GPST-Talk: Recent Episodes
Simon Ottman
Most GP Registrar Podcasts tell you how to do or how to pass. GP registrars are Doctors with views on how they want their work to be when they finish their exams and are fully fledged GPs. They also have views on how they want Primary Care to be both for them and their patients. This show is the place where these issues are explored
We have fallen from grace. From the high in public appreciation during the Covid crisis to the low we are now in. At present there is a lack of GPs in this country.
We often are seen as having a vocation , What does that mean ? The removal of responsibility of 24 hour care for our patient is seen as a loss by many. (the increasing volume of care pushed out to general practice is never considered) A large section of the public believes it has a right to see their Doctor at all times, and the doctor will deal with everything .It is difficult to persuade them that a mixed skill team is the best way forward. Others believe GPs are now work-shy are paid too much and those who work 'less than full time' are abusing their privilege of being a doctor. A privilege that the tax payer has paid for.
The flip side would be to consider that those with other commitments are entitled, as in other professions, to work the hours they wish if there are suitable vacancies and those who wish to follow portfolio careers enhance the health service with their additional skills.
Dr Uwaze Idahen and Dr Ron Lo join me to discuss Sajid Javid's idea for a salaried GP service. Is it good? Are the GPSTs persuaded? Is this what they signed up for ? The debate about nationalising General Practice is contentious. All of us have an idea of what it will bring. Training for a Career in General Practice is a long term proposition. If politicians make sudden changes how ill this affect those who have started on the path to becoming a GP. Will it be good for patients and where is it all leading to? GPSTs on This podcast: Dr Uwaze Idehen MBBS, MA Health Management, Planning & Policy.
I am currently a GP Registrar in Leeds
I am passionate about the accessibility of health services to all levels of socio-economic classes and cultures
I am also interested in the management of health care systems and the making of health policies Ron Lo -A HongKonger who went to med school in Belfast, then finished my FYs in Scotland. Then worked in research at Prince of Wales Hospital HK before returning to England to become a Leeds GPST. Interesed in urgent/emergency care and sepsis. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ronson-Lo Links to this podcast's sources https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/breaking-news/government-officials-visit-wolverhamptons-hospital-run-gps-to-explore-model/ (Government officials visit Wolverhampton's hospital-run GPs to explore model - Pulse Today) - Government officials have visited Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s salaried GP model to explore ‘alternative ways to deliver primary care’, Pulse has learned.
The visit to Wolverhampton’s integrated model – known as ‘vertical integration’ [VI] and where nine GP practices subcontract their GMS contracts to the trust – took place in November last year.
This comes after The Times reported in January that Sajid Javid is planning a review of primary care, which could see GPs incentivised to join up with trusts in a model like that in Wolverhampton.
Minutes from the Trust’s finance and performance committee meeting on 22 October 2021 said: ‘Primary Care/NHS reform are looking at a VI [vertical integration] model and have expressed a wish to visit RWT in November to explore alternative ways to deliver primary care.’ A Royal Wolverhampton Trust spokesperson confirmed to Pulse that the visit did take place and it was from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A spokesperson for DHSC said it had nothing further to add.
Wolverhampton’s ‘vertical integration’ model started in 2016 with three practices. The trust now runs nine, although Pulse understands this will soon reduce to eight.
GPs continue to hold the GMS contracts but subcontract to Royal Wolverhampton and all staff are employed by the trust. The nine practices form a primary care network together. The Trust told Pulse that the benefits for GPs have included dedicated back-office support and access to professionalised governance to support CQC processes, complaints and incidents, while patients have benefited from practices that have more services and resilience. Other areas where a similar model to Wolverhampton’s is already in place include Northumberland, Gosport, Sandwell and Birmingham, and Cheshire. https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/nhs-structures/hospital-takeover-of-large-gp-practice-poses-serious-risk-warns-lmc/ (Hospital takeover of 'large' GP practice poses 'serious risk', warns LMC - Pulse Today) - Local GP leaders have warned that the taking over of a second ‘large’ practice by a hospital trust in January poses a ‘serious risk’ to the future of general practice.
A second GP practice has integrated with North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, with all GPs moving to salaried roles, Pulse has learned.
It has emerged that Holmcroft Surgery in Stafford joined the trust, which already runs another practice, in January this year.
Moorcroft Medical Centre and Moss Green Surgery were merged into a single practice and taken over by the trust in 2018.
Welcome to GPST-Talk This show is a round table discussion. GP specialist trainees talk about the concerns of the day that affect them and Primary Care in the UK. It is important to get their views on every aspect of the job, the primary care landscape and their wishes for the future. These Doctors are the future of General Practice in the UK and their voice is important. If you really want to see the future check out the chat! We will also have some occasional 'established' Guests reflecting on the changes they have seen in their professional lifetime and some of the newest members of the Primary Care Network. These new colleagues are already changing the face of General Practice with new specialist skills such as Pharmacy, Health trainers, Social Prescribers and Occupational Therapists