Talking General Practice: Recent Episodes
GPonline.com
Brought to you by GPonline.com, this weekly podcast discusses the latest news from the world of UK general practice and talks to GPs and others about the big issues affecting primary care. We're also aiming to highlight some positive stories and inspiring people along the way.
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This week Emma and Nick discuss what the spending review had to say about the NHS and look ahead to what we know about the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
In this episode they talk about what that plan could mean for the future of general practice and the NHS in England, how the government might aim to meet its ambitions of creating a neighbourhood NHS and ‘bringing back the family doctor’, and where a new GP contract could fit into all of this.
Our good news story this week is about those GPs who received honours in the King’s Birthday Honours last weekend.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPs recognised in King's birthday honours
NHS 10-year plan 'make or break' for general practice
GPs could run 'run local hospitals,' says Wes Streeting
'GP-centric' 10-year NHS plan will protect partnerships
10-year plan to overhaul GP incentives and 'completely reimagine' NHS
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Emma speaks to Dr Caroline Taylor, chair of the National Association of Primary Care and a GP in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.
The NAPC has been at the forefront of developing the neighbourhood approach to health and Caroline is a big advocate for this model. In this conversation, Caroline explains exactly what a neighbourhood is, how general practice should fit into this model and the benefits of this way of working for patients, GPs and practices, including increased job satisfaction.
She also talks about how neighbourhood models could help shift care out of hospitals and into the community, the role of Community Health and Wellbeing Workers, a model the NAPC has been involved in rolling out nationally and the potential impact ICB cuts could have on developing neighbourhoods.
Caroline also has some practical advice for GPs and others on how to get neighbourhood working off the ground in their area,
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
On GPonline
● 'GP-centric' 10-year NHS plan will protect partnerships
● 10-year plan to overhaul GP incentives and 'completely reimagine' NHS
● How community health and wellbeing workers could help general practice
● ICBs are downsizing – what does this mean for primary care?
National Association of Primary Care
NAPC report on creating integrated neighbourhood teams
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This week the GPonline team talks about the pay rise GPs and other doctors have received this year, what GPs think about this year’s contract deal and the prospect of more strikes from resident doctors.
And they look at what’s happening in Northern Ireland after the government imposed the GP contract there.
They also discuss the ongoing GP jobs crisis after the BMA raised fears that up to 1,000 GP registrars could find themselves struggling to get a job when they complete GP training this summer, what the union wants the government to do about it and some data on GP funding that shows why we are in this situation.
Our good news story is about NHS England launching a 'world-first' vaccine programme for gonorrhoea this summer.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock, and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Wes Streeting: This year's pay deal is an investment to improve the NHS
Extra £100m needed to deliver 4% Gp pay rise
DDRB recommends new gp cost index to help shape contract uplifts
Up to 1000 newly-qualified GPs face unemployment this summer, BMA warns Streeting
Practice funding data reveals root cause of GP unemployment crisis
Funding uplifts that match inflation top priority for GPs in new contract
England launches ‘world-first’ gonorrhoea vaccination programme
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The government is expected to publish its 10-year Health Plan in June and neighbourhood health will form a key part of the plan.
In an interview with the Telegraph last month health and social care secretary Wes Streeting highlighted a scheme from Brazil, that has been piloted in London, and involves community health and wellbeing workers providing outreach work. Could a model like this be part of neighbourhoods? There have been suggestions from several quarters that the scheme will be included in the 10-year plan.
Talking General Practice spoke to doctors involved with this model back in 2023, so we thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit that now.
So in this episode Emma speaks to Dr Matt Harris and Dr Connie Junghans-Minton about the initiative and how it is improving the use of health services among patients in London, which will hopefully result in better health outcomes.
Matt, who's now a clinical reader in public health medicine at Imperial College London, saw the scheme in action first hand when he worked as a GP in Brazil, and it was his idea to bring the model to this country. He explains how the scheme works and why he thought it could help people in the UK. Meanwhile, Connie discusses how her practice introduced the initiative for some of their most deprived patients, and the impact it has had.
Useful links
Telegraph story - NHS sent door-to-door to tackle sickness crisis
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Caroline Watson, who is chair of the Royal College of GPs Secure Environments Group and has over a decade of experience working as a GP in prisons in England. Caroline is currently clinical director of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust Secure Services and works as a GP at HMP Bedford.
Caroline explains how she got involved in working in secure environments, what working in these environments entails, and the challenges faced by GPs working in them. She also discusses the complexities of prescribing in prisons, the common health issues seen in prisoners, and the multidisciplinary teams that GPs work alongside.
Caroline shares her insights into the rewarding aspects of working in secure environments and the role of the RCGP Secure Environments Group in championing improved healthcare for people in contact with the criminal justice system – and she offers some practical advice for GPs interested in this career path.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
RCGP Secure Environments Group
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(Please note in this episode we mistakenly refer to a report on GP partner numbers as being produced by the Health Foundation. It was in fact produced by the Nuffield Trust)
This week Emma and Nick discuss falling numbers of GP partners and what this could mean for the future of general practice.
They talk about what went on at the UK LMCs conference last week, where the BMA launched a new report highlighting the value of a GP and there were debates on GP unemployment and the employer national insurance increase.
And they look at the latest on plans to cut back ICBs, after an NHS England blueprint suggested this could mean some big changes for primary care.
Our good news story this week is about a pilot in general practice in Manchester that is aiming to cut falls among older patients
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
In charts: How the loss of GP partners is accelerating
Viewpoint: Is the partnership model really in decline?
BMA dossier defines 'value of a GP' in push for fresh investment
LMCs hear harrowing stories of GPs impacted by unemployment crisis
National insurance hike is 'death sentence' for some GP practices, LMCs warn
ICBs told to 'merge functions' as blueprint outlines primary care shift
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This week Emma speaks to Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, who is a GP and the national chief medical officer in New Zealand.
Helen took on her new role as chief medical officer six months ago, however many UK doctors will know her from her previous roles as chair of the Royal College of GPs, a post she held from between 2016 and 2019 and as chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges during the pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Before her move to New Zealand she was also a GP partner at a practice in Staffordshire, a professor of GP Education at the University of Birmingham and a member of the NHS England board.
In this conversation Helen explains what prompted her to take such a big step in her career and move to the other side of the world, how the health system in New Zealand compares with the UK and what it’s like working as a frontline GP there. She also talks about the emotional impact of leaving her practice - and her life - in the UK.
Helen offers some practical tips to other GPs taking on leadership roles, and those considering moving to work in another country, based on her own experiences, and gives her view on the UK government’s decision to scrap NHS England.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Visit GPonline for all the latest news affecting general practice and other resources to support GPs https://www.gponline.com
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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.
This week Emma and Nick look at the new advice and guidance directed enhanced service, which will pay practices for GPs making use of local advice and guidance systems. Nick explains the huge variation of uptake of advice and guidance across England and what this could mean for practices delivering the enhanced service. You can find out about uptake in your local area in our story here https://www.gponline.com/will-gps-earn-advice-guidance-des/article/1915073
They also talk about public sector pay reviews and whether the government is likely to agree to fund any recommendations for this year if they are over and above the 2.8% that has been planned for.
And they discuss the state of GP premises and whether there is any chance that the government will stump up the money needed to improve premises in the coming years.
Our good news story is an update on a story we discussed a couple of weeks ago about enhanced services in Lancashire and Cumbria.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Where will GPs earn most from the advice and guidance DES?
Kinnock warns of 'fiscal constraints' as government considers public sector pay rises
NHS leaders demand capital funding boost for primary care
GPs win £14m funding boost after LES boycott threat
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, the chair of the BMA England GP committee, about what the future holds for general practice
Katie explains why this year’s contract deal is the start of a long journey of recovery for general practice and the basis on which to create a more positive future for the profession.
Now that the government has agreed to negotiate a completely new GP contract, Katie explains what her priorities will be in those contract negotiations and how the BMA will be making the case for greater investment in general practice.
She talks about whether general practice should be directly reimbursed for staff costs, what should replace the Carr-Hill formula and whether it’s now time to define what core services in general practice actually are.
Katie also explains why GPs need to keep up the pressure in their area to secure better funding for local enhanced services, how she thinks neighbourhoods could impact on general practice and also why she feels more hopeful about the future than at any other point since she qualified as a GP.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Full GPonline coverage of the 2025/26 GP contract
Define GP core services or risk unfunded work transfer from hospitals, LMCs to warn
BMA guidance on the 2025/26 GP contract
BMA safe working guidance
Patients first – Why general practice is broken and how can we fix it - BMA manifesto
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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.
This week the team looks at GP recruitment under the additional roles reimbursement scheme and what new figures tell us about how that initiative is working.
They also talk about cuts to integrated care boards, what that could mean for general practice and how the financial constraints within the NHS are already impacting on funding for local services provided by GPs.
Our good news story is about funding for research in GP practices.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Map: Which areas have recruited the most ARRS GPs?
Hundreds of PCNs yet to hire a single ARRS GP
ICB cuts 'could slow down move to neighbourhood NHS'
200 practices could boycott LESs after ICB cut millions from funding offer
What could ICB cuts mean for general practice?
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This week Emma speaks to Professor Naomi Allen, chief scientist at UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource that contains data, information and biological samples from half a million UK participants.
Naomi, who is also a professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, explains how UK Biobank was established, how it works, and the wealth of data it holds.
Naomi also discusses the crucial role primary care data will play and explains how it will be incorporated into UK Biobank in the coming months.
And she outlines some of the groundbreaking research that has already been conducted using UK Biobank data and how this could revolutionise patient care in general practice in the future.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
UK Biobank’s website
Details on how to access UK Biobank data as a researcher
Information about UK Biobank and GP patient data
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On this week’s podcast Emma and Nick talk about how this year’s GP contract will affect practices’ finances and look at details of the advice and guidance enhanced service after final contract documents were published.
Kimberley explains how collective action has helped one LMC secure a significant uplift to local enhanced service funding.
And Nick talks through the results of this year’s British Social Attitudes survey, which was widely reported and shows satisfaction with the NHS and general practice has continued to fall. He explains why these results don’t tell the whole story of what’s going on in general practice.
Our good news story this week is about GP practices signing up to become parkrun practices.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP contract threatens ‘vast gaps’ between practices and ARRS shortfall, expert warns
ICB 'interface' groups to oversee expansion of advice and guidance
ICB nearly triples LES budget after collective action and LMC talks
GPs question major poll showing patient satisfaction at new low
Landmark for GPs as 2,000th practice joins parkrun scheme
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This week’s episode looks at GPs with extended roles and how they could help move services out of hospitals and into the community, reduce waiting times for patients and boost GP retention.
Emma is speaking to Dr Charlie Andrews, a GP partner and a GP with an extended role in gastroenterology. Charlie is the driving force behind a programme in the south west of England that trains GPs with extended roles in gastroenterology. This has been the basis for a new framework for GPs with extended roles that has been endorsed by the Primary Care Gastroenterology Society and the British Society of Gastroenterology.
Charlie explains how the training programme works and the potential for GPs with extended roles to improve referral pathways and tackle some of the challenges facing the NHS, including workforce issues. He also talks about why the framework should be used by ICBs to develop GPs with extended roles in gastroenterology across England and how it could provide a model for other clinical specialties to develop GPs with extended roles.
Charlie is happy for anyone who wants to discuss the training programme or anything to do with GPwER in gastroenterology to contact him by email on charles.andrews@nhs.net.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
The GPwER in gastroenterology framework
RCGP information on GPwERs - including links to frameworks for some other specialties
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This week Emma and Nick talk about the government agreeing to negotiate a completely new GP contract within the term of this parliament and what that could mean for the profession.
They also discuss the government’s decision to scrap NHS England and how it could affect general practice. And they look at the future of the GP partnership model after an influential health think tank, the Nuffield Trust, suggested that the government should develop alternative models for general practice.
Our good news story this week is about patient access to general practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Government commits to talks on major new GP contract to keep 2025/26 deal on track
What does NHS England's abolition mean for general practice?
Two GPs named in revamped NHS executive team
Government 'should develop alternative GP models' amid rapid decline in partners
Map: Which areas are performing best on the government's GP access benchmark?
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Iain Morrison, chair of the BMA Scotland GP committee Scotland, about the critical challenges facing general practice in Scotland.
In this conversation Iain explains some of the challenges general practice in Scotland is facing as a result of problems with the 2018 GP contract, the impact of underfunding, and the growing crisis in the GP job market.
He explains what needs to happen to address these issues and the prospect of GPs in Scotland taking industrial action in the coming year unless the government takes steps to increase funding – and discusses why GP practices should adopt the BMA safe working guidance.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA safe workload guidance for GPs in Scotland
'Devastated' practices lay off staff after five-figure premises cost hike - GPonline story about the premises problems facing practices in Lothian
GP practices in Scotland promised £10.5m to boost capacity
Scottish GPs call for national fix to help IMG doctors secure visas
Two thirds of Scottish GPs ready to disrupt services through industrial action
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This week Emma and Nick look at the GP contract deal for England for 2025/26.
They discuss what exactly is in the deal and what it means for GP practices in the year ahead, in particular what it could mean for practice finances and whether changes to the additional roles reimbursement scheme will address the GP jobs crisis.
They also talk about what happens now with collective action and the BMA’s push for more significant contract reform in the coming years.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
- Read all of our GP contract coverage here
- What's in the GP contract for 2025/26?
- Early-career GPs spell out how a new contract can secure their future
- What does the pause in collective action really mean for GPs?
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This week Emma speaks to Dr John Ford and GP Dr Liam Loftus from the Health Equity Evidence Centre at Queen Mary University in London about health inequalities and how frontline clinicians, system leaders and policymakers can make evidence-based decisions to tackle inequality in healthcare.
John and Liam discuss how the Health Equity Evidence Centre is making the evidence on what works when it comes to addressing health inequalities more accessible.
The centre uses machine learning to analyse the vast amount of research and literature that’s available and the team at the centre turns that information into actionable insights for GPs, other frontline clinicians, healthcare managers and policymakers.
John and Liam explain how this all works in practice, the resources they have available and how this can help GPs, practices and primary care networks in their day to day work. They also talk about projects they are currently working on, including how GP funding inequalities can be addressed, and how they hope to establish a solid evidence base for what works when it comes to tackling health inequalities.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Health Equity Evidence Centre
Outdated GP funding formula leaves practices in deprived areas with 10% less funding
Talking General Practice episode with Dr Becks Fisher from the Nuffield Trust on - How can we make GP funding fairer?
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This week the team talks about the GP jobs’ crisis after the BMA held a virtual rally last week to help the union shape its plans for how to address the job shortage facing salaried and locum GPs. They also explain the findings from GPonline’s own survey of locum GPs that shows the impact this has had on rates of pay and the finances and wellbeing of those doctors affected.
And they discuss GP premises following a report published last week by the NHS Confederation that suggested NHS Property Services, which owns a significant number of GP premises, should be scrapped.
Our good news story this week is about practices in the north West which have received extra funding to help them develop research hubs.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA reveals 'vital' GP contract priorities that could solve jobs crisis
Most locum GPs struggling to find work as jobs crisis devastates income
Registrars delaying GP qualification because they can’t find jobs, says LMC
New GPs are being 'muscled out' of the NHS, warns registrars leader
Government should abolish NHSPS and pay off GP service charges, report suggests
GP practices share nearly £1m fund to expand research hubs
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This week Emma speaks to GP and researcher Dr Rebecca Payne about what general practice can learn from the research she’s been involved with on remote patient care.
In this conversation Rebecca talks about her research into patient safety in remote consultations, what GPs can do to ensure remote consultations are safe and lessons for practices about the systems that they need to have in place. She also talks about the wider implications of this research including what it means for training and education.
Rebecca also explains her research into how the shift to remote care has impacted on quality in primary care, what this could mean for the future of general practice - and what she hopes policymakers will take from the findings.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Patient safety in remote primary care encounters: multimethod qualitative study combining Safety I and Safety II analysis, published in BMJ Quality and Safety
Teaching patient safety in remote consultations
Project resources from the Remote by Default study including competencies for staff and advice for patients
How to ensure safe remote consultations in your practice - from GPonline
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In this week’s episode the GPonline team discusses the future of the Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme (TERS) – an initiative to attract GPs to underdoctored parts of England – amid fears it could be scrapped.
They also look at what we know about the current GP contract negotiations in England and what could happen at next month's special LMCs conference, which now looks set to be a referendum on the deal for 2025/26.
Plus, they talk about NHS England's planning guidance for the year ahead and what it had to say about general practice. Our good news story this week is about the contract deal that has been struck for general practice in Wales.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Scheme to boost GP recruitment in underdoctored areas could be cut from April
Special conference could push for industrial action or mass resignation threat
GP anxiety 'rife' as partnerships face 2025/26 contract crunch
GP access among priorities in 'reset year' for NHS as officials hint at new targets
'Complacent' health officials lack ideas to save NHS, MPs warn
GPs in Wales accept improved £52m contract boost for 2024/25
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This week Emma speaks to Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, about how to create a neighbourhood NHS and the role general practice will play.
A key plank of the government’s plans is a move towards a neighbourhood NHS with more care provided outside hospital and in the community, but what does this mean in practice? ICBs are already working to set up integrated neighbourhood teams, but as yet there is no clear definition of what these teams should look like.
In this conversation Ruth explains how this work is going, how the NHS will need to change if it is going to deliver more services in primary care, and the importance of allowing local areas the flexibility to redesign care in a way that meets the needs of their population.
She also talks about how the GP contract may need to change in future to deliver this vision, the important role primary care networks have to play and the opportunities to create new pathways involving GPs with extended roles.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP contract and funding reform key steps towards 'neighbourhood NHS'
NHS Confederation Primary Care Network
NHS Confederation report - The case for neighbourhood health and care
What do GPs want from the 10-year NHS plan?
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The government is aiming to create 1,000 new GP jobs through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), but are they on track to hit this target before the end of March? Nick and Emma discuss what we know about how the scheme is going.
They also talk about a report from the Nuffield Trust, which shows how the ARRS more widely has changed the make-up of the workforce in general practice and argues that the introduction of new roles to the NHS has not been backed by enough planning and support - particularly on issues such as training, regulation and supervision.
And they discuss some of the problems the CQC is facing and how this is potentially impacting on GP practices.
Our good news story is about a change in RCGP policy for exam resits for GP registrars who are disabled.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Some PCNs yet to claim any ARRS GP funding, NHS England admits
GPs outnumbered almost 3:1 after 'stark' reshaping of workforce through ARRS
Long waits for CQC reports 'risk damaging GP practices'
GPs entitled to follow advice on PAs that could lead to redundancies, says BMA
Take part in our GP locum rates survey here https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025
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If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 - you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.
Is the NHS making best use of the locum GP workforce and how is the current crisis in the GP jobs market affecting locum GPs?
This week Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of the National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP), speaks to Emma about all things related to locum GPs.
Around a third of GPs in England are not currently working in substantive posts in GP practices and many of these doctors will be working as locums.
Richard set up the NASGP in 1998 to provide support to locum GPs and lobby policymakers on issues specific to locums. In this interview he explains how the current jobs market is affecting locum GPs and the rates they are receiving for work, what the NHS could do to make better use of locums and the value locums bring to general practice.
He also talks about why being a locum is still a good career choice and offers some advice for GPs starting out as locums and for practices on how they can get the best from their locum GPs.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
- National Association of Sessional GPs
- GP job shortage forces locums to cut fees and take on private work
- How to create a GP portfolio career
- Manchester University research Richard mentions in the podcast
- Becoming a GP locum: Setting your rates
- Becoming a GP locum: Setting your terms
- Becoming a GP locum: Invoicing and expenses
If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 – you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.
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Just before Christmas the government announced an £889m funding uplift for the GP contract in 2025/26 - Nick and Emma discuss whether that funding is enough to stabilise practices and what the government will be asking for in the next contract.
They also talk about the government and NHS England’s elective reform plan, which was unveiled this week and sets out steps to hit the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this parliament. The plan includes a number of measures involving GPs and primary care, so what does it all mean for general practice?
Our good news story this week highlights those GPs recognised in the new year honours.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What do we know about the 2025/26 GP contract?
Is £889m the lifeline practices need to keep them afloat?
Two-tier' job risk as practice nurses join ARRS
GPs to be paid £20 per request in £80m advice and guidance plan
Understaffed GP practices 'not ready' to take on more work from hospitals
GPs recognised in 2025 New Year Honours
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Emma speaks to GP Dr Tommy Perkins and accountant Andy Pow from Medics Money about the year ahead for general practice finance and how practices can ensure their business is in good shape.
Medics Money has a website, podcast and a number of courses that provide doctors with education and support on all things to do with money, including personal finance and practice finance.
Tommy is a GP partner who set up Medics Money with fellow GP Dr Ed Cantelo and Andy is a specialist medical accountant and has spent many years working with GP practices, supporting them with their accounts and their finances and now also works with Medics Money.
In this conversation Andy and Tommy talk about the financial pressures practices will face this year including the rise in the national minimum wage rise and employers’ national insurance contributions, as well as the importance of making sure local enhanced services are profitable for practices.
They also talk about how the GP contract needs to change going forwards to ensure practices are more sustainable, problems with GP premises, offer some advice for GPs on their NHS pension, including for those affected by the McCloud remedy, and provide some general advice on finances in the year ahead.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What does the McCloud judgment mean for my NHS pension from Medics Money
McCloud RPSS explained for doctors - remedial pension statement explainer on YouTube
Medics Money financial education for partners course
Medics Money financial education for non partners
From GPonline
Government unveils £889m GP funding boost for 2025/26
Is £889m the lifeline practices need to keep them afloat?
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This week Emma speaks to chief executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing Charlotte Osborn Forde and Dr Radha Modgil, a GP and TV and radio broadcaster, who is also an ambassador for the National Academy for Social Prescribing.
In this conversation Charlotte and Radha explain some of the evidence to support the use of social prescribing, what works in projects on the ground and the important role GPs have to play within social prescribing.
They also discuss some of the challenges facing social prescribing, what practices and PCNs can do to ensure their social prescribing initiatives are a success and how they would like to see social prescribing develop in the coming years as part of the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
From GPonline - The evidence to support the use of social prescribing
From GPonline - The benefits of green prescribing in the NHS
NASP report - The impact of social prescribing on health service use and costs
NASP report - Building the economic case for social prescribing
Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health through Green Social Prescribing Project - government evaluation
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The GPonline team talks about some of the challenges the NHS could face this winter and what all this means for general practice.
They also look at how the GP jobs crisis is affecting locum GPs - and discuss some worrying signs that the lack of detail on any support practices are likely to receive on employer’s national insurance is having a devastating impact on some practices.
And they talk about whether GPs in Wales and Scotland could be following their English counterparts and launching some form of industrial action in the push for a better GP contract.
This week’s good news story is about an ICB area in England that is bucking the trend and has seen a big fall in the number of patients per GP over the past two years and what they’ve done to achieve this.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP job shortage forces locums to cut fees and take on private work
ARRS jobs have not solved employment crisis for newly-qualified GPs, trainers warn
GPs fear 'domino effect' as practice set to close over NI hike
Two thirds of Scottish GPs ready to disrupt services through industrial action
Welsh GPs head for referendum after BMA rejects 2024/25 contract offer
How part of England bucked the national trend and grew its GP workforce
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NHS England has estimated that practices spend around 10-20% of their time on 'lower-value administrative work and work generated by issues at the primary-secondary care interface', so what can we do to address this?
This week Emma speaks to GP Dr Jonathan Griffiths the associate medical director for Primary Care at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB about work he’s been doing in his area to solve some of these challenges.
In this conversation Jonathan explains some of the main problems that happen at the interface between primary and secondary care, how they are aiming to address these in Cheshire and Merseyside and the key things he’s learned through doing this work.
He also talks about why it is so important for the NHS to look at this as a system-wide issue and what the government and NHS England need to do centrally to help support local efforts to address these problems – as well as how this work applies to the interface with other sectors such as community services and mental health.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Consensus on the Primary and Secondary Care Interface
● RCGP Primary-Secondary Care Interface Guidance - which is based on work in Cheshire and Merseyside
● Academy of Medical Royal Colleges publication - General practice and secondary care: Working better together - provides multiple examples of work that is aiming to improve working between primary and secondary care
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This week Nick and Emma discuss whether GPs are likely to step up collective action after GPs at last week’s England LMCs conference voted in favour of balloting the profession on ‘more significant’ industrial action. GPs at the event also voted to hold a special conference on the impact that the rise in employers' national insurance contributions, and Nick and Emma explain what that might mean and how it could affect collective action.
They also discuss some of the other debates that were of interest from the conference - on the GP jobs crisis and integrated neighbourhood teams. And they talk about the latest data from GPonline’s GP Workforce Tracker and what that tells us about the state of the GP workforce in England.
This week’s good news story is about a report that sets out the evidence to support the use of social prescribing from the National Academy of Social Prescribing.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPs back call to ballot profession on 'more significant' industrial action
Budget threatens 'collapse' of general practice as LMCs back special conference
Practices could be forced to switch salaried GPs for locums to avoid NI costs
Where in England are patients per GP rising fastest?
GP Workforce Tracker: How does your ICB compare?
The evidence to support the use of social prescribing - from GPonline
National Academy for Social Prescribing report
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This week Emma speaks to Kent GP Dr Gaurav Gupta who is a member of the BMA England GP committee and the committee lead for premises.
In this conversation Gaurav talks about the terrible state of GP premises in England, how we’ve reached this point and why the government needs to invest in the primary care estate if it is serious about growing the workforce, improving the NHS and moving more care into the community.
He also explains what the new premises cost directions could mean for practices, the problems facing practices based in NHS Property Services buildings and why GP premises ownership should still have an important role in future plans for the primary care estate.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA information on the recent NHS Property Services legal cases
One in three GPs say their premises and computers are not fit for purpose
GPs could have premises developments fully funded as new cost directions published
What do the Premises Costs Directions 2024 mean for practices? - from our sister site GP Business
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Emma and NIck discuss the fallout from the budget and what the increase in employer’s national insurance contributions will mean for GP practices, including looking at the results from our own survey on this issue.
They look ahead to next week’s England local medical committee conference and some of the topics that are up for debate and what they tell us about some of the key concerns facing the profession.
And they discuss salaried GP pay, after warnings that the GP jobs crisis is driving down levels of pay for salaried GPs.
This week’s good news story is about ONS survey data that suggests patient satisfaction with general practice is rising rapidly.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Budget threatens to wipe out half of 2024/25 GP contract uplift
National insurance hike could cost 2m GP appointments, analysis finds
GP jobs crisis is driving down rates of pay, BMA warns
Patient satisfaction with general practice rising rapidly, ONS data suggest
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This week Emma speaks to GP Dr Becks Fisher who is director of policy and research at the health think tank the Nuffield Trust.
Becks has long been an advocate for overhauling GP funding so it better reflects deprivation and she explains why this is so important and how the government could go about doing this.
She also explains her views on the government’s plans to move care from hospitals to the community, create a neighbourhood NHS and incentivise continuity of care, discusses what the Nuffield Trust wants to see in the 10-year plan for the NHS, and offers advice to other GPs who might be interested in a career in policy work.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
How many more patients per GP are there in deprived areas?
Practices in deprived areas have 17% more patients per GP and more chronic illness
RCGP demands overhaul of 'all GP funding streams' to cut inequality
The Nuffield Trust
Next Generation GP
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This week the GPonline team looks at the GP workforce in England after latest figures show it has risen to a five-year high despite an ongoing jobs crisis that has left many GPs struggling to find work. They also discuss what’s happening with the GP additional roles reimbursement scheme jobs and why the RCGP is calling for a complete overhaul of the NHS long-term workforce plan.
And they talk about this week's budget and what it means for general practice and the NHS more widely.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP workforce hits five-year high despite ongoing jobs crisis
Jobs crisis leaves GP on universal credit and registrars 'failing exams deliberately'
What do the emerging ARRS jobs for newly-qualified GPs look like?
Rip up NHS workforce plan and create bold GP retention strategy, demands RCGP
Budget risks 'pushing GPs towards the exit' as practice costs rise
Budget delivers real-terms NHS funding boost but higher costs for GP practices
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Emma speaks to GP Dr Simon Opher, who was elected as the Labour MP for Stroud in Gloucestershire in the general election in July this year. Simon was a GP in his constituency for 30 years before standing for parliament.
In this interview he talks about why he wanted to become an MP, what being an MP involves day to day and some of the challenges he’s faced in this new role – including going from being in one of the most trusted professions as a GP to the least trusted as a politician.
Simon also talks about what role he thinks general practice will play in Labour’s plans for a neighbourhood NHS, how he hopes general practice will improve over the course of this parliament and why he thinks the GP partnership model is the key to successful general practice.
And he explains why he sees standing up for general practice as central to his new job.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Government opens public consultation to shape 10-year NHS plan
Government plans to ‘bulldoze bureaucracy’ to free up GP time
Labour’s new GP MP says primary care will be prioritised for any new NHS funding
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In this week’s episode Emma and Nick discuss the GP contract in England, where it could go next and what the BMA, the government and NHS England might all be hoping to achieve. And they talk about what could happen to the GP jobs that have been added to the additional roles reimbursement scheme in future.
They also explain the RCGP’s decision to say there is no role for physician associates in general practices and look at the college’s new guidance on scope of practice, induction and supervision for those PAs already in post. And they talk about assisted dying in light of the new bill that’s been introduced to the parliament in Westminster this week.
Our good news story this week is about improvements in patients’ experiences of contacting their practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● BMA sets out terms for major GP contract overhaul in 2028
● PCNs taking part in NHS England GP operating model pilot named
● ARRS may not be long-term solution to growing GP jobs, NHS official suggests
● RCGP physician associate guidance at a glance: catch up on the key points
● GPs and practices recognised for providing excellent end-of-life care
● 'Green shoots of hope' amid rise in patients who say contacting GP practice is easy
Listen to our special podcast episode - Should assisted dying be legalised?
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Emma speaks to GP Dr Rik Fijten and consultant hepatologist Dr Kosh Agarwal about the NHS in England’s drive to eliminate hepatitis C.
The World Health Organization is aiming to eliminate Hepatitis C globally by 2030 and NHS England wants England to become the first country to do this, with a target to achieve this aim by next year.
In this podcast Rik and Kosh explains how the NHS is doing against this target and the important role that general practice has to play in helping to eliminate hepatitis C.
Rik explains what his role as a hepatitis C GP champion involves and what GPs and their teams can do in their practices to contribute to this work, and Kosh discusses what advances in treatment mean for patients and the transformative impact they’ve had.
They also explain other aspects of the programme that has helped it become a real success story and discuss whether the approach NHS England has used for Hepatitis C could work for other conditions.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
NHS self-testing kits
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GPonline is the media partner for the RCGP annual conference and this is our third and final special episode from the event.
In this episode we look at what health and social care secretary Wes Streeting had to say in his speech to the conference this morning, when he pledged to cut bureaucracy in general practice, called on the profession to step back from collective action and took questions from delegates.
Emma speaks to Professor Margaret Ikpoh, the RCGP’s vice chair for professional development, and Dr Steve Mowle, the college’s treasurer, for their views on what he had to say - as well as what they’re talking about in their own presentation at the end of the conference. And we also hear from delegates about what they thought about what the health and social care secretary said.
Emma also speaks to the RCGP First5 chair Dr Toyosi Adeniji about some of the key issues facing newly-qualified GPs and to Emma Walker the health information manager at CoopaFeel! about the charity’s work on breast cancer awareness and some of the resources they have to support GPs and other healthcare professionals.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen. Extra reporting by GPonline senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett.
Useful links
● For full coverage of all GPonline’s news from the RCGP annual conference visit https://www.gponline.com/rcgp
● Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting: RCGP conference speech in full
● Funding for GP ARRS jobs will continue beyond March, says Streeting
● Streeting calls on GPs to step back from collective action
Supported by CoppaFeel!
These special episodes of Talking General Practice at the RCGP annual conference have been supported by Coppafeel!
CoppaFeel! are the UK’s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity and they're on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest.
They educate people on the signs of breast cancer and encourage them to check their chests monthly, so that if they notice something unusual for them they are empowered to contact their GP and advocate for themselves. They provide resources and e-learning to health professionals to support them in encouraging breast awareness with their patients.
For more information visit https://coppafeel.org/
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GPonline is the media partner for the RCGP annual conference and this is the second of three special episodes from the event in Liverpool this week.
In this episode Emma speaks to Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, the RCGP’s vice chair for external affairs and Dr Micahel Mullholland, the college’s honorary secretary about what went on at the conference this morning, in particular what RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne had to say in her speech. They also talk about health inequalities, continuity of care and what the college wants to see in the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS.
Emma also speaks to the college’s safeguarding lead Dr Joy Shacklock about the RCGP’s new safeguarding standards, which have been launched at the conference today, and what they mean for GPs and their teams. And she talks to Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders the college’s clinical lead for palliative and end-of-life Care about the RCGP and Marie Curie’s Daffodil Standards and how they can help practices improve end of life care.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● For full coverage of all GPonline’s news from the RCGP annual conference visit https://www.gponline.com/rcgp
● RCGP safeguarding hub
● 'Devastating inequality' in GP provision is growing, RCGP chair warns
● Professor Kamila Hawthorne: RCGP conference speech in full
● GPs need a flexible new contract to build services around patients, say charities
Supported by CoppaFeel!
These special episodes of Talking General Practice at the RCGP annual conference have been supported by Coppafeel!
CoppaFeel! are the UK’s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity and they're on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest.
They educate people on the signs of breast cancer and encourage them to check their chests monthly, so that if they notice something unusual for them they are empowered to contact their GP and advocate for themselves. They provide resources and e-learning to health professionals to support them in encouraging breast awareness with their patients.
For more information visit https://coppafeel.org/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the first of three daily episodes we’re producing from the RCGP annual conference Emma speaks to college chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne.
Kamila talks about the RCGP council’s recent vote to oppose a role for physician associates in general practice, why funding for general practice needs to change to better reflect deprivation and the current challenges new GPs are facing finding work.
She also explains her views on whether the new Labour government will make a positive difference to general practice, what the college wants to see happen to improve GP retention and whether incentives for continuity of care are a good idea.
GPonline is the media partner for the RCGP annual conference, which takes place in Liverpool on 3-4 October. For all the latest news from the event visit www.gponline.com/rcgp
Supported by CoppaFeel!
These special episodes of Talking General Practice at the RCGP annual conference have been supported by Coppafeel!
CoppaFeel! are the UK’s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity and they're on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest.
They educate people on the signs of breast cancer and encourage them to check their chests monthly, so that if they notice something unusual for them they are empowered to contact their GP and advocate for themselves. They provide resources and e-learning to health professionals to support them in encouraging breast awareness with their patients.
For more information visit https://coppafeel.org/
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Full coverage from the RCGP annual conference
RCGP votes to oppose role for physician associates in general practice
Details of GP ARRS plans revealed in updated network contract DES
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The views expressed are not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Patients should consult their physician or qualified health provider regarding their condition and appropriate medical treatment. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.
In this bonus episode Emma speaks to Dawn Adams, a midwife and menopause advocate who has type 1 diabetes, about how the menopause can affect people with diabetes - based on her professional and personal experience.
Dawn explains the overlapping symptoms of diabetes and menopause and the impact these can have on women, highlighting what GPs and other healthcare professionals need to consider when speaking with women with diabetes who are experiencing menopause symptoms.
She also discusses how diabetes technology has helped her manage her own diabetes alongside the menopause, how to tackle stigma around both diabetes and menopause and what GPs can do to support patients and ensure they have a positive experience.
Dawn Adams received a fee for this podcast. Views are her own and not necessarily those of Abbott.
ADC-96979 (v1.0) 09/2024
ADC-96980 (v1.0) 09/2024
Useful links
- Abbott FreeStyle Libre
- Diabetes UK – Menopause and diabetes
The following are links to resources that Dawn mentioned during this interview:
- TREND Diabetes – Diabetes and the menopause
- Evidently Cochrane – Menopause and type 1 diabetes: why didn’t they tell me?
About Abbott
This bonus episode of Talking General Practice has been supported by global healthcare company Abbott.
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Focused on making breakthrough technology accessible and approachable for all, Abbott’s sensing technology is revolutionising how people monitor glucose and providing doctors with more data for better informed treatment decisions.
More information at https://pro.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/home.html.
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GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock discuss the review of the NHS by Lord Ara Darzi, the government’s response to the report and what happens next - including what might be in the new NHS long-term plan.
They also look at another report Lord Darzi was involved with - the IPPR think tank’s final report from its Commission on Health and Prosperity and what that could mean for general practice and the NHS.
And they’re talking about health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s war of words with the BMA over collective action.
Our good news story this week is also very good news for the government as junior doctors - who are now called resident doctors - voted to accept the new pay offer which brings to an end 18 months of industrial action.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Darzi report at a glance: read a summary of the key findings and advice
Hardwire NHS finances to 'lock in' expansion of GP services, says Darzi review
Streeting welcomes 'oven-ready' NHS reform plan that criticises GP model
Streeting hits out at GP 'sabre-rattling' and 'unnecessary threat of collective action'
Four in five GP practices already taking collective action, BMA says
Collective action sets up NHS winter plan clash as GPs told to 'avoid hospital admissions'
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Emma speaks to Alex Matheson from the LGBT Foundation about the charity’s Pride in Practice programme, which helps GP practices improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people accessing primary care services.
In this conversation Alex talks about the health inequalities experienced by LGBTQ+ people, in particular around access to services and the discrimination some people experience, and how that ultimately impacts on outcomes for this group of patients.
She also explains how the Pride in Practice programme can help GP practices to improve the care for their LGBTQ+ people, including the importance of training for staff and recording patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
The Pride in Practice programme
Hidden Figures: LGBT health inequalities in the UK - the LGBT Foundation’s report
Gender identity toolkit - developed by the Institute of General Practice Management in partnership with the LGBT Foundation
Monitoring sexual orientation and trans status
MIMS Learning's Tackling Health Inequalities campaign includes free CPD on transgender and LGBTQ+ healthcare
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Please note: In this episode, we mention that the RCGP allows four attempts at GP exams - but in fact the college allows five in exceptional cases.
The GPonline team looks at how much GPs are earning after figures for 2022/23 were published, as well as the uplift to this year’s GP contract and what that could mean for GP partner pay.
They also discuss a report from the Tony Blair Institute - a think tank set up by the former prime minister - about AI and the NHS and what that had to say about general practice.
And they talk about a legal ruling last week that could lead to a change in the rules for RCGP exam resists for GP registrars who are disabled.
Our good news story this week is about a group of practices who are downsizing their PCN.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Real-terms GP partner income fell 17% in 2022/23, official data reveal
● GP contract uplift detail confirmed in updated statement of financial entitlement
● Bring in AI doctors and strip GP practices of sole data controller role, says Blair think tank
● Landmark legal ruling overturns exam resits rule for disabled GP registrars
● Practices downsize to smaller PCN to sharpen localised, preventative care
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This week Emma speaks to GP and co-chair of the Society of Academic Primary Care Dr Duncan Shrewsbuy about the role academia has to play in primary care – both in terms of teaching and research.
Duncan explains why we need more research in primary care, how practices can get more in research or start smaller-scale research projects in their own practice, as well as some of the issues around sharing data from the GP patient record for large-scale research projects.
They also explain how changes to the way undergraduates are taught is starting to shift the perception of general practice among medical students and other branches of medicine and offer advice to GPs on how to develop a career in research or teaching.
Useful links
Society for Academic Primary Care
RCGP Research Ready information
More information on CPRD - Clinical Practice Research Datalink
RCGP sets out steps to achieve 'parity of esteem' for general practice
More than half of GP practices in England took part in clinical research last year
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This week Emma and Nick discuss the additional uplift to the GP contract for 2024/25, how it is being applied and what it means for GP practices, GP pay and staff salaries.
They also talk about the government’s emergency intervention that will see £82m added to the additional roles reimbursement scheme this year so that primary care networks can employ newly qualified GPs and what we know about how that will work.
And they look at this year’s GMC State of Medical Education and Practice report and what it tells us about how GPs feel about their job and the number of hours they work, as well as a new study in the British Journal of General Practice that says we need to move away from using ‘sessions’ as a way to define how many hours GPs work.
Our good news story this week is about very low calorie diets and diabetes remission.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Global sum to rise 7.4% in 2024/25 as final detail of GP contract revealed
Contract uplift won't deliver promised 6% pay rise for GP partners, accountant warns
BMA warns GPs 'now is not the time to waver' over collective action
New GP model pilots could trap practices in PCN DES, says BMA
GP ARRS plan to start from October, NHS officials confirm
GP 'soup and shake' referrals put type 2 diabetes in remission for one in three patients
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA England GP committee, about collective action by GPs, what it means for practices and what the BMA is hoping it will achieve.
In this conversation Katie explains why she believes collective action is necessary to achieve a better deal for general practice, what action will involve and how the profession can keep patients on side while it takes this step.
She also explains how the BMA’s safe working guidance can help practices and even improve things for patients, the key changes that she believes are necessary in both the shorter and longer term to ensure a sustainable future for general practice and her view on the new government’s approach.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA advice on collective action
BMA GPs are on your side patient facing campaign
What does collective action mean for GP practices?
Why GPs are ready to press ahead with collective action
Contract uplift and £82m ARRS plan 'first steps' to sustainable general practice, Streeting tells GPs
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Adrian Hayter, the Royal College of GPs medical director of clinical policy and a GP in Windsor, about the college’s new clinical priority - preventive medicine.
In this conversation Adrian explains why the college has chosen to focus on prevention, some of the work it will be doing on this issue and the role general practice has to play in preventing ill health.
He also talks about how addressing health inequalities feeds into this work, the resources the college hopes to produce to support GPs in practice and his previous role as NHS England’s national clinical director for older people and personalised care - and what this involved during the pandemic.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the GPonline team discusses the BMA’s vision for how to rebuild general practice in England, what both the BMA and the RCGP want from the new government and how the BMA’s ballot on collective action – which closes on Monday – plays into all of this.
They also talk about what happens next for physician associates in general practice after a new poll shows public confusion of the role and the RCGP called for a halt to recruitment of PAs in general practice last month.
Our good news story this week is about a GP who was awarded the contract to run her practice after a three-and-a-half year battle.
This episode was presented by GPonlne editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA vision to rebuild general practice
GP leaders unveil blueprint to 'fix general practice' and end unemployment crisis
ICBs told to prepare for knock-on impact of GP collective action
Only half of patients know the difference between doctors and physician associates
RCGP demands halt to recruitment of physician associates amid safety fears
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Dr Emma Ryan, a GP in South East London and the Royal College of GPs clinical champion for gambling harms, explains the role general practice can play in tackling problem gambling and gambling harms.
In this conversation Emma talks about the impact problem gambling can have on individuals and their families, recommendations from NICE’s new guidance on gambling harms and why GPs should ask patients about their gambling habits.
She also talks about the support available for patients, a new educational resource on gambling that she’s developed for the RCGP, and what support practices themselves can provide to patients.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● RCGP Gambling Harms Hub
● Why GPs should be on the front line of the fight against gambling harm
● GPs should routinely ask patients about gambling, says draft NICE guidance
● NICE’s draft guidance on harmful gambling
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This week Emma talks to Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation think tank, about what a new Labour government could mean for general practice and the rest of the NHS.
They discuss Labour’s plans to shift a greater share of NHS funding to primary care and what that could mean for general practice, what the government needs to do to bring down the NHS waiting list, and whether it can do anything to avert collective action by GPs.
Tim also explains where the new government might look to for quick wins on the NHS to show progress in its first 100 days, what improvements could be delivered through reform alone and whether Labour’s spending plans during the election will add up to make the changes that are needed to the health service.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Streeting commits to increasing general practice share of NHS funding
BMA calls for GP funding to rise to 15% of NHS budget and new 'family doctor charter'
RCGP calls on government to overhaul NHS workforce plan to boost GP numbers
Most GPs in England back taking collective action, poll suggests
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The podcast is out a bit early this week because of the election.
In this week’s episode Emma and Nick discuss the BMA ballot on collective action, and look at the case of a practice in Cambridge that has handed back its contract despite having high patient satisfaction scores to explain why funding for general practice is now a critical issue. Nick also explains what action practices could take if the ballot is successful.
They also talk about new NHS England pilots, which will be looking at how PCNs can develop new ways of working in general practice.
And Emma speaks to GP and Green Party health spokesperson Dr Pallavi Devulapalli who is standing in this week’s general election in South West Norfolk, a seat currently held by former Conservative prime minister Liz Truss.
Our good news this week is about some inspiring GPs - as we look at the winners of the RCGP’s Inspire Awards.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
The GPs standing to be MPs
'Devastated' partners at highly-rated GP practice hand back contract
Better-paid APMS provider to pilot new care model after partners hand back contract
GP appointments cap will underpin collective action in general practice
RCGP demands halt to recruitment of physician associates amid safety fears
RCGP recognises achievements of members in its annual Inspire Awards
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Emma speaks to Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary Wes Streeting about the party’s plans for general practice if it wins next week’s general election.
Mr Streeting discusses what Labour would do to address the GP jobs crisis – which has seen thousands of GPs struggling to find work – and why Labour believes general practice should receive a greater share of the NHS budget.
He also explains his views on the GP partnership model, how he hopes to avert possible collective action by GPs this summer and why he thinks general practice has a lot to look forward to if Labour forms the next government.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Labour promises 'investment and reform' to bring back family doctor
General election: The parties' pledges on general practice
See all of GPonline’s coverage of the general election
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Emma speaks to Nottinghamshire GP Dr Carter Singh from the Rebuild General Practice campaign about what the campaign is hoping to achieve, what it is doing during the general election, and how it hopes to influence the new government.
Carter also explains the key issues that he thinks the new government needs to address, the importance of investing in more GPs and his views on the BMA ballot on collective action, which launched this week.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Rebuild General Practice campaign
Unemployment 'scandal' as most job-seeking GPs struggle to find work
General election: The parties' pledges on general practice
Viewpoint: Technology alone will not solve the problems in general practice – Rebuild General Practice responds to Labour’s plans for technology in the NHS
Britain's LMCs co-sign 'unprecedented' letter demanding action to end GP crisis
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The GPonline team looks at the GP employment crisis and concerns about what job opportunities await the many GP registrars due to qualify this summer.
They highlight the latest news from the general election, discussing the BMA’s manifesto and what the political parties have been saying about general practice in their manifestos. And the talk about GMC regulation of physician associates after the regulator set out some further details about how this will work.
Our good news story this week is about a new surgery development in North Yorkshire.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPonline’s general election coverage
The GPs standing to be MPs in the general election
GP registrar applies to work for Tesco as general practice jobs evaporate
BMA calls GP unemployment a ‘national disgrace’ after GP confronts Sunak
Supervising physician associates – what GPs need to know
Doctors raise over £40,000 for GMC legal challenge over PA and AA regulation
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Emma speaks to GP Dr Farnaaz Sharief who is also the chief executive of Manage your Mind which works with NHS and social care staff to help develop mental resilience.
Farnaaz talks about mental wellbeing in the NHS, what mental resilience means and why it is so important.
She also has lots of practical advice on how people can boost their mental resilience to help them cope with stress and pressures - both inside and outside work, how to support friends and colleagues experiencing stress, what practices and organisations can do to promote wellbeing, and the role coaching can play.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Manage your mind
● Box breathing (link to YouTube)
● The straw breath (link to YouTube).
● Farnaaz’s webinar on wellbeing on MIMS Learning
Good Medical Practice
The updated version of the GMC’s Good Medical Practice is here.
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The GPonline team discusses the BMA ballot on collective action, which launches in June and what the general election could mean for that and general practice more widely. They talk about the Royal College of GPs call for an overhaul of GP funding so that it better addresses health inequalities and a wider report the college has produced on how to reverse the inverse care law. And they round up what went on at last week’s UK local medical committees conference.
Our good news story this week is about a scheme in London that has been prescribing fruit and veg to patients on low incomes and with long term conditions that has seen some really impressive results.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.`
Useful links
GPonline’s general election coverage
DDRB uplift could leave practices £350m behind 2019 funding, warns GP leader
RCGP demands overhaul of 'all GP funding streams' to cut inequality
RCGP report Breaking the inverse care law
GPonline’s UK LMCs conference coverage
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This week Emma talks to Tara Humphrey, founder and CEO of THC Primary Care, which provides management support and training to primary care networks across England. Tara is also the host of the Business of Healthcare podcast.
Tara explains what makes a successful network, some of the challenges networks have to overcome and the positive side of the additional roles reimbursement scheme. She also talks about how the 2024/25 GP contract could affect PCNs, why financially secure GP practices are crucial to the success of networks and whether networks are here to stay.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
THC Primary Care
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In our regular news review the GPonline team looks at NHS England's plans to pilot new ways of working in general practice in a bid to ‘optimise the general practice operating model’ - and what this could all mean for the future. They also discuss what the BMA has suggested should be included in the next major overhaul of the GP contract.
They look ahead to next week’s UK conference of local medical committees and discuss some of the key motions up for debate and they talk about the state of GP premises after updated premises cost directions were published last week following many years of delay.
Our good news story this week is about an outreach project that’s taking health services out into deprived communities.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What do the Premises Costs Directions 2024 mean for practices? - on GP Business
Listen to the podcast episode where Emma and Nick talked about the Fuller stocktake when it was first published.
BMA sets out demands for 'new substantive GP contract'
How safe working limits for GPs should change to reflect complexity
LMCs to debate mass resignation and 'triple lock' linking GP contract to inflation
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Earlier this year the Royal College of GPs published a statement setting out a number of steps it said needed to be taken to ensure general practice was treated on a par with other branches of medicine. The college argued that a failure to recognise general practice’s role as the cornerstone of the NHS was driving underfunding and perpetuating the GP crisis.
This week Emma talks to the college’s vice chair for external affairs Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown about how we can achieve parity of esteem for general practice and why it is so important that we do.
Victoria talks through some of the recommendations the college has made around tackling inequalities in training, education and research; why we need steps to limit workload in general practice; and the importance of greater representation of general practice in leadership roles both locally and nationally.
She also explains why the GMC’s specialist and GP register should be merged and discusses how the college hopes its strategy on achieving parity will develop in the coming months.
You can find the college’s statement on achieving parity for general practice here https://www.rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/policy-areas/parity-esteem
The article on GPonline about how the RCGP was founded is here https://www.gponline.com/nhs-70-founding-rcgp/article/1485054
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Get in touch
If there is an issue or topic you would like us to cover on future episodes of Talking General Practice, please email us at gppodcast@haymarket.com
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In our regular news review the GPonline team looks at what’s happened to the GP workforce over the course of the five year contract, in particular the number of GP partners. They also talk about the cost to the NHS of not retaining doctors following some BMA research and the government’s view of the workforce crisis.
They discuss the issue of drug shortages and how it is affecting GPs and patients and look at the government’s plans to tackle the ‘sick note culture’ that could see GPs lose their role signing fit notes and big changes to benefits for those with disabilities and long-term illness.
Our good news story this week is about a crowdfunder that’s raised money to support a popular local GP in her bid to keep her practice after it was put out to tender.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Which ICB areas are losing GP partners fastest?
General practice lost 2,900 partners as GP workforce shrank during five-year contract
GPs condemn 'ridiculous' practice underfunding as registrars fear unemployment
Leadsom claims there are '3,000 more GPs than in 2019'
Patients left without medication as record drug shortages hit GP prescribing
Constant NHS medicines shortages 'the new normal', report warns
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Emma speaks to Jake Beech, a policy fellow from the think tank the Health Foundation, about why we need to change the way we think about access in general practice.
Jake is involved with a research project that’s a partnership between the Health Foundation and THIS Institute looking at what access in general practice means. The project is developing a ‘candidacy framework’ that provides a series of interventions and ideas for improving access.
Jake explains why access is much more complex and nuanced than just thinking about supply and demand and how practices could use the candidacy framework to help understand their patients and develop solutions to suit their needs.
He also talks about the limitations with the national data on general practice appointments which are often used by policymakers to make decisions and why patient satisfaction with access is so low despite the fact that practices are delivering more appointments than ever before.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Health Foundation report - Rethinking access to general practice: it’s not all about supply
Get all the latest news affecting general practice from our website GPonline.com
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This week the GPonline team talks about how untapped capacity among GP locums could help deliver hundreds of thousands of extra GP appointments every week, and what this all means in light of the current challenges sessional GPs are facing finding work.
They also discuss NHS England’s evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, which is due to make recommendations on whether GP funding should be increased further this year - as well as some of the steps practices are being forced to consider to cope with the tiny 1.9% funding increase they have currently been given.
There’s also news about a contract deal for GPs in Northern Ireland that could be agreed by the time this episode comes out, and they discuss NHS England’s decision to U-turn on funding cuts it was planning to make to NHS Practitioner Health - the specialist mental health service for doctors and NHS staff.
Our good news story this week is about a practice that has won a national small business award.
You can listen to the podcast interview with NHS Practitioner Health’s medical director Helen Garr here.
NHS Practitioner Health’s website is here.
Other useful links
Untapped locum capacity could deliver 250,000 extra GP appointments a week
GP workforce, funding and continuity all linked to higher life expectancy
Northern Ireland GPs near landmark deal to cover indemnity costs and abolish QOF
NHS evidence on GP pay 'completely out of date'
Practices weigh up cutting services, staff and partner drawings in coming year
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Emma speaks to Jacob Lant, the chief executive of National Voices, a coalition of more than 200 health and social care charities in England about what patients want from general practice and the NHS more widely..
In this conversation Jacob talks about why patient satisfaction has reached an all time low and what needs to happen to improve things.
He also explains how he would like to see the GP contract changed to give practices and PCNs more freedom to work in partnership with local communities to deliver the care people need, the importance of getting the basics right, in particular communication with patients, and how GPs and patients could make the case together for increased funding for general practice ahead of the general election.
He has some really useful and practical advice on what practices can do to work effectively with their patients to ensure they are meeting their needs. And he explains how compassionate GPs can transform experiences for individual patients.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
National Voices website
National Voices manifesto
RCGP manifesto
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This week Nick and Emma explain the results of the BMA’s referendum on the GP contract for England in 2024/25 and what happens next. And they talk about whether GPs will be prepared to take industrial action this year – and the types of action they might back – based on results from our own polling.
They also discuss whether general practice in England is shifting to a GP-lite model, as many GPs struggle to find work at the same time as £1.4bn of funding a year is pumped into the additional roles reimbursement scheme which provides funding for primary care networks to recruit other healthcare professionals. Nick talks through some of the data linked to this and what it all means.
Meanwhile, Emma talks about the latest news on a possible change in the law on assisted dying in Scotland, and they look at the results of the latest British Social Attitudes survey on what the public thinks about the NHS.
Our good news story this week is about the rollout of life-changing technology for patients with type 1 diabetes.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Which forms of industrial action would GPs be prepared to take?
Three quarters of GPs prepared to take industrial action, poll suggests
Is general practice in England moving to a 'GP-lite' model?
Bill that could legalise assisted dying in Scotland introduced
Listen to our special episode on assisted dying and what’s being proposed about how the law should change in Scotland here.
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This week Emma talks to GP Dr Lucy Henshall and healthcare consultant and former practice manager Penny Flack about their initiative Welcome Back to Work, which helps support GPs back into the workplace if they’ve had less than two years away.
In this conversation they explain how Welcome Back to Work helps GPs, the importance of tailoring support to individual doctors, and why we need a much more flexible approach to GP retention than is currently available.
They also talk about what GP practices can do to support GPs returning to work and those who may need more flexibility in the way that they work - and the benefits for both employers and doctors of doing this. And how they hope their approach could be scaled up to work across local healthcare systems – or even nationally – to help ensure experienced GPs are not lost to the NHS.
Lucy and Penny primarily work in Suffolk but they also work with GPs in other parts of the country as well.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
Welcome Back to Work website
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Emma and Nick discuss the debate that’s raging about the use of physician associates in the NHS after the BMA issued new guidance on the tasks PAs should and shouldn’t be doing and the RCGP updated its red lines on the use of PAs in general practice.
They also talk again about the struggles GPs are facing finding work as the financial pressures in general practice continue to bite, as well as the results of a new BMA survey of GP registrars about their future career intentions.
And they look at what happened at the Welsh LMCs conference recently where GPs called for the BMA to move towards industrial action by GPs in Wales - and also what’s going on in England as we head towards the end of the referendum on the GP contract there.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Physician associates must never see undifferentiated patients, BMA safety advice warns
RCGP expands 'red lines' on use of physician associates in general practice
NHS promises clear safety advice for GPs on physician associate role
Qualified GP driving for Uber amid chronic shortage of jobs
Just two in five GP registrars plan to work in UK general practice, devastating poll reveals
Welsh LMCs push for industrial action as ministers warned not to 'devalue general practice'
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Emma talks to BMA England GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer about the impact the GP contract for 2024/25 will have, the BMA’s referendum on the deal and what happens next.
GPs in England are facing the third consecutive contract imposition and a deal that will deliver just a 1.9% uplift to funding in 2024/25. The BMA last week launched a referendum on the contract and we’re entering a crucial period for the profession that could see GPs head towards industrial action later this year.
In this interview Dr Bramall-Stainer explains why she thinks the deal represents an ideological dismantling of NHS general practice, how it could harm practices and patients, and what happened during this year’s contract negotiations.
She also talks about what she hopes the referendum will achieve and what happens next, how the BMA’s safe working guidance could help practices in the coming months and how working in partnership with patients could help convince ministers of the need for further investment in general practice ahead of the general election.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP concerns have been 'ignored' but referendum offers chance to speak up, says BMA
BMA reveals forms of industrial action GPs could take this year
What is in the GP contract for 2024/25?
GP business model 'non-viable' under 2024/25 contract, warns BMA
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This week the GPonline team discusses the GP contract for England for 2024/25.
They look at how the contract deal will affect practice finances, as well as some of the other changes it will bring.
They also talk about the human impact of underfunding in general practice, which has seen some unemployed locum GPs being forced to use food banks as well as and practices having to cut back services because of funding constraints.
They also look at what happens next after the BMA launched its referendum on the deal this week and ask whether GPs in England are heading for industrial action and what that might look like.
Our good news story is about plans for same-day access hubs in North West London being shelved.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostcock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPs asked to vote on 2024/25 contract as BMA launches yes/no referendum
BMA reveals forms of industrial action GPs could take this year
Unemployed locum GPs relying on food banks, BMA council member warns
Outstanding practice forced to scale back services due to 'spiralling' costs
What is in the GP contract for 2024/25?
ICB backs down on same-day access plan after GP and patient outcry
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This week Emma speaks to Beccy Baird, senior fellow at health think tank the King’s Fund.
Beccy is the lead author of a report the King’s Fund published in Feburary called Making care closer to home a reality – refocusing the system to primary and community care. The report looks at what needs to happen to ensure a greater share of NHS funding goes to primary care and community services and we build an NHS that is focused on communities rather than hospitals.
The report says that the government's failure to invest in primary care ranks as one of the most significant and long-running failures of NHS policy over the past 30 years.
In this interview Beccy explains why we need an NHS that is focused around primary care and community services and why, despite so many policies advocating this shift over the years, this has not happened. She also explains how she thinks we can make that move in future and what needs to happen at a national and local level to make it a reality.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
You can find the full King’s Fund report here.
Register for or subscribe to GPonline here.
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This week the GPonline team looks at the visa challenges facing international medical graduate (IMG) GPs in training and how this could drive them out of the NHS.
They also talk about the difficulties locum GPs in England are facing finding work, why this is happening, and how it is affecting rates of pay following a recent survey carried out by GPonline and our sister site GP Business.
And they discuss appointment data and patient data for the whole of 2023 and how general practice fared over those 12 months.
This week’s good news story is about how a practice has used patient feedback and effective communication about the work they are doing to deliver a massive fall in complaints.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
NHS risks losing thousands of new GPs because of visa sponsor shortfall
IMG doctors lift the lid on why a generation of GPs may slip away from the NHS
How GP practices can become skilled worker visa sponsors
More than half of locum GPs in England are struggling to find work
GP locum rates fall slightly in England but rise in rest of UK
Practices delivered 'an extra month and a half' of appointments last year
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Emma speaks to GP and author Dr Ellen Welch about her latest book Why Can’t I See My GP? which was published this month.
The book looks at the current state of general practice, why we have reached this point, and puts forward ideas on what needs to be done to address the problems. Along with her own views the book includes personal accounts from GPs and others about their experiences.
In this interview Ellen discusses the process of writing the book and why she chose this topic, what she learned during the process of writing it and what she thinks needs to happen to address the current crisis facing general practice.
The Doctors Association UK is sending a copy of the book to every MP to raise the alarm about the state of primary care and Ellen also talks about what she hopes this will achieve.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Why Can’t I See My GP (Amazon link)
● Viewpoint: Patients and GPs are unhappy with access to general practice, what's the solution? (from GPonline)
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Last week the BMA rejected a contract offer for practices in England that would deliver a 1.9% uplift in funding. In this episode of Talking General Practice the GPonline team looks at what we know about the deal that’s currently on the table.
They discuss what a 1.9% funding uplift would mean for practices, what the BMA, grassroots GPs and Labour think about the deal, and what happens next – including whether industrial action could be on the cards.
In other news, they look at what’s going on with regulation of physician’s associates and the ongoing debate about their use in the NHS. And this week’s good news is about Northern Ireland.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What do we know about the 2024/25 GP contract offer?
'Insulting' 1.9% uplift threatens £50,000 black hole per average practice
Labour says 1.9% GP contract offer ‘devaluing general practice'
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer: It's time to stop ignoring reality - GPs need more funding
Most doctors say working with physician associates has increased workload
Lords set for full debate on physician associates after pressure from doctors
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Robyn Clark is a managing partner in a practice in Gloucestershire and a founder and director of the Institute of General Practice Management.
On this episode of Talking General Practice she talks to Emma about the challenges facing practice managers in the current climate, what needs to be done to cut bureaucracy in general practice – including how the QOF needs to change – and what practice managers are hoping to see from the next GP contract.
Robyn also explains the current financial pressures facing GP practices, and discusses what NHS England and GP partners should be doing to support managers and recognise the vital role they play.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Institute of General Practice Management
From GPonline
Viewpoint: Investment in practice managers is a step towards saving general practice
Accreditation for practice managers
Find out more about our website GP Business and how to subscribe here.
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In this week’s podcast the team discusses GP funding after analysis by the Liberal Democrats showed a real-terms fall in practice funding during the past four years. Meanwhile, government figures have also shown that the share of NHS funding going to primary care has fallen to an eight-year low.
They also talk about problems at the primary care interface - the interface between practices and other parts of the NHS, including hospitals, community services and mental health services – and how it is wasting millions of GP appointments every year.
And they look at the latest on measles and MMR vaccine uptake after the UK Health Security Agency last week declared a national incident because of rising cases of measles.
Our good news story this week is about the Friends and Family Test.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Which ICB areas have seen the largest drops in real-terms GP funding?
● RCGP warning as primary care share of NHS funding hits eight-year low
● Solving NHS 'interface' chaos could save 6m GP appointments a year
● NHS England launches catch-up MMR campaign amid rising measles cases
● GPs told to wear PPE when seeing suspected measles cases
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Talking General Practice speaks to former BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul about the extent of the problem of racism in the medical profession and what we can do to address this.
Dr Nagpaul is a London GP, a former chair of the BMA GP committee, and in 2017 he became the first person from an ethnic minority to chair the British Medical Association - a post he held until 2022.
While he was chair the BMA set up a national forum for racial and ethnic equality - the first time it had such a group. It also conducted a landmark survey in 2022 to establish the scale of the issue of racism across the medical profession and how it affects doctors’ wellbeing and their careers.
In this conversation Dr Nagpaul explains some of the key findings from that survey and what he believes the NHS and the medical profession need to do to tackle racism. He also talks about the impact racism has on doctors and how it affects patient care, how we can address differential attainment in medical exams and disparities in GMC referrals, as well as the importance of having more leaders in medicine from different ethnic groups.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA FREE (forum for racial and ethnic equality)
BMA racism in medicine survey
BMA - delivering racial equality in medicine
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In our regular news review Emma and Nick discuss a practice in Surrey that is set to make three salaried GPs redundant, and what this tells us about changes in primary care
They also talk about the GP workforce, in particular the falling number of GP partners and the impact this might have, and NHS England’s decision to scrap two key GP retention schemes.
Our good news story this week highlights those GPs and others from the world of primary care who received New Year Honours.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practice makes salaried GPs redundant as model shifts to additional roles
● GP partners' income down 20% in a year, BMA poll reveals
● Small increase in GP workforce during past year but partners still falling
● Which ICB areas have the biggest shortages of GP partners?
● RCGP condemns 'disappointing' decision to scrap GP retention schemes
● GPs recognised in New Year Honours
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In this bonus episode Talking General Practice speaks to Dr Helen Evans-Howells, about how GPs can manage infants presenting with the signs of cow’s milk allergy.
Alongside working as a GP and an allergy specialist, Helen also runs the peanut immunotherapy clinic in Southampton Children’s Hospital and is chair of the charity Anaphylaxis UK’s Clinical and Scientific Panel.
In this episode Helen explains the key symptoms of milk allergy, the different types of formula that can be used, and when infants may need a referral. She also talks about when to do a rechallenge and reintroduce cow’s milk and how to advise parents on weaning.
Using insights from her own experience Helen has lots of practical advice for GPs and other healthcare professionals on managing the allergy and how they can best support parents.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
This podcast is sponsored by Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition.
About Reckitt
At Reckitt we exist to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. This purpose drives everything we do as a company – inspiring us to improve people’s lives, through better hygiene, health and nutrition. Every day we are fighting to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right and not a privilege.
Useful links
The MIMS Learning Cows Milk Allergy in Practice webinar series is here. The 2022 series provides 3 hours of CPD and covers:
● When is an allergy not an allergy? How to make the history matter - presented by GP and allergy specialist Dr Helen Evans-Howells
● Why is my baby still crying? A GP’s guide to common infant feeding conditions - presented by specialist paediatric dietitian Bianca Parau
● When, why, how? Demystifying hypoallergenic formulas, presented by specialist paediatric dietitian in allergy Andrea Moreno
In addition the 2023 series of webinars is also available on demand via the link above.
Helen mentioned the following guidance in this conversation:
● The Milk Allergy in Primary Care (MAP) Guideline 2019
● BSACI cow’s milk allergy guidance
RKT-M-44442, January 2024
RKT-M-44445, January 2024
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Happy new year!
This week Emma is talking to GP partner Dr Tommy Perkins and specialist medical accountant Andy Pow from Medics Money, about the financial year ahead for general practice.
Tommy and Andy talk about the current financial pressures GP practices are under, how GP partner income has changed, and the sort of uplift practices might need from this year’s GP contract to help address the shortfalls they’ve experienced in recent years.
They also offer lots of useful advice on how practices can start the new year on a sound financial footing, explain what upcoming tax changes will mean for all GPs, and the importance of better financial training for GPs as general practice becomes increasingly complex.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP Business
Our website GP Business provides practical advice for GP partners and practice managers to help them run their business more effectively. More details here.
From Medics Money
Medics Money GP partnership course
Medics Money GP registrar Business for GPs course
Medics Money podcast
Find a good accountant for doctors (from Medics Money)
Find a good independent financial adviser for doctors (from Medics Money)
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This week we’re bringing you some highlights from our top interviews of 2023 - and we’ve had some really fantastic guests this year.
In this episode you’ll hear from BMA GP committee for England chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne, NHS England director for health inequalities Professor Bola Owolabi, RCGP Wales chair Dr Rowena Christmas and all-round general practice expert and fellow podcast host Ben Gowland.
And between them they’ll be talking about GP contract negotiations, continuity of care, what we can do to retain more GPs, influencing politicians in the run up to next year’s general election, the difference healthcare professionals can make on health inequalities, and the future of primary care networks.
Thanks to everyone who’s taken part in Talking General Practice during 2023 - and happy new year to all of our listeners!
Don’t forget you can listen to the full versions of all these interviews - and interviews with lots of other brilliant people from the world of primary care by searching in our podcast feed or on our website at GPonline.com/podcast
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This week Emma and Nick look at what happens next for the quality and outcomes framework after the government launched its consultation on the future of incentive payments in general practice. They talk about what the consultation is asking and whether this could mean the end of the QOF?
And they discuss an ageing GP workforce and what it means for the stability of GP practices in some parts of England.
They also look ahead to next year and some of the key news stories that are likely to be important in 2024.
Our good news story this week is about a Christmas delivery to a practice in Shropshire.
Merry Christmas to all of our listeners.
Useful links
Government QOF consultation asks if continuity and access should be incentivised
Hundreds of practices on the brink as half their GPs are over retirement age
Which ICBs have most GP practices at risk from an ageing workforce?
Patient safety fears as one in three practice nurses near retirement
GP practice staff moved to tears as patients deliver Christmas tree gift
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, a GP from Sheffield who is vice chair of the RCGP South Yorkshire and North Trent Faculty and a chair of the RCGP Northern Faculties International Medical Graduate steering group.
They talk about the challenges that international medical graduates - or IMG - GPs face and what the NHS and general practice can do to support them.
Around half of the doctors who enter GP training each year are now IMGs, which means they received their initial medical qualification outside the UK.
Sylvia herself qualified as a doctor in Nigeria. In this episode she talks about her own move to the UK in 2004, and some of the difficulties IMG doctors face in the UK, including racism, long-standing problems related to visas and the challenges of practising medicine in a completely different country and culture.
She also explains why the RCGP Northern Faculties IMG steering group was set up and what it is hoping to achieve, and offers some practical advice on how practices can best support IMG doctors. It was produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
IMG group on the RCGP members’ forum
E-learning for health’s guide to induction for IMG doctors
RCGP overseas doctors guide
BMA guide on becoming a tier 2 sponsor for GP practices
NHS guide for IMG doctors
Most regions of Health Education England will have information for IMG doctors working in their area , including:
Yorkshire and the Humber - you can find the IMG guidebook that Sylvia mentioned in the podcast here
East of England
London
North West
South West
Information from Health Education Scotland
Information from Health Education and Improvement Wales
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This week Emma and Nick look at what we know about what the BMA in England might be looking to achieve in contract negotiations, how the current deal that’s on the table for consultants could affect talks, and whether continuity should be a contractual requirement.
They also discuss Labour’s plan for neighbourhood health centres and what the party might want them to achieve.
Our good news story this week is about a British GP's success Down Under.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What questions is the BMA asking GPs to shape its vision for general practice?
Next GP contract 'must signal hope', GP committee chair warns
Government must match consultants' pay offer in new contract for GPs
Labour plans neighbourhood walk-in GP centres open seven days a week
New contract that enforces continuity would make GPs and patients safer, says watchdog
GP conquers 'Everest of competitive mullet growing'
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Emma talks to GPs Dr Beckie Akroyd and Dr Catherine Bell about neurodiversity in the medical profession and what general practice can do to better support doctors and other staff who are neurodivergent.
Beckie is the GP Lead for Autistic Doctors International, a support and advocacy organisation, and until recently Catherine was an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fellow for Derbyshire’s GP Task Force focusing on supporting neurodivergent staff working in general practice.
Beckie and Catherine talk about their own experiences of being neurodivergent, the challenges neurodivergent doctors can face, including stigma, and why it is important that we frame neurodiversity positively and focus on what people can do rather than what they can’t.
Beckie and Catherine also have lots of practical tips for practices on how they can support neurodivergent staff and advice for anyone listening who may be neurodivergent about how to approach conversations with your employer and places to get additional support.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Autistic Doctors International
Access to Work support
Society of Occupational Medicine: Evaluating and supporting neurodifferences at work
Catherine’s article on neurodiversity in the general practice workforce - available for RCGP members
Acas - Neurodiversity at work
Beckie and Catherine’s full Linktree with links to all the resources they recommended during their talk at the RCGP conference.
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Emma and Nick look at the current state of the GP workforce and changes over the past year. We’ve just undertaken a major update of GPonline’s GP Workforce Tracker, which we launched a year ago, and Nick talks through some of the key findings from that work.
They talk about the uplift to the minimum wage that is due to happen in April and what this will mean for practice, and discuss GP premises, in particular some of the problems relating to funding reaching practices when there are housing developments in their area.
And, following the recent cabinet reshuffle, they look at the arrival of a new secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care and what this could mean in the months ahead.
Our good news story is about NHS England’s pledge to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPonline’s GP Workforce Tracker
Where in England are patients per GP rising fastest?
GPs fear practice closures as minimum wage hike threatens major rise in costs
Chancellor to investigate delays in GP premises funding from housing development
Who is new health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins?
NHS England sets target to eliminate cervical cancer
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Emma speaks to Dr Sarah Taylor and Dr Rebecca Leon, who are GPs with a special interest in cancer, about early cancer diagnosis.
Both Sarah and Rebecca have portfolio careers and one of their roles is as GP leads at GatewayC, an organisation backed by the NHS in England and Wales and leading cancer charities that is aiming to boost early cancer diagnosis. As part of this work they host the GPs Talk Cancer podcast.
In this conversation Sarah and Rebecca explain how the pandemic and the current backlog of care have impacted on cancer diagnosis and treatment, whether the NHS can hit ambitious targets on early cancer diagnosis, and what recent changes to national targets mean.
We also talk about inequalities in early cancer diagnosis, new tests to detect cancer early, and the importance of screening. Rebecca and Sarah also have some practical advice based on their own experiences and conversations with experts that can help GPs ensure they don’t miss a cancer diagnosis.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GatewayC
● GPs Talk Cancer podcast
● The NHS Galleri trial
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This week on the podcast Emma and Nick talk about physician associates after the BMA GP committee in England voted in favour of a strongly worded motion that called for an immediate freeze on recruiting these roles in general practice. They also look at plans for regulating PAs by the GMC, which is also causing concern in the medical profession.
They also discuss the RCGP’s new definition of what a GP is, and they look ahead to the England local medical committee conference at the end of this month and some of the motions relating to the GP contract that are up for debate.
Our good news story this week is about prescribing of DOACs in primary care and the impact this has had on stroke prevention.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
BMA demands halt to 'increasing trend' of PAs substituting GPs
Doctors warn GMC plans to regulate physician associates are 'unsafe'
Supervising physician associates – what GPs need to know - advice from the MDU
GPs are 'consultants in general practice', says RCGP
GP prescribing shift has stopped thousands of strokes, says NHS chief
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Emma speaks to Surrey GPs Dr Gillian Orrow, Dr Tabassum Siddiqui and Dr Richard Wright, about how a programme called Growing Health Together, which Gillian co-founded, is helping general practice and other partners in the local health system to tackle health inequalities.
One of the key aims of Growing Health Together is to create a more sustainable health and care system, by reducing demand in primary and secondary care through health creation, prevention, and early intervention.
It is based on the idea of health creation and this episode looks at what health creation is, some of the local schemes that Growing Health Together has helped to establish and how this is all benefiting local people.
Gillian, Tabassum and Richard also explain how this work fits in with what their primary care networks are trying to achieve and the value of GPs having funded time to spend in their local communities to help understand the challenges some of their patients face and work out solutions that can help.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Growing Health Together
The YouTube video explaining some of the work Growing Health Together is doing is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfW5cjpvklU
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Emma and Nick reflect on last week’s RCGP annual conference, in particular the details of the college’s manifesto to save general practice and the Labour party’s reaction to it.
They look ahead to what might happen to the GP contract in England as we come towards the end of the current five-year deal, as well as discuss pay rises for practice nurses and the collapse of contract talks in Wales. And they look at online access to patient records, a contractual requirement in England that comes into effect next week, and some of the concerns around this.
Our good news story this week is about patient satisfaction with access to general practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Read all the news from the RCGP conference here
General practice could see 'new contract for a generation' from 2028
ARRS model should be 'turned on its head', says BMA GP leader
Unions warn not all GP practices can afford 6% staff pay rise
General practice in Wales 'at risk of collapse' after contract talks break down
Remote access to GP records risks domestic abuse survivors' safety, BMA warns
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Talking General Practice speaks to RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne ahead of the college’s annual conference in Glasgow this week.
In this conversation Professor Hawthorne explains what needs to be done to help tackle spiralling workload in general practice, how we can retain more GPs in the workforce and what changes could happen in the short term to help turn the current situation in general practice around.
She also talks about how the college hopes to influence political parties in the run up to the next general election, whether the RCGP’s new exam will help tackle differential attainment and why, despite all of the current challenges, general practice is still a great place to work.
GPonline at the RCGP annual conference
The college will be launching a manifesto for general practice at its conference and you will be able to read more about this on GPonline on Thursday morning.
GPonline is delighted to once again be the college’s media partner for the RCGP annual conference, which takes place on 19 and 20 October. We’ll be in Glasgow reporting all the news from the conference - visit www.gponline.com/rcgp
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs seeing cases of malnutrition and rickets as cost-of-living crisis hits patient health
● No extra funding for general practice as government unveils £200m winter support
● An introduction to the simulated consultation assessment (SCA)
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Emma and Nick look at the New to Partnership Scheme – a three-year initiative that aimed to boost the number of partners in England – and ask, has it actually worked?
They discuss what’s going on with funding for general practice across the UK and what the uplifts agreed for 2023/24 mean for practices. And they talk about the latest appointment data for general practice in England and what it tells us about the pressure practices are under as we head towards winter.
This week’s good news story is about flu vaccination.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Golden hello scheme brings in almost 3,000 new GP partners
● What impact have 'golden hello' payments had on GP partnerships?
● Cashflow warning as 6% uplift money delayed until November
● Northern Ireland GP funding slashed despite 'absolute crisis'
● 'Disappointing' uplift falls short of 6% pay rise promised to GPs in Scotland
● Dispensing practices face cashflow crisis as 'yo-yoing' fees fall sharply
● GP practices delivering 150,000 extra appointments per day compared with 2019
● Flu vaccination prevented 25,000 hospitalisations last year
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Talking General Practice speaks to Professor Deborah Christie, professor of paediatric and adolescent psychology and consultant clinical psychologist at University College Hospital London, about stigma in diabetes.
Deborah has published over 200 peer reviewed papers and chapters and a bestselling book called Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Families.
She’s also involved with global healthcare company Abbott’s Let’s Change Perspective campaign, which is aiming to confront unconscious bias and reduce stigma around diabetes.
In this conversation Deborah explains what diabetes stigma is and the impact it can have on patients, the role healthcare professionals in primary care can play in reducing stigma and how GPs can effectively communicate with patients to help improve outcomes.
Along with insights from her own experience she also has lots of practical advice for GPs and other healthcare professionals on how they can best support their patients.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Professor Deborah Christie received a fee for this podcast. Views are her own and not necessarily those of Abbott.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. They have a portfolio of life-changing technologies spanning the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines.
Useful links
● Let’s Change Perspective
● Diabetes UK
● JDRF
The following are links to social media accounts Deborah mentioned during this interview:
● Diabetic Health Coach on Instagram
● Heather Jackson on Instagram
● Diabetic Dad UK on X (formerly Twitter)
ADC-81740 (v1.0) 09/2023
ADC-81741 (v1.0) 09/2023
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Emma speaks to London GP and co-chair of Greener Practice, a UK primary care network focused on sustainability, Dr Tamsin Ellis.
Along with her Greener Practice role, Tamsin is also a GP associate at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, an organisation that develops knowledge and resources to help the NHS and other health systems to reach net zero.
In this conversation Tamsin discusses some practical steps that practices and clinicians can take to help tackle the climate crisis, including how sustainability and greener approaches can come into play in patient consultations, and the benefits this can bring to practices, GPs, staff and patients.
She also explains some of the resources Greener Practice and others have to help GPs, why it’s important that general practice engages with sustainability, and how getting involved in this work can make your practice a better place to work and improve staff wellbeing.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
These are some of the organisations and resources that Tamsin mentions during this interview:
● Greener Practice
● Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
● UK Health Alliance on Climate Change
● Greener Practice asthma toolkit
● See Sustainability
● Frome Medical Practice and its work on sustainability
● Outrage and Optimism podcast
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This week Emma and Nick look at some interesting tenders for GP contracts that have been put out for integrated care boards and what they might tell us about the possible direction of travel for general practice and how GP services could be commissioned in future.
They discuss physician associates and what role they have to play in the NHS after the BMA published a position statement saying it currently opposes government plans to expand their use.
And they talk about how the cost of living crisis is affecting patients and practices after an alarming RCGP survey found that GPs are seeing patients with diseases that should be confined to history including malnutrition and rickets.
This week’s good news story is about a survey from the Rebuild General Practice campaign showing how much the general public values general practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline’s editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● PCN to take on GMS practice contract in landmark move for general practice
● GP 'engineering' fears as small practice contracts offered on branch-only basis
● BMA to oppose expansion of physician associate roles amid safety concerns
● GPs seeing cases of malnutrition and rickets as cost-of-living crisis hits patient health
● Patients back continuity of care and more GP funding, poll shows
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Ben Allen, a GP partner at Birley Health Centre in Sheffield.
Over the past few years Ben has invested huge amounts of time and effort to make his practice a better place to work. He’s found that by focusing on staff and improving the organisational culture, the practice has seen huge improvements across the board.
Along with having a happier workforce with improved morale and staff retention, the practice has also improved continuity and access and seen patient satisfaction scores rising at a time when nationally they are falling.
Ben explains how his practice managed to achieve all of this and has advice for any GPs or practice managers thinking of embarking on a similar journey.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Follow Ben on X (formerly Twitter)
Ben’s blog
Useful reading
Ben mentions several leadership and organisational change books that he found particularly helpful during this process. These are some his favourites.
● The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
● The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
● Reinventing Organisations by Frédéric Laloux
● Time to Think by Nancy Kline
● Start With Why by Simon Sinek
● Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
● The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey
● Good to Great by Jim Collins
● The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer
● Built to Last by James C Collins and Jerry I Porras
● Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street
● Radical Candor by Kim Scott
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In our news review Nick and Emma discuss GP pay and what’s behind recent headlines in the national press about so-called huge rises in GP income.
They also look at how the growing NHS waiting list and long waits for treatment are affecting patients and driving up workload in general practice, and discuss results from our recent survey which suggest that practices are becoming increasingly reliant on locum GPs.
This week’s good news story is about a significant reduction in people prescribed potentially addictive medicines.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● How has GP income changed over the past two decades?
● CQC poll shows NHS waiting list driving unsustainable pressure on GPs
● One in three GP appointments for patients on the NHS waiting list
● GP practices growing more reliant on locums but many struggle to hire them
● Where is GP prescribing of dependency-forming drugs falling fastest?
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The GP Trailblazer Deprivation Fellowship Scheme is an NHS England run programme aimed at newly-qualified GPs working in practices in deprived areas. The scheme aims to give GPs the skills to thrive and make a difference in the practices and communities where they work.
The East of England region currently runs one of the largest trailblazer schemes in England. Emma speaks to Dr Rahhiel Riasat, director of leadership development for the East of England and clinical lead for the GP Trailblazer deprivation fellowship scheme in the region, about how the scheme works and how it is supporting local GPs and making a difference to patient care. She also talks to Dr Ahkeb Hussain who is a GP in Luton one of the fellows on this year’s scheme about how it is helping him in practice and what he sees as its benefits.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● East of England GP Trailblazer Deprivation Fellowship Scheme
● Fairhealth Trailblazer information
● GP training health equity focused training rotations
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Our regular news review is back after a short summer break with a packed episode.
Emma and Nick discuss a last-minute U-turn on Covid and flu jabs and look at another controversial plan from the Labour party about how it intends to change general practice if it wins the next general election.
They also discuss how international medical graduates are becoming critical to the GP workforce in some of the most deprived and underdoctored parts of England - and look at whether doctors feel measures set out in the NHS workforce plan will help address the current shortage of GPs.
And they talk about the GMC’s overhaul of its Good Medical Practice guidance.
Meanwhile, our good news story is about GP training.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs offered extra pay under accelerated flu and COVID-19 jab campaign as new variant spreads
● Labour to strip funding from practices with poor continuity of care
● Overseas doctors sustain general practice in England's most underdoctored and deprived areas
● Just 6% of GPs believe the NHS workforce plan will boost GP numbers
● 6% pay increase not enough to retain salaried GPs and other practice staff, GPs warn
● GMC clamps down on sexual harassment and bullying in Good Medical Practice update
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What is a Wise GP? This week Emma speaks to Professor Joanne Reeve and Dr Annabelle Machin about an initiative called Wise GP, which aims to help GPs and other primary care staff deal with the everyday uncertainty and complexity they face in general practice.
They explain the importance of recognising the distinct skills and expertise of general practice and how the programme can help GPs at different stages of their career. They also talk about sthe resources they have developed to support GPs in their day-to-day practice and how Wise GP could potentially help improve GP retention.
There are links to many of the resources mentioned by Joanne and Annabelle in the podcast below.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
RCGP conference
Joanne and Annabelle are running a session on Wise GP explaining how it could help general practice and GPs tackle some of the challenging issues they face. The conference takes place in Glasgow on 19 and 20 October. You can find more information on this here.
Useful links
Wise GP website
The WISDOM course
Wise GP’s Gems library
Wise GP on X (Twitter)
Wise GP on Facebook
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Emma is joined by a very special guest Professor Sir David Haslam to discuss his book Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost Its Way and How We Fix It.
Along with being a GP for over 35 years Sir David has held a number of senior posts including being both chair and president of the Royal College of GPs, president of the BMA and chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a post he held from 2013 to 2019.
His new book explores what good healthcare should achieve and how we can create a system that is affordable, fair and provides good quality care.
This interview, which was recorded in October 2022, looks at some of the really important themes raised in the book, including why the cost of healthcare will always continue to rise, why we need to better value primary care and public health, tackling health inequalities, over-medicalisation and whether we have our priorities right when it comes to end-of-life care.
Produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
● NHS at 75: Primary care-focused 'reboot' can save NHS
● Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost Its Way and How We Fix It on Amazon
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Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer was elected chair of BMA England’s GP committee just over a week ago and she speaks to Talking General Practice in her first interview in her new role.
Dr Bramall-Stainer takes on the top GP job at the BMA in England at a crucial time for the profession. The five-year GP contract comes to an end in April 2024 and this year’s contract negotiations between the BMA, the government and NHS England will hammer out what happens next.
General practice is in the midst of an extreme workload and workforce crisis and the profession will be looking for changes that will go some way to addressing both of these challenges and making a difference to their day to day working lives.
In this conversation Dr Bramall-Stainer discusses what her key priorities will be, weighs up the chances of GPs taking industrial action in the coming months, as well as how GP funding needs to change.
She also talks about her thoughts about the future of the independent contractor model, her experience of publicly calling out sexism at the BMA a couple of years ago and how having MS has shaped how she approaches her role as a GP and a GP leader.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● What are the top priorities for the new BMA GP committee chair?
● GPs 'despair' as NHS England slashes COVID-19 jab fee
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Last week the Health Foundation think tank published new research projecting patterns of illness in England over the next two decades. It predicted that by 2040 the number of people with major illness will rise by more than a third, which clearly has huge implications for general practice over the next two decades.
In this episode of Talking General Practice, Emma speaks to Toby Watt, the lead economist at the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre and the lead author of the report setting out the research’s findings.
This conversation highlights what the report had to say about patterns of illness and why more people will be living for longer with a major condition, how this will affect workload in general practice and what it means for the GP workforce, and what the government will have to consider to meet this challenge.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
From GPonline:
● Practices face massive rise in demand as ageing fuels wave of chronic illness
● How an ageing population is piling pressure on general practice
Health Foundation reports:
● Health in 2040: projected patterns of illness in England
● Projections: General practice workforce in England
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Emma speaks to GP partner Dr Tommy Perkins and specialist medical accountant Andy Pow from Medics Money about GP partnerships and why they are still a good option despite all the doom and gloom out there.
In this conversation Tommy and Andy discuss how partnerships are changing with more non-GPs taking on the role, what to consider if you’re thinking about becoming a partner, how to make partnerships more sustainable in what is a very challenging time, take a quick detour into pensions - with some useful advice for all GPs - and also discuss challenges around premises.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Medics Money new to partnership course
● The pensions guide mentioned in the episode
● 7 tips to make partnership sustainable in 2023
● Medics Money podcast
● Medics Money YouTube video showing how to use PCSE portal mentioned in episode
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Emma and Nick discuss last week’s pay announcement for junior doctors, salaried GPs and consultants and ask what it means for GP practices, the current strikes and the wider NHS.
They also talk about a new national system for reporting pressure in general practice that has been set up to help overwhelmed practices negotiate extra support and look at the results from the latest GP patient survey.
This week’s good news story looks at an initiative in Cumbria that is helping an underdoctored area plug workforce gaps by using a bank of GPs working remotely.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Government to uplift GP contract to cover 6% pay rise for all practice staff
● BMA rejects 6% pay deal with strikes set to continue
● First national 'GP alert state' report reveals unsustainable pressure on practices
● Which areas have the highest patient satisfaction with general practice?
● GP patient survey suggests satisfaction stabilising after sharp drop last year
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This week Emma is speaking to BMA Wales GP committee chair Dr Gareth Oelmann.
At the end of June BMA Wales launched a new ‘Save Our Surgeries’ campaign, which comes at what the BMA warns is a 'defining moment' for general practice.
The campaign sets out the worrying state of general practice – and calls on the Welsh government to put in place an urgent rescue package. So how can we save general practice?
In this conversation Gareth sets out the challenges facing general practice in Wales, and what the BMA is calling for. He also explains why GP partnerships are worth saving, why the share of NHS funding that goes to general practice needs to increase after well over a decade of serious decline, and upcoming changes to the GP contract in Wales.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● BMA Wales Save our Surgeries campaign
● Welsh GPs issue 'SOS' call as spiralling crisis threatens patient safety
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In this week’s news review, Emma and Nick look at the NHS workforce plan and discuss what it says, what it doesn’t say, and whether it will actually work.
They also talk about some of the debates from this week’s BMA annual representative meeting including a vote of no confidence in the GMC and some other motions of interest. And they look at a BMA report on long COVID in the medical profession and the devastating impact the condition has had on some doctors.
This week’s good news story is about the RCGP at last weekend’s Pride.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● What does the NHS workforce plan mean for general practice?
● NHS heading for 15,000-GP shortfall as Sunak says retention 'not just about pay'
● Doctors will 'strike for as long as it takes', warns BMA chair
● Doctors vote 'no confidence' in GMC and MPTS and demand new leadership
● Doctors with long COVID left 'penniless' as one in five unable to work
● RCGP takes part in London's Pride parade
The NHS at 75
● NHS at 75: A GP's account of the start of the NHS
● NHS at 75: I dread telling people I'm a GP - we need a government that values us
● NHS at 75: Primary care-focused 'reboot' can save NHS
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Emma speaks to GP and academic Dr Ben Brown from the University of Manchester whose research looks at how AI and machine learning could support healthcare professionals and patients.
Ben is currently involved in developing a new AI system that helps support triage of GP online consultations and was this year’s winner of the Society for Academic Primary Care’s award for outstanding early career research.
Both the government and the Labour Party have touted AI as a possible solution to the NHS’s workforce challenges, arguing it could free up clinicians so they can spend more time with patients. Reports suggest that the long-awaited NHS Workforce plan, which is due to be published imminently, will have a big focus on the role that new technology and AI in particular will play in the NHS over the next 10 years.
In this conversation Ben explains exactly what AI is, how it is being used currently in the NHS and its potential for the future. He also discusses how AI could help GPs and their teams manage their workloads, and what a GP consultation could look like in future, when AI is more established.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
More information on the system Ben is developing called PATCHS
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This week Emma and Nick discuss the government’s long-awaited NHS workforce plan, when it might be published and what general practice will be hoping to see in it.
They look at the results from a recent GPonline about inappropriate transfer of work from secondary to primary care and what needs to be done to address this.
And they talk about a motion up for debate at next month’s BMA annual representative meeting where delegates will call for a no confidence vote in the GMC – as well as some of the other issues relevant to general practice that will be debated at the meeting.
This week’s good news story highlights some of the GPs who received honours in the King’s birthday honours list last weekend.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deeen.
Useful links
● 'Complex' funding questions holding up NHS workforce plan, Barclay admits
● Racism is shrinking the NHS workforce, warns former BMA chair
● GPs call for action on work transfer from hospitals to tackle workload crisis
● GMC faces 'no confidence' vote at BMA annual meeting
● Health leaders demand action on five-year-old pledge to strip GMC of appeal powers
● GPs among those to receive honours in King's birthday list
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Emma speaks to Christiana Melam, the chief executive of the National Association of Link Workers, who explains how social prescribing can help practices and GPs to meet demand and better support their patients.
Christiana explains why it is so important that the NHS looks at changing the way that it works, given that the current model is not meeting the needs of patients, highlighting the key role that social prescribing can play in prevention and addressing health inequalities.
The National Association of Link Workers also trains care navigators and Christiana also talks about what the recent access recovery plan had to say about care navigation and what this means for practices and their reception teams.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● National Association of Link Workers - Education standards
● National Academy for Social Prescribing - evidence to support the use of social prescribing
● National Association of Link Workers report - Exploring social prescribing referrals & impact on Information, advice and guidance Services
● National Association of Link Workers report - The role of PPGs in social prescribing
● GP mythbuster 106: Primary care first contact practitioners (FCPs) - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
● Tailored Primary Care Workforce Development and Wellbeing Packages from NALW
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This week the GPonline team talks about a call for emergency funding to support general practice across the UK as practices struggle to deal with rising costs – and look at what these financial pressures mean for GP partner income.
They also discuss the state of general practice in Northern Ireland and Scotland after some dire warnings from the BMA in each of those countries.
And look at the latest workforce and appointment data for general practice and the ARRS in England.
In better news, a new blood test for cancer that could help diagnose people much earlier is the podcast’s good news story for this week.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Eleanor Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GP partner income 'down 15% in a year' as soaring costs hit drawings
One in three GP practices in Northern Ireland faced serious closure risk in past 18 months
One in ten Scottish practices close lists in face of 'unsustainable' pressure
Proportion of GPs aged over 55 rising as workforce shrinks
Is the government right to claim its 26,000 additional roles target has been met?
Blood test for multiple cancers can diagnose two-thirds of cases, study suggests
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Emma speaks to Dr Matt Harris and GP Dr Connie Junghans Minton about an initiative involving community health and wellbeing workers that has been adopted in Connie’s practice in London and is also being rolled out to practices in other parts of the country.
It is based on a long-running scheme from Brazil, where evidence shows it has made a significant difference in terms of public health measures and health outcomes. Community health and wellbeing workers have already had some impressive results in the short time they have been working in London.
Matt, who is now a clinical senior lecturer in public health medicine at Imperial College London saw the scheme in action first hand when he worked as a GP in Brazil and it was his idea to bring the model to this country.
In this interview, he explains how the scheme works and how it can help GPs. Meanwhile Connie, who is also senior clinical fellow in primary care at Imperial College, discusses how her practice introduced community health and wellbeing workers for some of their most deprived patients and results from the initial pilot.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
Information on the community health and wellbeing worker programme is on the NAPC website here
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The team talks about safe working limits and the number of GPs we need in England to ensure doctors are working within those safe levels. They discuss some of the key debates from the UK LMCs conference that took place last week, including full GP pay restoration and whether we should have SAS doctors in general practice. And they look at the state of GP premises.
This week’s good news story is about a primary care transformation project within a PCN that improved patient outcomes, at the same time as delivering cost-savings.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● 1 in 5 people in England would be without a GP if practices stuck to 'safe limit'
● Which ICB areas have the most severe GP shortages?
● UK LMCs conference 2023: full coverage
● Junior doctors in England to hold three-day strike in June
● GPs block drafty windows with tape as four in 10 work in unfit premises
● Evaluation of the Foundry Healthcare Lewes’ primary care transformation project
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Emma speaks to Dr Elaine Lockhart, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Children and Young People’s Faculty and a consultant with the learning disability child and adolescent mental health service in Glasgow.
In this conversation Elaine explains some of the problems that children and young people of different ages may present with, and what the possible long-term consequences of the pandemic could be.
She also discusses the shortage of specialist services, which result in long waits for children needing support, and what this means for GPs and primary care, as well as what needs to happen in both the shorter and longer term to address this problem. And she talks about the impact social media can have on children and young people’s wellbeing.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
· Royal College of Psychiatrists children and young people’s faculty
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This week the team looks at the government and NHS England’s joint recovery plan for access to primary care, as well as changes to the GP contract around patient access that come into effect next week. They discuss what this all means for practices and patients and whether it will actually make a difference.
They also discuss whether the BMA is likely to ballot GPs on taking industrial action following this year’s contract imposition - and what GPs on the ground think about this.
Finally our good news story is about patient campaigns to save local GP surgeries.
This episode was presented by GPonline’s editor Emma Bower, news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Eleanor Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GP access recovery plan - key points
● Four-month visa extension for newly-qualified IMG GPs as training places to expand
● Primary care role for SAS doctors 'not viable', BMA paper warns
● Access overhaul will swamp practices and trap patients in loop with 111, GPs fear
● GP leaders in contract talks with government after industrial action vote
● LMCs debate salaried GP workload cap and debt cancellation for trainees
● Patients across the UK are campaigning to save local GP services
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Emma speaks to specialist medical accountant Laurence Slavin, the senior partner at Ramsay Brown chartered accountants, which specialises in the finances of GPs and practices.
In this conversation Laurence explains how rising inflation has affected practices, the financial implications of the 2023/24 GP contract and why he thinks the government’s plan to get high-earning GPs to publicly declare their income is a really bad idea.
Emma and Laurence also talk about some of the problems GPs are facing with pensions, including some of the challenges when dealing with Primary Care Support England.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Ramsay Brown
● GP Business
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This week the team looks at Labour’s plans for how it will reform primary care if it wins the next general election.
They talk about a report on retention of staff in general practice by Londonwide LMCs and how staff shortages are threatening the future of practices. And they discuss what impact an ageing population is having on workload in general practice.
Finally our good news story this week is about diabetes.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Eleanor Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Labour rules out nationalising practices but says GP model 'in decline'
● Government failure to publish NHS workforce plan ‘unforgiveable’, says Labour
● NHS GP role 'untenable for significant majority', warns LMC
● How an ageing population is piling pressure on general practice
● NHS low calorie diet for type 2 diabetes to extend across England
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Emma speaks to GP Dr Aisha Awan who is director of REACHE North West - the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals Education.
REACHE has helped hundreds of healthcare professionals to return to clinical roles in the NHS after being forced to flee their own country.
In this conversation Aisha explains how REACHE supports these clinicians to become registered in the UK, why this work is so important and some of the challenges that healthcare professionals who are refugees or asylum seekers face during this process. She also shares some inspiring stories of some of the doctors REACHE has supported in recent years.
For more information on the programme visitREACHE North West
This week Emma talks to Jake Beech, from health think tank the Health Foundation. Jake co-authored a report published last month, which analysed the findings of the latest Commonwealth Fund survey of 10,000 GPs in 10 high income countries.
In this conversation Jake explains how general practice in the UK compares with other countries on issues such as job satisfaction, workload, personal wellbeing of GPs, how care is delivered and how general practice works with other services. He also discusses some of the wider implications of the survey’s findings.
Useful links
The Health Foundation’s report Stressed and overworked. What the Commonwealth Fund’s 2022 International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians in 10 Countries means for the UK can be found here.
Extreme pressure leaves UK GPs among most stressed and least satisfied
In a special news episode of the podcast the team looks at the findings of an independent review of integrated care systems, which was commissioned by the government and led by former Labour health secretary Patricia Hewitt.
The final report from the review was published this week and Emma and Nick look at what it had to say about primary care – including some recommendations that could see a major change to GP contracts – and what it could mean for general practice in the future. They also look at some of the wider findings about changes that need to happen to help improve outcomes and patient care.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
- GP contract 'a barrier to innovation' and needs major overhaul, says Hewitt review
- Struggling GP practices should be 'bought out' and replaced, says Hewitt review
- Companies could 'strong-arm' GPs into selling practices under Hewitt plan, warns BMA
- Hewitt Review: an independent review of integrated care systems
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This week the team looks at whether GPs will be prepared to take industrial action following the imposition of a contract for the second year in a row – and what action the profession could be balloted on taking in the coming months.
They discuss the results of the latest annual British Social Attitudes survey, which assesses public satisfaction with the NHS.
And, as junior doctors step up pressure on the government to improve their pay by announcing a four-day strike, they talk about what this could mean for the NHS, as well as what is happening with the pay offer for other NHS staff.
Finally there’s some good news on COVID vaccination and long COVID.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Eleanor Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● BMA ballot could trigger nationwide shut down of GP practices for 24 hours
● Treasury set to claw back millions from general practice despite soaring costs
● Vast majority of GPs ready for industrial action, LMC poll suggests
● GP Insight workforce tracker
● 'Wake-up call' for government as NHS and GP satisfaction hit all-time low
● Vaccination halves risk of developing long COVID, study finds
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Warning: This episode contains discussions about death and suicide
In a special episode Emma looks at the issue of assisted dying and asks whether it should be legalised - and if it was, how could it work?
Later this year a bill will be introduced to the Scottish parliament that could see assisted dying legalised. In England the House of Commons health and social care committee is running an inquiry on the issue.
The Scottish bill is being put forward by Lib Dem member of Scottish parliament Liam McArthur. This is the third attempt to legalise assisted dying in Scotland since 1999, so could the law change this time?
Emma speaks to Scottish GPs on both sides of the debate about assisted dying.
She talks to Liam McArthur about why he is introducing the bill and its chances of success - and to GP Dr Sandesh Gulhane, a Conservative member of Scottish parliament who chaired a medical advisory group that produced a report on how assisted dying should work.
She also meets Dr Catherine Forest, a family doctor from California where assisted dying has been legal since 2016. Dr Forest was involved with work that helped pave the way for legalising assisted dying and and now supports patients and their families through the process of assisted dying. She also speaks very movingly about her husband Will, who chose an assisted death in 2021.
And we look at what a change of law could mean from patients’ point of view by talking to Jackie Roberts, who lives in Edinburgh and has incurable breast cancer, and Professor Kevin Yuill, a representative from Not Dead Yet, a group of disability activists that campaigns against assisted dying.
This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.
Sources
- Proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
- Medical Advisory Group Report on the assisted dying bill
- Proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill - summary of consultation responses
- YouGov survey on assisted dying
- BMA survey of members on assisted dying from February 2020
- RCGP rejects change in stance on assisted dying - from GPonline
- Regional Euthanasia Review Committee from the Netherlands annual reports - showing the proportion of people who died by euthanasia.
- Dignitas report showing accompanied suicides per year and country of residence
- Third annual report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada 2021
- Oregon Death with Dignity Act 2021 data summary
- Dignity in Dying’s Last Resort report
- ONS suicide report
- Are Canadians being driven to assisted suicide by poverty or healthcare crisis? The Guardian
- Cost estimates for Medical Assistance in Dying
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This week Emma and Nick are talking about the GP contract changes in England for 2023/24, which have been imposed on practices for the second year in a row after the government and the BMA failed to reach an agreement. They look at what the changes are, the implications for general practice and what could happen next.
They also discuss this week’s unprecedented junior doctors’ strike, and speak to doctors who were out on the picket lines, and they look at what this week’s Budget means for doctors’ pensions and the NHS as a whole.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● What is changing in the GP contract for 2023/24?
● Imposed contract threatens 'irreparable' damage to general practice
● 'Whack-a-mole' access targets will force GPs to bring in waiting lists for appointments
● QOF could be 'streamlined' from 2024 onwards, NHS England says
● 'Industrial action is the only option': GPs urge BMA to move fast
● 'Big win' for retention of doctors as Budget overhauls punitive pension tax rules
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Emma speaks to Ben Gowland, director and founder of think tank and consultancy Ockham Healthcare and host of the General Practice Podcast.
Ben does a lot of work with primary care networks (PCNs) across England and in this conversation we look at what the future holds for PCNs as we enter the final year of the five-year GP contract that led to their introduction in 2019.
Ben explains why he thinks it's so important that practices engage with their PCN and the opportunities he believes PCNs provides practices. We also talk about what integrated care systems and the Fuller report could mean for PCNs and why it's important for general practices to work together to have the biggest possible influence in their local area.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Ockham Healthcare
● General Practice Podcast
● ICB draft contract spells out plan to move enhanced services worth millions away from practices
● GP crisis driving rise in partnership and PCN disputes
● Top 10 challenges facing PCN clinical directors
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This week the team talks about ongoing GP contract negotiations in England for next year and asks whether the contract for 2023/24 could be imposed.
They discuss a rise in partnership and PCN disputes and what might be behind this trend as well as the latest on this month’s junior doctor strikes.
They also look at the government’s record on the NHS, including how it’s handling the care backlog and discuss GP workforce statistics after they passed a pretty grim milestone last month.
Our good news story this week is about a local patient campaign that’s forced an integrated care board to U-turn on its plans for a large provider to take over a small practice in Lancashire.
Produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
● GP contract could overhaul funding frameworks worth £2.5bn a year
● NHS 'in full-blown crisis' as recovery plan falls short, MPs warn
● 'Grim milestone' passed in steady decline of GP workforce
● Why GP trainees will join junior doctor strikes in their thousands
● Victory for campaign to save local GP after ICB U-turn on practice takeover
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Emma speaks to Dr Rowena Christmas, chair of RCGP Wales and a GP in the Wye Valley on the Welsh/English border.
Rowena has been heavily involved in the college’s work over the past couple of years on relationship-based care - or continuity of care - and in this conversation she explains why she feels this is so important and how GPs and practices can embed this in the way that they work.
She also talks about recruitment and retention of GPs and what’s happening in Wales, the impact recent NHS pressures have had on GPs and her priorities over the next two years as chair of the college in Wales.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
· GP access debate must shift to emphasise quality as well as speed, warns RCGP
· The RCGP's report on relationship-based care
· RCGP Wales
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In our fortnightly news review the team looks at what we know about GP contract negotiations in England for 2023/24 after the BMA rejected NHS England’s ‘insulting’ offer.
They discuss an integrated care board’s plans to commission all GP enhanced services via primary care networks and what the wider implications of this could be. And they talk about the findings of the GMC’s latest review on bias in its processes.
The good news story for this week is about a community in Cornwall that is going to extra lengths to find a new GP to join their local practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Eleanor Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs reject 'insulting' contract as BMA issues stark warning over 'death of general practice'
● NHS backs 2.1% salaried GP pay rise from April as contract talks continue
● ICB draft contract spells out plan to move enhanced services worth millions away from practices
● GPs don't believe integrated care systems will improve patient care
● Cornish community creates music video in bid to recruit new GP
● Link to Ain’t Got No Doctor
● Lostwithiel Needs A Doctor website
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Emma speaks to NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities and Midlands GP Professor Bola Owolabi about how to reduce inequity in healthcare.
Bola talks about how she became interested in health inequalities, her vision for tackling inequity and she makes the economic argument for why we must address health disparities.
Bola also explains NHS England’s CORE20PLUS5 approach to tackling inequalities, how this provides a framework for primary care networks to focus their efforts when it comes to improving population health, and why she believes this could ultimately make a big difference to patients and communities.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● CORE20PLUS5 for adults
● CORE20PLUS5 for children
● CORE20PLUS5 e-learning for health modules
● The RCGP’s health inequalities hub
Evidence for NHS England’s five clinical priorities
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GPonline launched its new GP Insight data tool this week and our first project is a GP workforce tracker. On the podcast this week Nick and Emma look at some of the data in the tracker and what this tells us about the GP workforce in different parts of England.
They also talk about a recently published study that highlights the impact that poor GP retention has on patients and the wider NHS and discuss the government’s latest plans for the NHS and what’s going on with the current wave of strikes.
Finally, our senior reporter Ellie joins us to tell us about a good news story involving a long-serving GP who overcame a severe COVID infection and inspired a local folk band to write a song about him.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Ellie Philpotts. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GP Insight Workforce Tracker
● Introducing GP Insight
● GPs care for up to 800 more patients each in underdoctored areas
● Where in England are patients per GP rising fastest?
● GP partners in decline in almost every part of England
● Professor Kamila Hawthorne: General practice is at breaking point – the government must act
● Doctor Boro': GP who survived COVID-19 inspires folk song
● Doctor Boro’ on YouTube
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The BMA is currently balloting junior doctor members on whether to take industrial action, which could see them stage a three-day walkout in March.
This week Emma speaks to chair of the BMA’s GP trainee subcommittee Dr David Smith about why junior doctors have reached this point - David sits on both the union’s GP committee and junior doctors committee.
David explains why the BMA is pushing for full pay restoration for junior doctors and the impact that falling levels of pay have had on the profession.
He also talks about how the current ballot works and what happens if it is successful, what GP trainees need to know about taking industrial action and how GPs can support their junior doctors if they do go on strike.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● BMA junior doctor guide to strike action
● Pay restoration for junior doctors - full details of the industrial action ballot and other information relating to the pay restoration campaign from the BMA
● Donate to the BMA’s strike fund here
Related stories on GPonline
● BMA urges junior doctors to back strikes after health secretary meeting
● Junior doctors struggling to pay bills as poll reveals impact of 26% real-terms pay cut
● GPs back junior doctors over industrial action
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Emma and Nick talk about Labour’s plans for the NHS and general practice more specifically, which have not gone down well with a lot of GPs.
They also discuss plans to speed up patient discharges from hospitals and what this could mean for general practice as well as the RCGP’s new exam for GP trainees, which could be in place by the end of 2023.
Our good news story this week takes a look at the latest data from England’s Friends and Family Test.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs hit out at 'misguided' Labour plans for self-referral and practice reform
● GP partnerships are the most cost-effective part of the NHS, GPs tell Labour
● Vast majority of patients report positive GP experience despite soaring pressure
● New GP exam to replace RCA by end of 2023, says RCGP
● Patients being discharged too early in rush to free up hospital beds, GPs warn
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Kent GP Dr Chris Newman is one of the co-founders of Doctors for Extinction Rebellion, a group of healthcare professionals that campaigns for action on climate change. As part of his involvement in the group Chris has taken part in direct action and last year was arrested and charged under public order laws following a protest in central London.
In this conversation Emma talks to Chris about why he set up Doctors for Extinction Rebellion - which is in the process of changing its name to Health for Extinction Rebellion - and his experience of being arrested and appearing in court on charges.
Chris also explains why education on climate change for all NHS staff is so important and his own push to educate people in his community about the importance of taking steps to address climate change - however small.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful resources
● Doctors for Extinction Rebellion
● The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
● UN Climate Change reports
● Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
● Climate FRESK
● Take the Jump
Other useful information from GPonline
● Five steps to sustainable primary care
● GP practices can be 'more ambitious' on tackling climate change
● 5 ways GPs can help patients affected by air pollution
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With the NHS facing unprecedented pressure and horrendous stories emerging about the impact this has had on both patients and staff, we look at what the crisis means for general practice, what representative organisations want the government to do and what steps might need to be taken to help GP practices cope.
We also discuss industrial action - in particular the BMA ballot of junior doctors, which gets underway on Monday 9 January - and we look at the latest GP workforce data and some results from our recent survey that highlight how hard GPs had to work during 2022.
In our good news section we highlight the GPs – and an advanced nurse practitioner – who received awards in the New Year Honours.
Your good news stories
Things are really tough in general practice, but we are always keen to highlight positive news and the good work that is going on in primary care on both the podcast and GPonline.com.
If you are up to anything in your practice or working life that you think deserves attention - or you would like to give a shout out to an individual, practice or other organisation or group that you think is making a real difference, then please do get in touch. You can email us at gppodcast@haymarket.com.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Sunak urged to recall parliament as 'broken NHS' leaves GPs driving patients to hospital
● NHS under 'intolerable' pressure as flu, COVID-19 and strep A deepen crisis
● Most GPs exceed safe limit for appointments every working day, poll reveals
● Decline in GP workforce accelerates as workload continues to surge
● GPs among those recognised in New Year Honours
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This week the team looks at record levels of drug shortages, the latest on group A strep and how it is affecting GPs and their teams and talk about the GP workforce in the most deprived parts of England.
They also discuss why many practices are facing a precarious future because of the lack of GP partners and how inflation and the cost of living crisis is affecting GP practices – and there’s a good news story on long COVID.
Talking General Practice will be back in January 2023. Merry Christmas and happy new year from the team.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● MIMS drug shortages tracker
● NHS England and UKHSA guidance on group A strep in children
● Shortage protocol for antibiotics imminent as penicillin prescriptions soar
● Nine in 10 GPs say cost-of-living crisis has destabilised practice finances
● NHS bosses ask GPs to cover for striking ambulance workers
● Drug shortages hit new peak and add to pressure on GP practices
● Study on pacing and long COVID
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Emma speaks to Dr Ellen Fallows a GP in Northamptonshire and vice president of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine about what lifestyle medicine is and how it can help GPs to improve patient outcomes.
During this conversation Ellen explains how GPs can make use of lifestyle medicine in a 10-minute consultation, some of the evidence that supports the use of this approach to help improve outcomes for patients and how lifestyle medicine can help GPs tackle health inequalities.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
● How lifestyle medicine can help GPs tackle health inequalities
● Diabetes DIRECT trial
● The Food Mood Centre in Australia, Ellen mentions some research coming out from here during the interview
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This week Emma speaks to Professor Aruna Garcea, a GP partner and primary care network clinical director in Leicester. Aruna is chair of the NHS Confederation’s primary care network advisory group and she also sits on her integrated care system as a representative clinical director.
In this conversation Aruna explains the impact PCNs have had already, what makes a strong PCN and some of the key challenges networks have faced. We also talk about the introduction of integrated care systems and what these could mean for PCNs and practices as well as how PCNs can work effectively to support GP practices.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs fear funding cuts and sidelining of LMCs as ICS model beds in
● GP expansion hamstrung by outdated premises, warn primary care leaders
● PCNs should evolve into 'integrated neighbourhood teams', says Fuller review
● What does the Fuller stocktake mean for general practice in England?
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In our regular news review Emma and Nick look at what the BMA, GPs and NHS England might want from a new contract deal in England.
The current five-year deal comes to an end in March 2024, and this week English LMCs will be gathering in London to set out a vision for what they want the BMA to push for in upcoming contract negotiations that will decide what happens next.
Emma and Nick look at what we already know about the BMA’s priorities for negotiations, some of the other things LMCs will be discussing, including options of last resort if a contract agreement can’t be reached, and what could happen around primary care networks.
Elsewhere they also look at what has been up for debate at the separate England LMCs conference that took place on Thursday - including motions around the GP workforce, safety in general practice and the impact of integrated care systems.
And they talk about the latest general practice appointment data for England published this week, which for the first time will include details of appointments at individual practices.
Finally, there’s some good news about fruit and veg in London.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Would a GP contract based on item of service payments benefit general practice?
● What forms of industrial action could GPs take?
● Doctors tell BMA to pull GP practices out of PCNs by 2023
● How practice-level appointments data threatens unfair pressure on GPs
Good news
We are always keen to highlight positive news and the good work that is going on in general practice. If you are up to anything in your practice or working life that you think deserves attention - or you would like to give a shout out to an individual, practice or other organisation that is making a difference to patient care or your local community, then do get in touch. You can email us at gppodcast@haymarket.com.
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This week Emma speaks to new RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne. Professor Hawthorne takes over as college chair from Professor Martin Marshall this week – on 19 November – so this is one of her first interviews in the role.
Professor Hawthorne has been a GP for 34 years and practises in South Wales. She is a professor and head of graduate entry medicine at the University of Swansea - a role she has been seconded from for her three-year term as RCGP chair - and also a Bevan commissioner.
She has been heavily involved with the college for many years and was vice chair from 2015 to 2018 when she was responsible for professional development.
During this conversation Professor Hawthorne explains why she decided to become a GP, what her key priorities will be in her first year as chair in her first year in the post and what she hopes to achieve over her full three-year term.
With a background in medical education she also talks about how she feels medical education needs to change to develop the doctors of the future, one of her research areas of interest - health inequalities - and whether she feels positive about the future of the profession.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Home Office to look at 'umbrella bodies' sponsoring IMG GPs to remain in UK
Royal College of GPs website
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Today on the podcast we’re looking at personalised care and health coaching and how they could help practices and PCNs to improve health outcomes and population health in their patch.
Emma is talking to Sheffield GP Dr Ollie Hart, who is also clinical director of a primary care network in the city.
Ollie has been heavily involved in promoting and developing patient-centred care in Sheffield. In partnership with another GP he also runs a business called Peak Health Coaching, which trains healthcare professionals in coaching and person-centred care and is one of the Personalised Care Institute’s approved training providers.
During this conversation Ollie explains:
● What personalised care is
● What patient activation is and how to understand patient activation measures
● How coaching can help patients
● The benefits of patient-centred care for GPs
● Using coaching as part of a multidisciplinary team
Ollie is a global health and wellbeing ambassador for parkrun so he also explains the benefits of becoming a ‘parkrun practice’.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Personalised Care Institute
● Ollie’s company Peak Health Coaching
● How shared decision making can help GPs better meet patients' needs
● Becoming a parkrun practice
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On our regular news round-up Emma and Nick look at the review into how the GMC handled the case of Dr Manjula Arora – the GP who served a month’s suspension over a claim she had been promised a laptop – and the GMC’s response to the findings.
They talk about what’s going on with patient access to their prospective records online after a week of confusion that’s seen the 1 November deadline when IT suppliers were due to turn on this functionality for all of their practices missed.
And they look at reimbursement for locum GPs to cover sick leave, and why a huge gap between the level of reimbursement practices receive and the actual cost of locum cover means GP partners with burnout are being forced to consider returning to their job before they feel ready.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Get involved
We are always keen to highlight positive news and the good work that is going on in general practice on both the podcast and GPonline.com. If you are up to anything in your practice or working life that you think deserves attention - or you would like to give a shout out to an individual, practice or other organisation or group that you think is making a real difference to patient care or your local community, then please do get in touch. Email us at gppodcast@haymarket.com.
Useful links
● GMC missed 'multiple opportunities' to stop GP's needless suspension
● Arora laptop case must become GMC 'never event', warns doctor leading official review
● Practices handed temporary opt-out deadline for patient access to records
● Financial trap could force GP partners to work through burnout
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On our regular news round-up Emma and Nick look at the review into how the GMC handled the case of Dr Manjula Arora – the GP who served a month’s suspension over a claim she had been promised a laptop – and the GMC’s response to the findings.
They talk about what’s going on with patient access to their prospective records online after a week of confusion that’s seen the 1 November deadline when IT suppliers were due to turn on this functionality for all of their practices missed.
And they look at reimbursement for locum GPs to cover sick leave, and why a huge gap between the level of reimbursement practices receive and the actual cost of locum cover means GP partners with burnout are being forced to consider returning to their job before they feel ready.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Get involved
We are always keen to highlight positive news and the good work that is going on in general practice on both the podcast and GPonline.com. If you are up to anything in your practice or working life that you think deserves attention - or you would like to give a shout out to an individual, practice or other organisation or group that you think is making a real difference to patient care or your local community, then please do get in touch. Email us at gppodcast@haymarket.com.
Useful links
● GMC missed 'multiple opportunities' to stop GP's needless suspension
● Arora laptop case must become GMC 'never event', warns doctor leading official review
● Practices handed temporary opt-out deadline for patient access to records
● Financial trap could force GP partners to work through burnout
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Emma is joined by a very special guest Professor Sir David Haslam to discuss his new book Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost Its Way and How We Fix It.
Along with being a GP for over 35 years Sir David has held a number of senior posts including being both chair and president of the Royal College of GPs, president of the BMA and chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a post he held from 2013 to 2019.
His new book explores what good healthcare should achieve and how we can create a system that is affordable, fair and provides good quality care.
This interview looks at some of the really important themes raised in the book, including why the cost of healthcare will always continue to rise, why we need to better value primary care and public health, tackling health inequalities, over-medicalisation and whether we have our priorities right when it comes to end-of-life care.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost Its Way and How We Fix It on Amazon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the podcast Nick and Emma look at the final report from the House of Commons Health and Social Care committee’s investigation into the future of general practice and explain its findings and key recommendations. They also discuss the former chair of that committee – Jeremy Hunt’s – appointment as chancellor.
Emma highlights a really important interview from GPonline with Chris Milligan, the husband of GP Dr Gail Milligan who took her own life earlier this year.
They also talk about recommendations from the GMC that could increase the number of doctors that are able to work in general practice, and the RCGP’s latest push to get the Home Office to resolve the visa problems affecting international medical graduate GP trainees.
Finally, there’s a good news story about a GP from Glasgow who has written a book with his three young daughters to help educate children about the human body and raise money for local charities.
This episode was presented by GPonline’s editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● My GP wife worked herself to death – something needs to change
● Where can GPs access help and support if they are struggling to cope?
● General practice is 'systemically toxic', MPs warn in devastating report on GP crisis
● GMC backs overhaul to widen pool of doctors able to work in primary care
● Over 4,300 GPs sign RCGP letter calling on Home Office to resolve IMG visa problems
Scottish GP writes children's anatomy book in collaboration with his three daughters
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Emma is speaking to Dr Devina Maru and Dr Liam Loftus who are both GP trainees and co-founders of The BIg GP Consultation.
Devina and Liam set up The Big GP Consultation as a platform for GP trainees and early career GPs to discuss their vision for general practice – and to come up with ideas and solutions for how to address some of the many challenges facing the profession both now and in the future.
In this interview they explain why they set up the initiative, changes they would like to see to GP training and general practice, how new GPs could be better supported and how they’re hoping to get more engagement with the project to ensure the ideas that they have come up with become a reality.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● The Big GP Consultation website
● The Big GP Consultation can be found on Twitter @BigGPConsult
● GP trainees set out vision to lift general practice from crisis
● What does a positive future for general practice look like – a view from the next generation
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the podcast Emma and Nick are talking about some new figures showing there has been a surge in vacant GP posts in London, which has left half of the capital’s practices operating with fewer doctors than they need when demand is at an all time high.
They also discuss what the RCGP believes needs to happen to boost GP retention and what the latest NHS appointments data tells us about levels of workload in general practice in England. Plus they look at NHS England’s plans to help boost capacity this winter and the BMA’s decision to ballot junior doctors on industrial action.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● London faces growing GP workforce gap as workload continues to soar
● Government must take 'urgent action' on GP retention, says RCGP
● GP workload far beyond pre-pandemic level as winter pressure looms
● Coffey targets rapid GP access over face-to-face appointments
● NHS sets out priorities for extra GP funding this winter
● PCN contract overhaul defers two-week appointment target until April 2023
● Junior doctors to be balloted on industrial action in early January
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the podcast Emma speaks to Dr Helen Garr, the medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, the NHS service that looks after doctors and dentists - and also other NHS staff - who are experiencing mental ill health.
In this conversation Emma and Helen talk about the impact that pressures on the NHS are having on doctors’ wellbeing and how this is affecting GPs in particular.
Helen also explains what doctors and other NHS staff can do if they are suffering from burnout, how to prevent burnout, what people can do if they are worried about a colleague and how NHS Practitioner Health supports doctors who seek help from the service.
She also outlines how she thinks the NHS could change to help ensure better mental health for doctors and other staff.
Trigger warning: This episode includes a discussion about suicide and the issue of suicide in the medical profession.
There is lots of practical and useful advice in this conversation, so we’ve included some time stamps below if you want to go back and listen to bits again, or find specific things on your first listen.
● 2.07 Helen explains the increase in the number of GPs coming to NHS Practitioner Health and the conditions they are presenting with.
● 4.41 Helen discusses suicide in doctors and explains why doctors are at higher risk of suicide.
● 11.12 The impact of a doctor’s suicide on colleagues and what people should do if they are concerned about a colleague’s mental health.
● 15.16 Steps practices can take to make the working environment more supportive.
● 17.55 Warning signs of burnout.
● 21.36 What to do if you are burnt out.
● 24.55 What can you do to prevent burn out.
● 30.10 How the NHS needs to change to better support doctors and staff.
● 33.37 What happens when a doctor contacts NHS Practitioner Health and how the service can help.
● 39.11 How staff other than doctors can access NHS Practitioner Health.
Useful resources
● NHS Practitioner Health
● Looking After You Too (NHS England’s free coaching programme for primary care staff)
● Where can GPs get help and support if they are struggling to cope? (Free access article on GPonline that contains a list of all organisations that offer support to doctors experiencing mental ill health)
● Wellbeing and Coping (website Helen refers to in the interview as ‘wellbeing and doing’)
● GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19 (article on GPonline about the Looking After You Too programme)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the podcast Emma speaks to Dr Helen Garr, the medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, the NHS service that looks after doctors and dentists - and also other NHS staff - who are experiencing mental ill health.
In this conversation Emma and Helen talk about the impact that pressures on the NHS are having on doctors’ wellbeing and how this is affecting GPs in particular.
Helen also explains what doctors and other NHS staff can do if they are suffering from burnout, how to prevent burnout, what people can do if they are worried about a colleague and how NHS Practitioner Health supports doctors who seek help from the service.
She also outlines how she thinks the NHS could change to help ensure better mental health for doctors and other staff.
Trigger warning: This episode includes a discussion about suicide and the issue of suicide in the medical profession.
There is lots of practical and useful advice in this conversation, so we’ve included some time stamps below if you want to go back and listen to bits again, or find specific things on your first listen.
● 2.07 Helen explains the increase in the number of GPs coming to NHS Practitioner Health and the conditions they are presenting with.
● 4.41 Helen discusses suicide in doctors and explains why doctors are at higher risk of suicide.
● 11.12 The impact of a doctor’s suicide on colleagues and what people should do if they are concerned about a colleague’s mental health.
● 15.16 Steps practices can take to make the working environment more supportive.
● 17.55 Warning signs of burnout.
● 21.36 What to do if you are burnt out.
● 24.55 What can you do to prevent burn out.
● 30.10 How the NHS needs to change to better support doctors and staff.
● 33.37 What happens when a doctor contacts NHS Practitioner Health and how the service can help.
● 39.11 How staff other than doctors can access NHS Practitioner Health.
Useful resources
● NHS Practitioner Health
● Looking After You Too (NHS England’s free coaching programme for primary care staff)
● Where can GPs get help and support if they are struggling to cope? (Free access article on GPonline that contains a list of all organisations that offer support to doctors experiencing mental ill health)
● Wellbeing and Coping (website Helen refers to in the interview as ‘wellbeing and doing’)
● GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19 (article on GPonline about the Looking After You Too programme)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the podcast Emma speaks to Dr Helen Garr, the medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, the NHS service that looks after doctors and dentists - and also other NHS staff - who are experiencing mental ill health.
In this conversation Emma and Helen talk about the impact that pressures on the NHS are having on doctors’ wellbeing and how this is affecting GPs in particular.
Helen also explains what doctors and other NHS staff can do if they are suffering from burnout, how to prevent burnout, what people can do if they are worried about a colleague and how NHS Practitioner Health supports doctors who seek help from the service.
She also outlines how she thinks the NHS could change to help ensure better mental health for doctors and other staff.
Trigger warning: This episode includes a discussion about suicide and the issue of suicide in the medical profession.
There is lots of practical and useful advice in this conversation, so we’ve included some time stamps below if you want to go back and listen to bits again, or find specific things on your first listen.
● 2.07 Helen explains the increase in the number of GPs coming to NHS Practitioner Health and the conditions they are presenting with.
● 4.41 Helen discusses suicide in doctors and explains why doctors are at higher risk of suicide.
● 11.12 The impact of a doctor’s suicide on colleagues and what people should do if they are concerned about a colleague’s mental health.
● 15.16 Steps practices can take to make the working environment more supportive.
● 17.55 Warning signs of burnout.
● 21.36 What to do if you are burnt out.
● 24.55 What can you do to prevent burn out.
● 30.10 How the NHS needs to change to better support doctors and staff.
● 33.37 What happens when a doctor contacts NHS Practitioner Health and how the service can help.
● 39.11 How staff other than doctors can access NHS Practitioner Health.
Useful resources
● NHS Practitioner Health
● Looking After You Too (NHS England’s free coaching programme for primary care staff)
● Where can GPs get help and support if they are struggling to cope? (Free access article on GPonline that contains a list of all organisations that offer support to doctors experiencing mental ill health)
● Wellbeing and Coping (website Helen refers to in the interview as ‘wellbeing and doing’)
● GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19 (article on GPonline about the Looking After You Too programme)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the team discusses the government’s latest push to improve access in general practice and some of the problems with the plans. They look at a groundbreaking new system that is being piloted in Devon, which will see work paused for practices facing extreme workload pressures. GP leaders have suggested the system could be rolled out nationwide within a year.
And they talk about what plans to cap energy costs could mean for practices and what doctors say the government needs to do to address the workload and workforce crises in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices face two-week access target with 300 fewer GPs than last year
● Government unveils two-week access target for GP appointments
● GPs agree groundbreaking system to pause work for practices facing extreme pressure
● Practices could see energy costs slashed as government unveils business price cap
● 'This job is making us ill': Coffey told 16m patients could lose their GP
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the team discusses the government’s latest push to improve access in general practice and some of the problems with the plans. They look at a groundbreaking new system that is being piloted in Devon, which will see work paused for practices facing extreme workload pressures. GP leaders have suggested the system could be rolled out nationwide within a year.
And they talk about what plans to cap energy costs could mean for practices and what doctors say the government needs to do to address the workload and workforce crises in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices face two-week access target with 300 fewer GPs than last year
● Government unveils two-week access target for GP appointments
● GPs agree groundbreaking system to pause work for practices facing extreme pressure
● Practices could see energy costs slashed as government unveils business price cap
● 'This job is making us ill': Coffey told 16m patients could lose their GP
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the team discusses the government’s latest push to improve access in general practice and some of the problems with the plans. They look at a groundbreaking new system that is being piloted in Devon, which will see work paused for practices facing extreme workload pressures. GP leaders have suggested the system could be rolled out nationwide within a year.
And they talk about what plans to cap energy costs could mean for practices and what doctors say the government needs to do to address the workload and workforce crises in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices face two-week access target with 300 fewer GPs than last year
● Government unveils two-week access target for GP appointments
● GPs agree groundbreaking system to pause work for practices facing extreme pressure
● Practices could see energy costs slashed as government unveils business price cap
● 'This job is making us ill': Coffey told 16m patients could lose their GP
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Emma speaks with Dr Veronica Grant, a GP in Derbyshire who was until recently the RCGP clinical champion for veterans health, about the healthcare needs of veterans and steps practices can take to better support veterans and military families.
This is an interview that was recorded in November 2021.
Since we recorded our last podcast we have seen the very sad news about the death of Queen Elizabeth.
As the former head of the armed forces, the Queen is of particular significance to those who are members of the services and veterans.
NHS England this week wrote to NHS services and highlighted that the death of the Queen had the potential to trigger mental health issues within the armed forces community. NHS England asked services to familiarise themselves with referral pathways to Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service that is available across England for serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists and veterans.
At GPonline we thought it would be particularly useful for those in primary care to hear our interview with Veronica again in light of this. As well as talking about how GPs and practices can support veterans and military families, Veronica also explains a bit more about Op COURAGE and how the service works.
Useful links
● RCGP veterans’ healthcare toolkit learning
● Veteran friendly practice accreditation
● Information about Op COURAGE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Emma speaks with Dr Veronica Grant, a GP in Derbyshire who was until recently the RCGP clinical champion for veterans health, about the healthcare needs of veterans and steps practices can take to better support veterans and military families.
This is an interview that was recorded in November 2021.
Since we recorded our last podcast we have seen the very sad news about the death of Queen Elizabeth.
As the former head of the armed forces, the Queen is of particular significance to those who are members of the services and veterans.
NHS England this week wrote to NHS services and highlighted that the death of the Queen had the potential to trigger mental health issues within the armed forces community. NHS England asked services to familiarise themselves with referral pathways to Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service that is available across England for serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists and veterans.
At GPonline we thought it would be particularly useful for those in primary care to hear our interview with Veronica again in light of this. As well as talking about how GPs and practices can support veterans and military families, Veronica also explains a bit more about Op COURAGE and how the service works.
Useful links
● RCGP veterans’ healthcare toolkit learning
● Veteran friendly practice accreditation
● Information about Op COURAGE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Emma speaks with Dr Veronica Grant, a GP in Derbyshire who was until recently the RCGP clinical champion for veterans health, about the healthcare needs of veterans and steps practices can take to better support veterans and military families.
This is an interview that was recorded in November 2021.
Since we recorded our last podcast we have seen the very sad news about the death of Queen Elizabeth.
As the former head of the armed forces, the Queen is of particular significance to those who are members of the services and veterans.
NHS England this week wrote to NHS services and highlighted that the death of the Queen had the potential to trigger mental health issues within the armed forces community. NHS England asked services to familiarise themselves with referral pathways to Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service that is available across England for serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists and veterans.
At GPonline we thought it would be particularly useful for those in primary care to hear our interview with Veronica again in light of this. As well as talking about how GPs and practices can support veterans and military families, Veronica also explains a bit more about Op COURAGE and how the service works.
Useful links
● RCGP veterans’ healthcare toolkit learning
● Veteran friendly practice accreditation
● Information about Op COURAGE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our regular news review is back. This week Emma and Nick talk about soaring energy costs and rising inflation and the impact these could have on GP practices
They also look at what new prime minister Liz Truss and new health and social care secretary Therese Coffey could mean for general practice – and whether the government could prevent a possible crisis in the health service this winter.
And in our regular good news spot they highlight an initiative from a group of GP trainees that puts forward a blueprint for tackling the crisis in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices could cut staff, stop COVID-19 jabs or hand back contracts as energy bills rocket
● GP practices 'being mugged' as profits set to slump by a third
● What does a Liz Truss premiership mean for general practice?
● Therese Coffey rules out GP visit fees and promises to 'stand up for patients' on access
● Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter
● GP trainees set out vision to lift general practice from crisis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our regular news review is back. This week Emma and Nick talk about soaring energy costs and rising inflation and the impact these could have on GP practices
They also look at what new prime minister Liz Truss and new health and social care secretary Therese Coffey could mean for general practice – and whether the government could prevent a possible crisis in the health service this winter.
And in our regular good news spot they highlight an initiative from a group of GP trainees that puts forward a blueprint for tackling the crisis in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices could cut staff, stop COVID-19 jabs or hand back contracts as energy bills rocket
● GP practices 'being mugged' as profits set to slump by a third
● What does a Liz Truss premiership mean for general practice?
● Therese Coffey rules out GP visit fees and promises to 'stand up for patients' on access
● Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter
● GP trainees set out vision to lift general practice from crisis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our regular news review is back. This week Emma and Nick talk about soaring energy costs and rising inflation and the impact these could have on GP practices
They also look at what new prime minister Liz Truss and new health and social care secretary Therese Coffey could mean for general practice – and whether the government could prevent a possible crisis in the health service this winter.
And in our regular good news spot they highlight an initiative from a group of GP trainees that puts forward a blueprint for tackling the crisis in general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Practices could cut staff, stop COVID-19 jabs or hand back contracts as energy bills rocket
● GP practices 'being mugged' as profits set to slump by a third
● What does a Liz Truss premiership mean for general practice?
● Therese Coffey rules out GP visit fees and promises to 'stand up for patients' on access
● Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter
● GP trainees set out vision to lift general practice from crisis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout August we’ve been showcasing some of the best interviews from series one of the podcast.
This week Emma talks to Dr Rebecca Rosen, a GP in London and senior fellow at health think tank the Nuffield Trust, about continuity of care, the evidence to support it and steps practices can take to embed continuity of care in the way they work. This interview was recorded in October 2021.
Since this was recorded we’ve written quite a lot about continuity of care on GPonline. The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is currently running an inquiry into the future of general practice and the benefits of continuity of care and what the NHS can do to promote continuity have been one of its themes. Dr Rosen gave evidence to the committee about the work she’s done in her practice.
The RCGP has also stepped up efforts to promote what it calls relationship-based care and highlight its importance in general practice. The college has produced a new report looking at what’s needed to help practices deliver relationship-based care and continuity (link below).
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Series 3 of Talking General Practice begins on 9 September.
Useful links
RCGP work on relationship-based care
GP crisis endangering continuity and quality of patient care, warns RCGP chair
GP access debate must shift to emphasise quality as well as speed, warns RCGP
Improving access and continuity in general practice - a 2018 Nuffield Trust report
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout August we’ve been showcasing some of the best interviews from series one of the podcast.
This week Emma talks to Dr Rebecca Rosen, a GP in London and senior fellow at health think tank the Nuffield Trust, about continuity of care, the evidence to support it and steps practices can take to embed continuity of care in the way they work. This interview was recorded in October 2021.
Since this was recorded we’ve written quite a lot about continuity of care on GPonline. The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is currently running an inquiry into the future of general practice and the benefits of continuity of care and what the NHS can do to promote continuity have been one of its themes. Dr Rosen gave evidence to the committee about the work she’s done in her practice.
The RCGP has also stepped up efforts to promote what it calls relationship-based care and highlight its importance in general practice. The college has produced a new report looking at what’s needed to help practices deliver relationship-based care and continuity (link below).
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Series 3 of Talking General Practice begins on 9 September.
Useful links
RCGP work on relationship-based care
GP crisis endangering continuity and quality of patient care, warns RCGP chair
GP access debate must shift to emphasise quality as well as speed, warns RCGP
Improving access and continuity in general practice - a 2018 Nuffield Trust report
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout August we’re showcasing some of the best interviews from series one of the podcast.
This week Emma speaks with Dr Carey Lunan, a GP in Edinburgh and chair of the Deep End GP Group in Scotland, and Dr David Blane a GP in Glasgow and clinical research fellow in General Practice, University of Glasgow, who is the academic lead of the Deep End GP Group, in an interview that was recorded in August 2021.
The Deep End Group covers the 100 most deprived practices in Scotland and the discussion highlights what the group is doing to tackle health inequalities, the impact of COVID-19 and what other practices can learn from their work.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Series 3 of Talking General Practice begins on 9 September.
Useful links
MIMS Learning free health inequalities webinar featuring Dr Carey Lunan https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/health-inequalities-in-primary-care
The Deep End Project https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/healthwellbeing/research/generalpractice/deepend/
Fair Health https://fairhealth.org.uk/
GP funding formula 'needs reworking' to target inequalities, warns RCGP
Government's slow COVID-19 response worsened health inequalities, warns BMA
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout August we’re showcasing some of the best interviews from series one of the podcast.
This week Emma is talking to GP and menopause expert Dr Louise Newson, in an interview that was recorded in September 2021.
Louise discusses how we can improve menopause care and education for doctors and other health professionals. She also explains how her career led her to becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable experts on the menopause and the new charity - The Menopause Charity - which she launched in 2021.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Series 3 of Talking General Practice begins on 9 September.
Useful links
Confidence in the Menopause (free training for healthcare professionals)
The Menopause Charity
Practical advice for GPs on prescribing HRT - an article by Dr Louise Newson and Dr Olivia Jones on GPonline
Our sister site MIMS Learning has the following learning modules on the menopause:
● Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
● NICE guidelines on the menopause - by Dr Louise Newson and Dr Rebecca Lewis
● Menopause and migraine - by Dr Louise Newson
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout August we’re bringing you some of the best interviews from series one of the podcast.
This week, Emma is talking to GP Dr Amy Small about living with long COVID in an interview that was recorded in November 2021.
Amy caught Covid right at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and went on to develop long COVID. In this conversation she explains how long COVID has affected her life, her family, and her job as a GP - and what she thinks needs to be done to improve services and support for other people affected by the condition.
We’re back with series 3 of Talking General Practice on 9 September.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Series 3 of Talking General Practice begins on 9 September.
Useful links
How widespread is long COVID in the UK?
Our sister site MIMS Learning has the following learning resources on long COVID
● Long COVID - tips for primary care - an on-demand webinar
● Long COVID and pain management - an on-demand webinar
● Guidance update: Long COVID assessment and management
● Neurological aspects of long COVID - an on-demand webinar
A link to the book Dr Amy Small mentions (Amazon) Classic Pacing for a Better Life with ME
Top tips: managing long COVID
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This week Emma speaks with Dr Gemma Wilkinson, a GP in Nottingham and clinical lead for the Nottinghamshire GP Phoenix Programme, a workforce support organisation affiliated to Nottinghamshire LMC.
The GP Phoenix Programme has a range of support programmes that focus on GP retention at every stage of a doctor’s career – from GP training, to newly-qualified GPs, through to mid-career and also those doctors approaching retirement.
In this conversation Gemma explains the steps the GP Phoenix Programme is taking to improve retention, what other areas can learn from their initiatives and what more needs to be done to stop GPs leaving the profession early.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
This summer
Talking General Practice is taking a break for the summer. During August we will be putting out some of the interviews from the first series of the podcast as stand alone episodes for those of you who may have missed those or started listening to the podcast more recently. They cover some really interesting and important topics, which we think are worth showcasing again.
We’ll be back for series 3 on 9 September.
Useful links
- GP Phoenix Programme induction materials
- Information for practice managers on employing a new to practice fellow - from the GP Phoenix Programme. And video explaining the same.
- Phoenix GP - a national career development and leadership programme for mid career GPs
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In our fortnightly news review, the team discusses some numbers that Nick’s crunched looking at GP partners across England and which areas are losing partners fastest, as well as some predictions about workforce figures from the Health Foundation
They also talk about latest developments on visa problems facing international medical graduates coming out of GP training, the latest health and social care committee hearing on the future of general practice and explain some PCN concerns about recruiting under the additional roles reimbursement scheme.
And there’s some good news about an award for the NHS in all four UK countries.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Which parts of England are losing GP partners fastest?
● Government has no plans to scrap GP partnership model, DHSC official tells MPs
● New primary care minister says general practice is not in crisis
● RCGP demands 'a job and a future' in the NHS for all IMG GP trainees
● PCNs 'frightened' to recruit as ARRS delays create six-figure cash shortfall
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This week Emma speaks to practice managers Jo Wadey and Nicola Davies who are also directors of the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM).
They discuss how and why they set up the IGPM, the institute’s new scheme for accreditation of practice managers and their views about practice managers being excluded from NHS England’s new to partnership scheme.
Jo and Nicola also talk about the importance of good practice management and how the role has changed in recent years, concerns about the number of practice managers leaving the profession and how increased aggressive behaviour from patients has affected practice staff.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● IGPM information on practice management accreditation
● IGPM webinar introducing accreditation (on YouTube)
● New accreditation programme for practice managers (on GPonline)
● Campaign launched to tackle 'daily abuse' of GP practice staff (on GPonline)
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week the team discusses what’s been happening at the BMA’s annual representative meeting this week, including a vote that could determine the future of primary care networks, talk of pay increases and the latest on stamping out sexism in the BMA.
They talk about the GMC reversing a decision to suspend GP Dr Manjula Arora for one month after she said she was promised a laptop by her employers. And they look at the RCGP’s new campaign that sets out the steps the college thinks are needed to address the workload and workforce crisis in general practice, as well as the college’s plan for embedding relationship-based care in GP practices.
Finally, there’s some good news on a community transport service for GP practices in west London.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Doctors tell BMA to pull GP practices out of PCNs by 2023
● BMA to demand significant pay rises to combat 15 years of real-term cuts
● Only 55% of Romney review recommendations on BMA sexism fully implemented
● What solutions to the GP crisis has the RCGP proposed?
● GP access debate must shift to emphasise quality as well as speed, warns RCGP
● RCGP relationship-based care document
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This week Emma speaks to RCGP chair Professor Martin Marshall ahead of the college’s annual conference next week.
Professor Marshall talks about the government’s attitude to general practice, how he believes the workforce and workload crisis could be tackled and the impact the backlog of care is having on general practice.
He also discusses the future of the NHS under integrated care systems and his views on primary care networks and whether he feels positive about the future of general practice.
The conversation was recorded just ahead of the college launching its new campaign - which you can read more about from the links below.
GPonline is once again the media partner for the RCGPs annual conference. You can read all the news from the event which takes place from 29 June-1 July 2022 on our website at GPonline.com.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● RCGP Fit for the Future document
● RCGP guidance on long-term conditions and pandemic recovery in primary care
● RCGP warns 19,000 GPs could quit in 'mass exodus' over next five years
● What solutions to the GP crisis has the RCGP proposed?
● Professor Martin Marshall: In my 30 years as a GP the job has never been so tough
● Coverage from the RCGP conference (available from 29 June)
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This week Emma and Nick look at the results of a court hearing involving NHS Property Services and what this means for practices located in buildings owned by the organisation.
They also talk about the findings from a new survey by the BMA into racism in the NHS and looking ahead to the BMA’s annual representative meeting in just over a week and the primary care motions that are up for debate. Finally, there’s some good news on fit notes and Jubilee honours.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● We work in a 1950s tin-roof health centre': poll shows impact of NHS underfunding
● GPs recognised in Queen's Jubilee honours
● 'Devastating' legal ruling threatens practice closures over £200m NHSPS service charges
● Racism threatens to drive thousands of GPs out of their jobs, BMA poll suggests
● GPs could withdraw from PCNs by 2023 under plan set for BMA debate
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This week on the podcast GPonline editor Emma Bower speaks to Dr Emma Wong, chair of the RCGP's First 5 committee. The committee represents newly qualified GPs in their first 5 years of practice within the college.
They talk about making the transition from training to independent practice, the support that's available to new GPs and Emma's decision to become a partner straight out of training - which is now becoming a more unusual career step.
Emma also explains why she thinks portfolio careers can benefit general practice and offers some practical advice to those about to qualify.
This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
RCGP information and resources for First 5 GPs
How to contact the RCGP First 5 committee
NHS Practitioner Health
Next Generation GP
Why general practice needs more young leaders - article on GPonline about the Next Generation GP scheme
Details of the New to Partnership Scheme
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This week Emma and Nick discuss the stocktake of primary care that has just been carried out on behalf of NHS England by GP Dr Claire Fuller. They look at what it had to say and what it could mean for general practice.
They also talk about general practice workforce figures and the government’s ongoing attempts to misrepresent the data.
And they look at what GPs really think about primary care networks and discuss some very real concerns about the future of the partnership model of general practice.
Finally there’s a bit of good news about primary care nursing.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who was joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links:
What does the Fuller stocktake mean for general practice in England? (from GP Business)
what does fuller stocktake mean on general practice england
Government accused of 'misleading' claims on general practice workforce
NHS workforce fears as retirements surge to all-time high
Most GPs say PCNs have added to GP workload and bring little benefit to practices
PCNs are 'existential threat' to GP independent contractor model, BMA warns
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This week Emma speaks to Dr Euan Strachan-Orr, chair of the BMA’s GP trainee subcommittee and a third year GP trainee in Liverpool.
They talk about the results of a recent BMA survey of GP trainees that looked at their experiences of GP training and future career intentions. They also discuss the problems with the recorded consultation assessment - the exam that all trainees currently need to pass in order to become a GP – and how it needs to change.
And they talk about the visa challenges faced by international medical graduates who train as GPs in the UK, junior doctor pay and the importance of extra support for newly-qualified GPs who trained during the pandemic.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Details of the BMA GP trainee subcommittee
● Advice for GP trainees on GPonline
● Tips on how to prepare for the recorded consultation assessment
● Thousands of GP trainees face visa barrier to employment
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week the team discusses what went on at last week’s conference of local medical committees UK conference. They look at dissatisfaction around representation of GPs within the BMA and round up some votes from the conference that set out what LMCs want to happen to tackle the current workload crisis.
They also talk about the results of a survey the BMA conducted among GP trainees and ask what it tells us about the future of the profession.
And they discuss the NHS pension and why the government’s failure to tackle the issues around the annual allowance could mean that more GPs end up being hit with punitive tax charges.
And there’s some good news about a free coaching programme for GPs and primary care staff.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● UK LMCs conference 2022: full coverage from GPonline
● LMCs warn of 'existential threat' to GP partnership model
● GPs demand contract with safe working limits but reject core hours cut
● One in eight GP trainees do not plan to work in general practice, BMA poll shows
● Rising number of GPs face pension tax penalty as inflation set to deepen workforce crisis
● GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19
● 'Looking After You Too' coaching
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This week Emma speaks to GPs Dr Tommy Perkins and Dr Ed Cantelo who set up the company Medics Money to help educate doctors about finance and ensure they had access to reliable financial information.
They talk about why they set up the company and Ed explains how he went from being a chartered accountant and tax adviser to a doctor.
They also discuss the problems surrounding the NHS pension, provide some practical financial tips for GPs at all stages of their career and Tommy explains why he thinks being a partner is still a great career choice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Medics Money website
Medics Money tax rebate guide
Medics Money podcast
From GPonline
Does GP partnership still make sense?
Rising number of GPs face pension tax penalty as inflation set to deepen workforce crisis
Pension records for nearly 20,000 GPs are 'in error', government admits
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In our fortnightly news review the team looks at the latest workforce and appointment statistics for general practice in England.
They also discuss what’s happening about specialist status for GPs and the latest developments in the Rebuild General Practice campaign. And they take a look ahead to what will be up for debate at next week’s UK LMCs conference and round off with a bit of good news about a gardening GP.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GP appointments surge by 4m as NHS loses hundreds of GPs
● Most GPs face work-related mental ill health as campaigners warn of suicide risk
● Axed workforce amendment 'a missed opportunity' to save general practice, RCGP warns
● Specialist status for GPs delayed as legislative timetable slips
● How gardening can help improve wellbeing
● BBC Two - Gardeners' World, 2022, Episode 8, Shahnaz Camatchee
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On the podcast this week GPonline’s senior reporter Luke Haynes speaks to Dr Amy Small, a GP in Lothian, Scotland, about her work with the Rebuild General Practice campaign.
The campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the crisis facing general practice. It’s also calling for a plan to tackle recruitment, reduce GP workload and deal with the other issues driving GPs out of the profession such as burnout.
Dr Small talks about her reasons for getting involved in the campaign, the impact negative media has had on the profession and her own experience of burnout, as well as what she thinks is needed to address the crisis. It was produced by Czarina Deen
Useful links
● Rebuild General Practice
● GPs unveil blueprint to rebuild general practice backed by former health secretary
● GPs to demand core hours cut to 9-5 and new contract with workload limits
● Vast majority of GPs face rising abuse and aggression from patients
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In our fortnightly news review the GPonline team looks at the demise of smaller GP practices and asks whether small practices are now a thing of the past. They talk about what plans for enhanced access, that will be introduced under this year’s network contract DES from October, mean for practices and PCNs. And they discuss what LMCs think about the BMA’s approach to GP contract negotiations. Finally there’s some good news about some new research on identifying sepsis in primary care.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● 'Soul of general practice' at risk as small practices decimated since 2015
● 12,000 GPs plan to quit within five years, major survey suggests
● Underfunding will severely limit services GPs offer under PCN enhanced access
● GPs want BMA action to stop 'slow death' of independent contractor model
● Simple diagnostic model could help GPs spot sepsis earlier
● BJGP research on sepsis identification
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This week Talking General Practice speaks to National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) president Dr Johnny Marshall.
The NAPC is the organisation behind the primary care home model, which it began developing in the early 2010s. Primary care networks, introduced as part of the 2019 GP contract, were based on the NAPC’s model.
In this podcast, GPonline senior reporter Luke Haynes speaks to Dr Marshall about the progress of PCNs, the limitations of the model to date, and where health leaders could make improvements.
This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
What is changing in the GP contract for 2022/23?
PCNs have become 'mini primary care trusts' with inadequate support
‘We’ve missed a real opportunity with PCNs’: top London GP leaves clinical director role
NAPC Primary Care Home model
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This week Talking General Practice takes an in-depth look at the GP workforce. Last week GPonline published a new interactive map, which analyses data to determine which parts of the country are most at risk from an ageing workforce. On the podcast we discuss what all this data tells us about the state of the GP workforce and some of the challenges facing general practice.
We also assess why patient satisfaction with the NHS has reached a 25-year low and what the British Social Attitudes survey, which that figure comes from, had to say about general practice.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Map: Which parts of England are at risk from an ageing GP workforce?
● One in 10 GP practices at risk of closure due to ageing workforce
● Map: Where are England's most underdoctored areas?
● Satisfaction with GP services sinks to 40-year low
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This week Talking General Practice speaks to Dr Pavlo Kolesnyk - a GP and educator in Uzhhorod, a city in the west of Ukraine.
GPonline’s senior reporter Luke Haynes talks to Dr Kolesynk about the impact the war has had on his city, including the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the east, and how family doctors in Uzhhorod are maintaining primary care services in the face of a severe shortage of medical supplies.
A special thanks to Dr Kolesnyk for managing to find the time to talk to us, despite the additional work and extra pressure he is dealing with at the minute.
To find out how to donate to support Dr Kolesnyk, email gabor.peter1954@gmail.com.
This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Ukraine Medical Help Fund
● Ukrainian Medical Association of the UK (Facebook page)
● Medicines Sans Frontieres work in Ukraine
● Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
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This week the team discusses the launch of a new campaign aimed at rebuilding general practice. They also talk about the House of Commons health and social care select committee’s inquiry into the future of general practice, which held its first evidence session last week. Both of these feature prominent appearances from former health and social care secretary Jeremy Hunt.
They look at how the NHS backlog is impacting on general practice, including the findings of a report from the public accounts committee and the results of a recent GPonline survey.
There’s a quick round-up of COVID-related news and finally, they highlight how the war is affecting GPs in Ukraine.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
From GPonline
● GPs unveil blueprint to rebuild general practice backed by former health secretary
● RCGP and former health secretary call for QOF to be scrapped
● GP funding formula perpetuates inequality, MPs told
● 'It's unsustainable' - NHS backlog pushing practices to breaking point
● General practice in Ukraine: 'COVID doesn't seem scary right now'
Other links
● Rebuild General Practice campaign
● Ukraine Medical Help Fund
● Ukrainian Medical Association of the UK
● Medicines Sans Frontieres work in Ukraine
● Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week Talking General Practice speaks to Professor Dame Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard.
Dame Helen is the immediate past chair of the RCGP and is currently chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing and also chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
We talk about what the National Academy for Social Prescribing is aiming to do, the evidence to support the use of social prescribing and what’s needed to make social prescribing a success.
We also discuss the work of the AoMRC, what needs to be done to tackle the workforce crisis and whether Dame Helen feels optimistic about the future of general practice.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● National Academy for Social Prescribing
● Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
From GPonline
● Flagship general practice recruitment scheme ‘at risk of failure’, report finds
● More than 1,000 GPs urge MPs to back NHS workforce amendment
● How social prescribing is helping patients in our practices
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The team discusses the new GP contract for 2022/23, which will be imposed on practices after talks between NHS England and the BMA broke down. They highlight what’s in the deal and how GPs have reacted to it.
They also take a look at a new report from the think tank Policy Exchange, which recommends that the GMS contract should be scrapped within a decade, with GPs becoming 'predominantly salaried' within large-scale providers. What’s of particular interest is that this report’s recommendations have been endorsed by health and social care secretary Sajid Javid
They discuss the findings of some new research into the additional roles reimbursement scheme which warns the multi-billion pound initiative is at risk of failure. And take a look at the response of UK doctors to the devastating war in Ukraine.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● Ukrainian Medical Association of the UK
● Medicines Sans Frontieres work in Ukraine
● Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
From GPonline and GP Business
● What is changing in the GP contract in 2022/23?
● BMA ‘bitterly disappointed’ as imposed contract forces 9-5 Saturday opening
● 'Are they out to destroy general practice?' - GPs react to imposed contract changes
● Javid-backed report calls for end of GMS contract within a decade
● Flagship general practice recruitment scheme ‘at risk of failure’, report finds
● Details of the Investment and Impact Fund for 2022/23
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GPonline’s senior reporter Luke Haynes speaks to Dr Farzana Hussain a GP and primary care network clinical director in Newham, east London.
Dr Hussain recently announced she is stepping down from her role as clinical director at the end of March. She has been a big advocate for the PCNs since they were introduced in 2019, but issues such as top-down management, endless meetings, and restrictive recruitment rules have led her to resign.
She talks to Luke in more depth about the reasons behind her decision, what she believes the problems facing PCNs are and what needs to happen to bring about real change in general practice.
Produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● ‘We’ve missed a real opportunity with PCNs’: top London GP leaves clinical director role
● Bureaucratic PCN targets 'no way to commission care', says BMA
● Exhausted GPs could quit PCN leadership roles amid doubts over funding
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The team takes a closer look at the GP workforce and which parts of England are most under-doctored.
They also look at how primary care networks are faring with recruitment of new staff and why being a clinical director is an increasingly tough job.
And they highlight reaction to the government’s plan for how England will ‘live with COVID’ as well as some updates to the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Finally there is some good news about GP partners to round things off.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Talking General Practice is the podcast from GPonline.com.
Useful links
● Map: Where are England's most underdoctored areas?
● GPs in England's most underdoctored areas caring for twice as many patients
● ‘We’ve missed a real opportunity with PCNs’: top London GP leaves clinical director role
● Multi-billion pound PCN recruitment scheme fails to meet halfway target
● Golden hello scheme drives surge in new GP partners
● Most vulnerable to receive additional COVID-19 booster this spring
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This week Talking General Practice speaks to Professor Dame Clare Gerada, president of the Royal College of GPs and medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, the NHS service that looks after doctors and other staff experiencing mental ill health.
Dame Clare explains how she came to set up NHS Practitioner Health, the impact the pandemic has had on GPs’ mental health and what should be done to better support doctors’ wellbeing going forwards.
She also talks about her career, what it was like being a trailblazing female leader in the NHS when she became chair of the college, including the scrutiny she was under on social media, and her current role as RCGP president.
And she offers her thoughts on what could be done to retain GPs and offers advice to aspiring healthcare leaders.
Useful links
● NHS Practitioner Health
● Doctors In Distress
● Where can GPs access help and support if they are struggling to cope?
● https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week the GPonline team looks at the government’s plan to tackle the backlog of care in the NHS and what it all means for general practice.
They’re also discussing reports that health secretary Sajid Javid has recommended to Boris Johnson that family doctors should be directly employed by hospitals instead of running their own surgeries - a proposal some have said would effectively nationalise GPs.
In other news, they look at what’s going on at the BMA with industrial action and consider why debates about this within the association have echoes of the Romney report into sexism a couple of years ago. And they discuss a new report from the association about racism in the NHS.
There’s also the usual dose of good news to finish off.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● No let-up for GPs as Javid says NHS waiting list will grow for two more years
● Plans to tackle NHS backlog threaten extra pressure on overstretched GPs
● Exhausted GPs could quit PCN leadership roles amid doubts over funding
● Fresh questions over BMA culture two years after Romney sexism review
● BMA's GP leaders failing a profession 'shackled to a contract no longer fit for purpose'
● NHS leaders have 'heads in sand' over widespread racism, BMA warns
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This week on Talking General Practice, Emma talks to Dr Richard Fieldhouse, a locum GP and chair of the National Association of Sessional GPs, which he set up in 1997 to represent and lobby on behalf of locum and salaried GPs.
Richard discusses how the NHS could make better use of the locum GP workforce, how the pandemic has affected locums and how practices can get the best from their locum GPs, He also highlights the benefits of working in a chambers and offers some advice on developing a portfolio career.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
National Association of Sessional GPs
What locum GPs need to know about the NHS Pension Scheme
Key financial issues for locum GPs
This week the team discusses results of a recent GPonline survey that found GPs are conducting 84% more patient contacts per day on average than the level considered safe by the BMA, and ask whether there should be a cap on the number of consultations GPs undertake.
They also talk about mandatory vaccination for NHS staff and the findings of a report from the CQC that found its own regulatory processes may disadvantage against GP practices led by doctors from ethnic minorities.
And, as the government in England abandons plan B and rolls back most COVID-19 restrictions, what is the reaction from the NHS?
Finally, our good news is about a unique art-based social prescribing initiative.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● ‘We just can’t keep going endlessly’: GPs speak out over 'undoable' workload
● GP patient contacts running 84% above safe limit, poll suggests
● General practice delivered an unprecedented 367m appointments in 2021
● COVID jab mandate 'under review' as 77,000 NHS staff unvaccinated
● Social prescribing patients curate art exhibition at leading Cornish gallery
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This week Talking General Practice speaks to Beccy Baird, senior fellow at health think tank the King’s Fund, about primary care networks.
Beccy talks about how networks are getting on, what support they need to succeed, and how the introduction of integrated care systems is likely to affect them. We also look at whether the additional roles reimbursement scheme is the answer to the challenges general practice faces and what the future looks like for PCNs at the end of this five-year GP contract.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Links to some of Beccy’s work with the King’s Fund
From GPonline’s sister site GP Business - How to make the most of your ARRS roles
General practice recruitment scheme falling short by thousands of staff
Viewpoint: Are PCNs working - and where do they go from here?
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Talking General Practice is going weekly! We will now be available every Friday. One week will feature our news round-up and the following week will be an interview with someone from the world of general practice, taking a more in-depth look at a key issue in primary care.
This week it’s news. The team looks at the pressure general practice is currently under as a result of the Omicron variant, staff absences and soaring patient demand. They also discuss what the huge backlog of care means for practices and weigh up whether the additional roles reimbursement scheme is likely to deliver on its promise of 26,000 more staff in primary care.
There’s also some good news about flu jabs.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
'Eventually it will have to break': LMC alert systems show general practice in distress
General practice 'forgotten soldier' as Omicron drives rising pressure on NHS
Progress on recruiting 26,000 staff to support general practice 'very concerning'
Flu vaccine uptake 'highest on record' as GPs jab 81% of over-65s
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This week the team looks at plans to ramp up the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme and what this means for GPs and their teams.
They also discuss the latest annual GMC State of Medical Education and Practice report and what it tells us about general practice.
In our interview Emma speaks to Dr Ellen Fallows, a GP in Oxfordshire and director of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine’s learning academy. Ellen explains exactly what lifestyle medicine is, the evidence to support its use and how GPs and other clinicians can make use of it in their day-to-day practice.
And we have a Christmas good news story to wrap things up.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
GP practices to redeploy staff as NHS demands extra funding to fight Omicron
COVID vaccine 15-minute observation rule looks set to be scrapped
Vaccinated NHS staff no longer need to self isolate ic close contact of Omicron case
Third of GPs at ‘high risk’ of burnout as GMC reveals impact of unsustainable workload
Workload and burnout risk rising fast among GP trainers and trainees
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This week the team discusses the Omicron COVID-19 variant, changes to the vaccination booster programme and how this could impact on practice workload.
They also talk about the results of the BMA’s industrial action ballot and what went on at the English LMCs conference last week, including the first address by new GPC England chair Dr Farah Jameel and a wide ranging debate on GP and practice staff wellbeing.
In this episode's intereview, Luke speaks to Dr Matt Sawyer a GP in Yorkshire about a new calculator that he has developed to help GP practices calculate their non-clinical carbon footprint and steps practices can take to be more sustainable.
And, while good news seems to be a bit thin on the ground at the moment, there is a positive story from general practice in Wales.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who was joined by GPonline’s news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● GPs offered £15 per jab as government sets 31 January COVID-19 booster deadline
● 'Line in the sand': GPC chair offers olive branch to government but warns GPs ready to fight
● More than half of GP practices prepared to pull out of PCNs, BMA ballot shows
● ‘Utterly toxic’: GPs speak out over abuse and physical attacks on practice teams
● Welsh GP contract maintains 'total triage' - in stark contrast to Westminster approach on access
● The GP Carbon Calculator is here https://www.gpcarbon.org/#/
● You can find Dr Matt Sawyer on Twitter @SEESustainabil1
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This week we’re talking about a new inquiry into the future of general practice launched by the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, with MPs warning that the profession is ‘in crisis’.
We also look at the decision to introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for NHS staff in England. And we’ll be discussing the election of a new chair for the BMA’s GP committee in England and looking ahead to next week’s conference of English LMCs.
Emma speaks to Dr Veronica Grant a GP in Derbyshire and the RCGP clinical champion for veterans health about the healthcare needs of veterans and steps practices can take to support veterans and military families,
And we have a bit of good news about GP trainees.
The episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by news editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
RCGP veterans’ healthcare toolkit
Veteran friendly practice accreditation
What are the top priorities for the new BMA GP committee chair?
MPs launch inquiry into future of general practice - warning profession is 'in crisis'
Doctors back call to force government to publish NHS workforce planning
COVID vaccine mandate could strip 9,000 staff from general practice
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This week the team looks at the fallout from the government’s so-called support package for general practice in England. We discuss the BMA’s plans to ballot GPs on different types of industrial action they could take in protest to the controversial plans that fail to address the current workload crisis and could have the opposite effect of making things significantly worse.
We’ll also be looking at the response of some local healthcare leaders to the proposals and what the latest appointment data tell us about how access to general practice is currently working.
In our interview, Emma speaks to Dr Amy Small, a GP in Lothian in Scotland, about her experience of living with long Covid. She talks about how long Covid has affected her life, her family, and her job as a GP - and what she thinks needs to be done to improve services and support for other people affected by the condition.
And we have a bit of good news about booster vaccines.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who was joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and our senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
A link to the book Dr Amy Small mentioned in her interview (Amazon) Classic Pacing for a Better Life with ME
Top tips: managing long COVID
Our sister site MIMS Learning has the following learning resources on long COVID
● Guidance update: Long COVID assessment and management
● Neurological aspects of long COVID - an on-demand webinar
GP industrial action ballot over access plans to end mid-November, BMA confirms
Regional NHS bosses will ignore 'name and shame' GP access plans
Patient choice should determine whether GP appointments are face-to-face, says Javid
GP appointments hit new high as face-to-face contacts surge
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This week we take a look at the government’s so-called support package for general practice. We discuss what’s in the package, what GPs think about it (spoiler - not much) and what happens next.
We’re also talking about chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty’s appearance at the RCGP annual conference last week and what he had to say about general practice and the difficult winter ahead.
Emma speaks to Dr Richard Mayne a GP in Belfast about the impact of sedentary behaviour in general practice and the importance of promoting physical activity. And we have a bit of good news about research in general practice.
Useful links
GPs overwhelmingly reject access plans as BMA holds emergency meeting
Viability of general practice this winter in doubt, warns BMA
CMO praises GP pandemic response and warns 'exceptionally difficult' winter to come
The Moving Medic - Dr Richard Mayne’s blog
Domestic violence training and support programme shown to increase GP referrals 30-fold
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In this special episode of our podcast we speak to the chair of the Royal College of GPs Professor Martin Marshall.
GPonline editor Emma Bower spoke to Professor Marshall ahead of the RCGP’s annual conference, which takes place in Liverpool this week.
Professor Marshall discusses the current media storm around face-to-face appointments, what needs to be done to tackle the workload crisis in general practice and why he thinks being a GP is still the best job in medicine. He also tells us what it has been like being chair of the college during a global pandemic.
GPonline is delighted to once again be the college’s media partner for its annual conference, which takes place on 14th and 15th October. We’ll be in Liverpool reporting all the news from the event, which you can read on our website from Thursday morning.
Find all of the news from the RCGP annual conference 2021 here
This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.
In this episode the team talks about the latest GP appointment data and what it tells us about exactly how hard general practice is working. They ask, is the government starting to recognise the important role general practice plays? And they take a look at new government legislation around pay transparency in general practice.
In our interview this week Emma speaks to Dr Rebecca Rosen, a GP in London and senior fellow at health think tank the Nuffield Trust, about continuity care. We discuss what GPs and their teams can do if they want to increase levels of continuity of care in their practice.
And finally our regular good news spot looks at a social media campaign where patients showed their support for their GP.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Continuity of care toolkit and resources from the RCGP
Huge drop in DNAs post-pandemic adds millions of appointments to GP workload
GPs 'singled out' as pay transparency rules threaten fresh wave of abuse
Patients show support for GPs through #ThanksToMyGP social media campaign
BMA polls GPs over withdrawing work or quitting NHS amid mounting abuse
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This week the team discusses the current furore around face-to-face appointments and how national media campaigns and comments from MPs about access to general practice is affecting GPs and their teams.
They also look at the COVID-19 booster campaign and what this means for general practice this autumn. And discuss the additional roles reimbursement scheme – the initiative that is aiming to bring an additional 26,000 full-time equivalent staff into primary care in England by 2024 – and ask: is it making a difference?
In our interview this week Emma speaks to GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson about improving menopause care and education for doctors and other health professionals. We discuss how her career led her to becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable experts on the menopause and the new charity - The Menopause Charity - which she launched earlier this year.
And finally our regular good news spot highlights a primary care network in Cornwall that is taking an innovative step to help tackle climate change.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Confidence in the Menopause (free training for healthcare professionals)
The Menopause Charity
MIMS Learning webinar on the menopause presented by Dr Louise Newson
NICE guidelines on the menopause - a learning module on MIMS Learning written by Dr Louise Newson and Dr Rebecca Lewis
Millions of pounds lost to general practice as flagship recruitment scheme falls short
BMA demands emergency meeting with government over GP abuse
'Out of touch' Javid deepens rift with GPs over face-to-face appointments
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This week the team talks about supply problems affecting GP practices - namely delays to flu vaccine deliveries and the NHS-wide blood test tube shortage. They look at what these problems mean for practices and the knock on impact on patients.
They also look at the state of the BMA and NHS England’s relationship now that the BMA has agreed to restart formal talks after a five-month break.
In our interview this week Luke speaks with Dr Ellie Reed, an F1 junior doctor in south west London, who is one of the doctors behind the Just a GP campaign that is aiming to tackle the stigma and prejudice in medical schools towards general practice.
And finally we highlight some (sort of) good news on PCNs. We discuss NHS England’s decision to defer much of the work that was due to begin in October, an increase in funding for network management and a possible change to the way funding for the Investment and Impact Fund works.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Watch the Just a GP video on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp0TzHIKFUo
Government must take responsibility for blood tube shortage chaos, BMA warns
https://www.gponline.com/government-responsibility-blood-tube-shortage-chaos-bma-warns/article/1726340
GPs scramble to cancel clinics as flu vaccine deliveries delayed by 'up to two weeks'
https://www.gponline.com/gps-scramble-cancel-clinics-flu-vaccine-deliveries-delayed-up-two-weeks/article/1726349
‘Too early’ to talk about flu vaccine shortage, says minister https://www.gponline.com/too-early-talk-flu-vaccine-shortages-says-minister/article/1726656
Senior BMA GPs resign as talks with NHS England resume
https://www.gponline.com/senior-bma-gps-resign-talks-nhs-england-resume/article/1726644
Nonsensical to make GPs collect patient ethnicity data twice, warns top doctor
https://www.gponline.com/nonsensical-gps-collect-patient-ethnicity-data-twice-warns-top-doctor/article/1726535
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This week the team discusses rising levels of abuse faced by doctors and staff working in general practice and some of the reasons behind this. They also talk about the latest official GP workforce figures, what they tell us about the state of the profession and why the BMA said the statistics were ‘gaslighting’ doctors.
In our interview Emma speaks with Dr Carey Lunan, a GP in Edinburgh and chair of the Deep End GP Group in Scotland, and Dr David Blane a GP in Glasgow and Clinical Research Fellow in General Practice, University of Glasgow, who is the academic lead of the Deep End GP Group. The Deep End Group covers the 100 most deprived practices in Scotland and the discussion highlights what the group is doing to tackle health inequalities, the impact of COVID-19 and what other practices can learn from their work.
And finally our regular good news spot looks at the role of women in general practice over the years.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
MIMS Learning free health inequalities webinar https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/health-inequalities-in-primary-care
The Deep End Project https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/healthwellbeing/research/generalpractice/deepend/
Fair Health https://fairhealth.org.uk/
Half of GPs verbally abused in past month alone as BMA highlights burnout fears https://www.gponline.com/half-gps-verbally-abused-past-month-alone-bma-highlights-burnout-fears/article/1724327
General practice lost 1 in 30 partners last year, official data show https://www.gponline.com/general-practice-lost-one-30-partners-last-year-official-data-show/article/1724274
RCGP online exhibition celebrates women in general practice https://www.gponline.com/rcgp-online-exhibition-celebrates-women-general-practice/article/1723168
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This week the team discusses COVID-19 booster and flu jabs, what the plans will mean for general practice this autumn and why running the campaigns will be a huge challenge for practices.
We also look at what the changes to COVID restrictions on 19 July means for primary care, including new rules around self isolation, what’s what with face masks and NHS England withdrawing its standard operating procedure for primary care.
In our interview Emma speaks with Royal College of GPs clinical lead for clinical policy Dr Gail Allsopp, who has been leading the college’s work around long COVID. They discuss how the condition presents, its impact on patients, how it is affecting general practice and the support and services available for patients.
And finally in our good news section this week we look at the government’s decision to further delay its plans for a mass extraction of patient data from GP practices, something many GPs have been calling for.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
RCGP education module on long COVID https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=492
RCGP webinar on long COVID https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=12249
Public Health England promotional material about wearing masks https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/nhs-resources-facilities/resources/nhs-IPC-resources/
Primary care standard operating procedure scrapped as COVID-19 rules relaxed https://www.gponline.com/primary-care-standard-operating-procedure-scrapped-covid-19-rules-relaxed/article/1722767
GPs under rising pressure as COVID cases climb in fully vaccinated people https://www.gponline.com/gps-rising-pressure-covid-cases-climb-fully-vaccinated-people/article/1722399
Fully vaccinated GP practice staff can avoid self-isolation and continue in work https://www.gponline.com/fully-vaccinated-gp-practice-staff-avoid-self-isolation-continue-work/article/1722500
GP data extraction programme postponed again with 'no specific start date' https://www.gponline.com/gp-data-extraction-programme-postponed-again-no-specific-start-date/article/1722627
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This week we discuss the government’s plans to relax almost all of the current COVID-19 restrictions when it moves to step 4 of its roadmap, currently scheduled for 19 July, and find out what the NHS thinks about it.
We also look at what the COVID-19 booster campaign this autumn could mean for general practice and discuss the latest GP trainee recruitment figures.
Our interview this week is with Dr Pauline Foreman, who is a GP in Hertfordshire and clinical director of the Personalised Care Institute, and we talk about why NHS England made personalised care a key part of its long-term plan and how we can embed it across the NHS in the coming years.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Personalised Care Institute - https://www.personalisedcareinstitute.org.uk/
COVID-19 vaccine gap threatens rise in inequality and GP workload as restrictions ease - https://www.gponline.com/covid-19-vaccine-gap-threatens-rise-inequality-gp-workload-restrictions-ease/article/1721548
General practice set for record trainee recruitment for fourth year running https://www.gponline.com/general-practice-set-record-trainee-recruitment-fourth-year-running/article/1721367
'Incoherent' decision to relax COVID rules puts patients and NHS at risk, say doctors https://www.gponline.com/incoherent-decision-relax-covid-rules-puts-patients-nhs-risk-say-doctors/article/1721407
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This week we’re talking about the ongoing fall out from the now infamous NHS England letter about face to face appointments, including the current state of relations between NHS England and the BMA and what health secretary Matt Hancock has to say about it all.
We take a look at the latest problems with Primary Care Support England that has left practices missing payments and caused problems with pensions. And we discuss claims that bullying and sexism are still a problem in some local medical committees.
Our interview this week is with Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, the RCGP and Marie Curie national end of life care champion, who talks about better end of life care and how the pandemic has impacted on services.
Finally, our good news section highlights GPs recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Bullying has continued in LMCs post-Romney review, GP whistleblower warns https://www.gponline.com/bullying-continued-lmcs-post-romney-review-gp-whistleblower-warns/article/1719441
No plans to impose face-to-face appointment targets, Hancock tells the BMA https://www.gponline.com/no-plans-impose-face-to-face-gp-appointment-targets-hancock-tells-bma/article/1719769
GPs yet to receive thousands of pounds in QOF pay amid PCSE problems, says BMA https://www.gponline.com/gps-yet-receive-thousands-pounds-qof-pay-amid-pcse-problems-says-bma/article/1720037
The Daffodil standards https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/working-in-partnership/royal-college-of-gps/daffodil-standards
UK Commission on Bereavement https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/uk-commission-bereavement
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This week we take a look at the government and NHS Digital’s plans for a mass data extraction of all GP patient records in England, highlighting some of the concerns and why it has been put on hold for two months.
We also look at the additional roles reimbursement scheme, a major plank of funding in the five-year GP contract that promises extra staff for primary care in England, and ask will it help alleviate workload pressures?
Our interview features Dr Tamsin Ellis, a GP in London and chair of the London branch of the Greener Practice group, who talks about greener general practice and why GPs should take steps to help tackle the climate crisis.
Finally our regular good news section highlights some positive comments we’ve had from GPs about life in general practice during the past 15 months.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
Greener Practice - https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk/
Latest on the ARRS - https://www.gponline.com/gps-demand-flexibility-support-430m-additional-roles-cash-drives-pcn-recruitment/article/1718195
Details of the health and social care committee’s report on workforce and burnout, which Nick mentions - https://www.gponline.com/nhs-workforce-plans-need-total-overhaul-tackle-burnout-crisis-mps-warn/article/1718365
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This week we’re talking about face-to-face appointments in primary care and the fallout from NHS England’s standard operating procedure for general practice that demanded practice provide in-person appointments for all patients if they wanted them.
We also speak to Dr Sophie Lumley and Dr Adam Thomas, the national co-chairs of the RCGP’s associates in training committee, about GP training in the pandemic and the possible long-term implications of changes that have been introduced during the past 15 months.
Finally, in our Good News slot we look at the latest statistics which suggest that vaccine hesitancy is falling in black and ethnic minority communities.
This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
GPonline resources for GP trainees: https://www.gponline.com/education/training
A ten-point plan to stabilise general practice by Dr Simon Hodes: https://www.gponline.com/viewpoint-10-point-plan-stabilise-bedrock-nhs/article/1717205
The letter NHS England should have sent to GPs by Dr Louise Hyde: https://www.gponline.com/viewpoint-letter-nhs-england-sent-gps/article/1716376
London GP leads COVID-19 jab uptake campaign as vaccine hesitancy drops: https://www.gponline.com/london-gp-leads-covid-19-jab-uptake-campaign-vaccine-hesitancy-drops/article/1717023
GPs use bus as mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic to boost uptake: https://www.gponline.com/gps-use-bus-mobile-covid-19-vaccine-clinic-boost-uptake/article/1705924
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This week we’re talking about the workload crisis in general practice, looking at the reasons behind it and what could be done to address some of the problems.
We also speak to wellbeing expert GP Dr Helen Garr, deputy director of NHS Practitioner Health, about the impact heavy workload and the pandemic has had on GPs’ and other staff members’ mental health. Helen also provides some practical advice on what to do if you, or someone you know, is struggling to cope.
Finally, we take a look at the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The next phase of lockdown easing is just around the corner - and the hard work of primary care teams, vaccinating tens of millions of people, has been key to helping the UK get there.
Useful links:
There are resources and advice on wellbeing on GPonline at https://www.gponline.com/wellbeing
Details on how to access NHS Practitioner Health are here https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/accessing-the-service
NHS Practitioner Health has a range of free webinars on its website covering everything from mindfulness, to managing stress and dealing with insomnia. You can find these here: https:///www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/webinars-and-podcast
You can find GPonline’s COVID-19 vaccination tracker here: https://www.gponline.com/uk-covid-19-vaccination-programme-tracker/article/1704726 and we have details on progress on vaccinations by age and CCG here: https://www.gponline.com/map-ccgs-highest-covid-19-vaccine-coverage/article/1711567
Sign up to GPonline’s email alerts: https://www.gponline.com/email-bulletins
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Brought to you by GPonline.com, this podcast looks at the latest news affecting general practice. Each fortnight the GPonline team highlights key stories - we'll also be talking to GPs and others from primary care about the big issues, highlighting some positive stories and inspirational people along the way.
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