and dilemmas. They also provide support for doctors unfortunate enough to find themselves subject to allegations about their conduct or performance or who have become ill through their work. The Officers are also the contact for the local media on issues concerning general practice

In short, "if it's to do with GPs it's to do with the LMC".