PSNC is launching an LPC Leadership Academy to nurture fresh talent from LPCs around the country.

The Committee is looking for 12 individuals with potential to become future chief officers and chairs of LPCs. They will receive one-to-one leadership coaching from an expert consultant on March 3 and April 16 next year. Applicants must submit a 500-word personal statement and a reference from the chief officer of their LPC.

Speaking at the annual LPC conference in Birmingham on November 4, PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe praised the work of LPCs, which was having to change in parallel with the work of PSNC. "We’ve seen some excellent examples of LPCs and LPC work," she said. The way that LPCs have geared themselves up has been absolutely fantastic. They are much more important now than they were five years ago."

Mrs Sharpe had been struck by the unity that characterised discussions among LPC member at the conference. "That’s absolutely vital for us as we go into this testing time with the NHS as we work as a collective of people."