The General Practice Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ben Gowland
Ben Gowland talks to those making real change happen in healthcare, getting underneath what they did, how they managed to do it, and the challenges they faced along the way
This week, Ben is joined by Katie Collin, Partner at Ramsey Brown, to discuss NHS England's consultation on Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts and Multi-Neighbourhood Provider contracts.
They explore what the proposed contracts could mean for GP practices, PCNs and federations, including the potential impact on funding, governance and locally commissioned services.
Katie explains the different contract options, whether PCNs should consider incorporation, and the potential role of federations and collaboratives as MNPs.
The discussion also looks at the opportunities and risks of shifting more services into primary care, and why strong governance, transparency and financial planning will be essential as neighbourhood working develops.
With the consultation still underway, Katie shares her thoughts on what practices and PCNs should be considering now.
Introduction (00:08)
The NHS England consultation on neighbourhood provider contracts (00:30)
Why the consultation is a positive step for general practice (00:51)
Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts: what do they mean for GPs? (03:57)
PCN DES vs a local variation: understanding the options (05:47)
Could locally commissioned services move through PCNs? (08:39)
The financial implications for GP practices (09:00)
What the IIF taught us about collective funding (11:01)
Why PCN governance could become more important than ever (13:40)
Should PCNs consider incorporation? (15:29)
The benefits of incorporation and stronger governance (15:57)
What are Multi-Neighbourhood Providers (MNPs)? (18:16)
Could MNPs create new opportunities for general practice? (20:18)
The risks of following the funding into primary care (21:38)
How can federations and collaboratives fit into the new model? (23:37)
Why governance and transparency will be critical (25:06)
What should PCNs and practices do next? (26:03)
Visit Katie on Linkedin here, or email Katie directly here.
Visit the Ramsay Brown website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Integrated neighbourhood working has been talked about for years, but what does it actually look like when it's put into practice?
In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Bobby Pozzoni-Child, Director of Partnerships and Transformation for the Buckinghamshire Primary Care Provider Collaborative. Bobby explains how Buckinghamshire has evolved from a GP Provider Alliance into a truly integrated primary care collaborative, bringing together general practice, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry to create a stronger collective voice and deliver better care.
If you're interested in neighbourhood health, integration, system leadership or the future role of primary care, this episode offers practical lessons from a system that's already making it happen.
Introduction (00:08)
Why Buckinghamshire expanded beyond general practice (01:29)
Bringing GPs, pharmacies, dentists and optometrists together (02:41)
Creating a stronger voice for primary care across the system (04:31)
Why neighbourhood working needs relationships and delivery (06:05)
How Buckinghamshire is turning collaboration into action (08:01)
Building neighbourhood teams and local leadership (10:23)
Keeping practices engaged as neighbourhoods grow (11:45)
Delivering measurable results through integrated working (14:27)
How attitudes towards primary care are changing (16:49)
From planning neighbourhoods to delivering care (18:51)
Why Bucks isn't waiting for national contracts (20:57)
Lessons learned from leading system-wide integration (22:40)
Why expanding to wider primary care was the right move (25:59)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Robyn Clark and Ed Kennedy to discuss the new "return to good" inspections, how they differ from previous CQC visits, and why many practice managers feel these are now effectively practice manager inspections.
Ed shares his first-hand experience of being among the first practices inspected under the new approach, while Robyn discusses the wider concerns being raised by practice managers across the country. Together they explore the benefits, challenges and practical steps practices can take to prepare, as well as the growing recognition of practice managers as leaders within the NHS.
The new CQC inspection model explained (02:31)
Ed's experience of being one of the first practices inspected (04:27)
Why these are becoming "practice manager inspections" (05:43)
The benefits and limitations of the new approach (07:07)
Can practices improve their CQC rating? (07:52)
Why inspector consistency remains a major concern (11:45)
The increasing pressure on practice managers (14:23)
Practical advice to prepare for a CQC inspection (16:18)
Key compliance areas inspectors are focusing on (17:08)
What to do if you disagree with your inspection report (21:45)
Practice managers influencing national NHS policy (22:41)
How the role of practice manager is gaining national recognition (24:18)
Listen back to a Practice Index – Navigating CQC Inspections with Confidence feating Kay Keane here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
What does it take for general practice to lead system transformation rather than simply respond to it?
In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Dr Sunaina Khanna and Dr Imran Zaman to discuss how they have built a unified leadership model that is helping shape neighbourhood health across one of England's largest Integrated Care Systems.
Starting with a collaborative response to winter pressures, they explain how GP leaders came together to create the GP Partnership Board, giving general practice a stronger voice in system decision-making while developing services at scale. They share the practical lessons they've learnt about building trust, securing buy-in from practices, working alongside community providers, and creating leadership that is focused on delivery rather than representation alone.
The conversation also explores how general practice can prepare for the future NHS landscape, why working at scale matters, and the importance of demonstrating value through action.
Whether you're a GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director, practice manager or system leader, this episode offers valuable insights into building collaboration, influencing change and strengthening the role of general practice within neighbourhood health.
Introduction (00:09)
How winter pressures sparked a new model of GP collaboration (01:26)
Using population health to redesign services at scale (03:20)
Building multidisciplinary teams around neighbourhood health (05:59)
Why Birmingham & Solihull created the GP Partnership Board (08:25)
Winning practice buy-in through delivery, not persuasion (11:39)
Balancing uncertainty with opportunity in the changing NHS (13:10)
Evolving towards a 24/7 general practice leadership model (16:22)
Making general practice easier for the system to work with (17:33)
Building stronger partnerships across community services (19:30)
Why every area needs a unified GP leadership voice (22:19)
Practical advice for creating collaboration at scale (25:30)
Learning by doing and proving what works (28:30)
Final reflections (29:36)
Contact Sunaina directly via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The Carr-Hill formula sits at the heart of GP funding, yet few people fully understand how it works, or the impact it can have on individual practices. In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Matt Jones, GP Partner in Cardiff, who has spent years investigating the formula after discovering significant funding differences between seemingly similar practices. Drawing on Freedom of Information requests, published papers, and detailed analysis, Matt explains why Carr-Hill remains such a controversial issue and why a long-awaited review could have major implications for general practice.
Together they explore how the formula's different indices interact, why some practices can lose out by hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, the role of deprivation and fixed costs, and how funding inequalities can affect workforce capacity, patient access, and sustainability. Matt also shares his thoughts on what meaningful reform could look like and why greater transparency is essential if practices are to understand the challenges they face.
Introduction (0:09)
How did you become interested in the Carr-Hill formula? (0:19)
What prompted your research and submissions to the Welsh inquiry? (1:05)
Why is understanding Carr-Hill so important ahead of the current review? (1:54)
Is the problem really about deprivation, or is it more complex than that? (2:45)
Which parts of the formula have the biggest impact on funding? (3:18)
Why are some of the formula's deprivation measures now outdated? (4:12)
How do the different Carr-Hill indices compound to create large funding gaps? (6:14)
Do practices actually know their Carr-Hill scores? (7:49)
How large can the funding differences between practices be? (8:43)
Why do funding inequalities become harder to fix over time? (10:17)
What happens if the formula is adjusted to better reflect current deprivation? (11:31)
Does Carr-Hill underestimate the fixed costs of running a GP practice? (12:42)
Why does the age and sex index potentially exaggerate funding differences? (13:24)
How do fixed costs reduce clinical capacity in lower-funded practices? (14:27)
What changes could make the funding model fairer? (15:50)
Should national pay uplifts be separated from the Carr-Hill formula? (16:59)
Why are funding inequalities continuing to grow? (17:57)
What does this mean for access targets and patient care? (19:18)
Could funding be based on workload instead? (20:24)
What would Matt like to see from the Carr-Hill review? (22:11)
Why transparency around funding matters for practices and patients (22:50)
Closing thoughts (24:11)
Read Matt Jones' paper here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The proposed Single Neighbourhood Provider Contract could significantly reshape how services are commissioned and delivered at neighbourhood level, but with many details still to be confirmed, PCNs are being faced with important decisions now.
In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Robert McCartney, Senior Associate at Hempsons, to discuss what we know so far about the SNP Contract, the growing focus on neighbourhood footprints, and how local PCN DES variations could provide opportunities for PCNs to begin implementing change without waiting for national guidance.
They explore the practical steps PCNs can take to strengthen their position, including leadership, governance, incorporation, and service redesign. Robert shares why proactive PCNs may be best placed to influence the future of neighbourhood working, maintain control of local services, and demonstrate their ability to lead change across their communities.
Introduction (0:08)
What are PCNs and practices asking for support with right now? (0:41)
Why are some PCNs preparing for the future while others are taking a wait-and-see approach? (1:25)
What impact are funding changes having on PCNs and workforce planning? (2:46)
What is the Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) Contract? (4:09)
How could neighbourhood footprints affect PCN boundaries and membership? (6:01)
Can multiple PCNs work together under a neighbourhood model? (7:44)
Does collaboration increase the risk of another organisation holding the contract? (9:13)
What do the new PCN DES local variations mean for practices? (10:39)
Could local DES variations reduce the need for an SNP Contract? (11:11)
What opportunities do local variations create for service redesign? (13:47)
How do local variations differ from the SNP Contract? (14:50)
What should PCNs be doing now to prepare for the future? (17:44)
How can proactive leadership help PCNs retain influence and control? (19:58)
What practical steps should PCNs take to implement neighbourhood working? (20:36)
Do PCNs have the leadership and management capacity needed for change? (22:18)
Is incorporation necessary to prepare for the SNP Contract? (23:55)
When does setting up a company make sense for a PCN? (24:17)
Can federations provide an alternative to incorporation? (26:20)
How long does incorporation take and what are the common mistakes? (27:56)
Visit the Hempsons website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode of the General Practice Podcast, Ben is joined by Dr Sian Stanley, GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director and Health System Transformation Leader to explore how general practice can play a central role in reshaping urgent and community care.
Sian shares the story behind a GP-led urgent treatment centre collaborative in West Essex, bringing together primary care, community services, the acute trust and wider system partners to redesign patient flow and reinvest savings back into local services.
This is a fascinating discussion about practical system leadership, collaboration, and the future role of general practice in NHS transformation.
Introduction (0:09)
Tell us about your roles (0:23)
Tell us about the urgent treatment centre and why it's unusual for primary care to lead it (1:38)
How does the funding and profit-sharing work within the collaborative? (3:27)
Is the hospital involved in the collaborative? (4:42)
How does making "left shift" tangible help bring practices on board? (6:15)
Is it difficult balancing system leadership with representing practices? (7:16)
How do you reassure practices and keep them engaged? (7:50)
What is the relationship with the acute trust and how has it developed? (10:04)
What impact has the loss of ICB funding had on these roles? (11:28)
How do you see the provider collaborative developing? (12:23)
Is there nervousness about acute trusts becoming too powerful in community care? (13:47)
How do you stop general practice becoming an extension of the acute trust? (15:01)
How are you tackling the "substitution effect" around hospital admissions? (17:55)
Are you starting to see shared savings models work in practice? (21:14)
How did you build influence and get a voice at the table? (23:48)
Closing reflections (26:24)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to unpack the realities of the 2026/27 GP contract and what it means for general practice. Claire & Robyn share practical insights into how practices are managing rising expenses, the limitations of current funding allocations, and the increasing challenge of balancing demand with limited resources. They also reflect on wider system issues, including the sustainability of general practice, the risks of shifting workload without adequate funding, and the growing tension between policy expectations and operational reality.
Introduction & Sponsor (0:09)
Immediate Impact of Contract Changes (2:00)
Capacity & Access Funding Changes (9:30)
Barriers to Recruitment & Delivery (10:30)
Advice & Guidance Changes (17:16)
Referral Management & System Pressures (19:09)
QOF & Childhood Immunisations Update (24:23)
Support Available via Practice Index (26:42)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, Ben is joined by Dr Sarah Coope, former GP, mediator and CEO of Wild Monday, to explore one of the most challenging aspects of working in general practice - conflict. Sarah shares why conflict is both inevitable and, when handled well, a positive force within teams, particularly in high-pressure environments like general practice and PCNs. The conversation explores why unresolved conflict is so common, how workload and system complexity contribute, and why avoiding difficult conversations can often make things worse. The episode also highlights the emotional toll of conflict, the importance of psychological and emotional safety, and why one-to-one conversations are often more effective than large group discussions. Finally, Sarah discusses the support available for leaders, including coaching, peer networks and structured development programmes.
Introduction (0:07)
Why conflict is common in general practice (1:15)
The impact of pressure, workload and system complexity (2:27)
Avoiding conflict and why it can be harmful (4:02)
The emotional toll of conflict (5:14)
Handling personal conflict and strong emotions (8:50)
Expressing how situations feel (11:00)
One-to-one vs group conversations (12:36)
Structuring the conversation: HiFIVE model (13:50)
Challenging assumptions and narratives (15:05)
The final part.. (20:06)
Summarising the HIGH5 framework (22:43)
Supporting leaders with conflict (23:03)
Visit the Wild Monday website here.
Access the HiFive model here.
The Shapes Academy Toolkit can be found here.
Access the How To Lead Without Rescuing webinar here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben recently joined Tara Humphrey from THC Primary Care on The Business of Healthcare Podcast, to explore what lies ahead for primary care, the importance of strong relationships in leadership, and what recent GP contract developments mean for Primary Care Networks and neighbourhood-focused approaches. Interested in hearing more from Ben and Tara? Join them at PCN Plus LIVE 2026 on Wednesday 22nd April 2026, where they'll be focusing on how deeper collaboration, locally driven innovation, and bold thinking can shape the future of healthcare delivery. Visit the website here to learn more or secure your place.
Introduction (00:55)
"Make it easy to work with you" (05:28)
Being intentional vs organic in networking (07:56)
Writing emails that get responses (09:56)
The GP Contract: first reactions (11:41)
Are PCNs at risk? (19:10)
Moving from discussion to action (24:19)
PCN Plus Live 2026 (25:19)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back to the podcast Peter Maynard, Executive Partner at Horfield Health Centre and Ceri Chaplin, Managing Partner at Hereford Medical Group. Following the publication of the 2026/27 GP contract, they discuss the headline changes and what they could mean for general practice. While the announcement highlights new investment, the reality for practices may be more complex, with funding pressures, operational changes and unanswered questions about how the proposals will work in practice.
The conversation explores the implications for practice finances, workforce recruitment, PCNs, advice and guidance, performance management and quality frameworks, alongside the practical challenges managers face when implementing national policy locally.
As always, the details still need to emerge, but this episode provides an early perspective on the potential risks, opportunities and uncertainties facing general practice over the next year.
Introduction (00:49)
Initial reactions to the GP Contract (01:17)
Funding and the headline investment (03:10)
Capacity and Access funding changes (06:39)
Changes to ARRS funding (09:44)
The future of PCNs and neighbourhood working (11:12)
Advice and Guidance becoming core work (13:44)
Increased expectations and performance management (17:58)
QOF changes and obesity management (21:10)
Childhood immunisation targets (22:57)
What happens next? (24:31)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, Ben is joined by Dr Freddie Charrington, GP Partner at Phoenix Health Group in Tetbury, to discuss the growing financial challenges facing dispensing practices, and how the practice transformed its dispensary from near break-even to sustainable profitability. Freddie shares how he unexpectedly became dispensary lead soon after becoming a partner and was tasked with determining whether the service should continue at all. Working alongside his dispensary team, family members and a data scientist, Freddie developed 'Dispensary Market', a tool that compares drug prices across multiple wholesalers, helping practices make smarter purchasing decisions. Freddie also explains how the tool has expanded beyond his own practice, remaining free for GP practices while helping improve both profitability and medication availability across dispensing sites.
Introduction (0:08)
Freddie's background and becoming dispensary lead (0:20)
Why dispensing practices are under financial pressure (1:21)
Rural challenges and workforce pressures (2:27)
Discovering the true dispensary finances (3:07)
Identifying purchasing inefficiencies and drug margins (4:01)
From spreadsheets to building a solution (4:45)
Developing Dispensary Market (5:27)
Expanding wholesalers and improving margins (6:30)
Implementing change with the dispensary team (7:21)
How the platform works in practice (8:24)
Why drug prices change constantly (9:24)
Real-time pricing and system design (10:10)
Early results and product evolution (10:44)
Lessons in change management and user adoption (11:44)
Rolling out to other practices (13:23)
Keeping the platform free for GP practices (14:43)
What is 'Dispensary Market' and how to access it (15:08)
Uptake and current usage (16:11)
Balancing GP work and running the platform (16:21)
Supply chain benefits and stock availability (17:06)
Closing reflections (18:10)
Check out the 'Dispensary Market' website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to explore why appraisals are a vital part of staff development in general practice, and how to make them meaningful rather than just a tick-box exercise. They discuss whether 'appraisal season' is helpful or whether reviews should be spread throughout the year, how to structure objectives so they align with wider practice goals, and why appraisals should never contain surprises. The conversation covers practical tips on preparation, 360° feedback, handling difficult conversations, and setting SMART objectives that genuinely support both individual growth and organisational strategy. The episode also explores the unique challenge of appraising practice managers, the benefits of a four point scoring system, and how digital tools like the Appraisals Manager within the Practice Index Hub can streamline the entire appraisal cycle, from scheduling and documentation to tracking objectives and progress.
Introduction (0:09)
Practice Index Appraisals Manager: what it offers (00:35)
Is there such a thing as 'appraisal season'? (01:25)
Why appraisals should never contain surprises (02:15)
Formal appraisals (03:10)
Aligning individual objectives with practice strategy (04:00)
Setting meaningful objectives (and how many to set) (06:30)
Using SMART objectives effectively (08:30)
The importance of preparation and pre-appraisal questionnaires (10:30)
360° feedback and gathering wider perspectives (11:30)
Avoiding difficult conversations, and why you shouldn't (13:45)
A practical structure for giving constructive feedback (14:45)
Rethinking scoring: why move from five points to four? (16:50)
Documenting objectives and tracking progress digitally (18:20)
Who appraises the practice manager? (19:15)
Using the IGPM appraisal toolkit (20:30)
Accessing the HR package and Appraisals Manager in the Hub (23:30)
Episode summary and close (24:30)
Book an HR Package demo here To access the IGPM Appraisal Toolkit, join IGPM here. To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben is joined by Catherine Pope, Professor of Medical Sociology at Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, to explore how access to general practice really works in practice and what happens to appointment systems over time. Drawing on over 30 years of research and findings from a recent study, the discussion examines the sustainability of different access models, the legacy of initiatives such as Advanced Access, and why practices continually adapt systems to manage demand. The episode explores the limitations of top-down, standardised and digital first solutions, the impact of access systems on patients, reception teams and clinicians, and why variation is often necessary to meet the needs of local populations. The conversation also highlights patient experiences of navigating access, the risks of diversion and looping between services, creative approaches such as the 'Phones and Ladders' game to illustrate access challenges, and the case for more patient-centred, locally adaptable models that prioritise need, continuity and sustainable general practice.
Introduction (00:08)
Your recent study on access to general practice (01:00)
Did you find that practices were able to sustain the benefits of new access systems? (04:04)
Have practices managed to stick with the changes they made over time? (09:41)
Does this impact sustainability, because eventually people stop doing it? (13:39)
'Phones and Ladders' (15:30)
Should access start with local population needs? (19:28)
Are current access outcome measures too crude if they focus only on waiting times? (22:05)
If people want to access the research or learn more, where can they find it? (24:33)
Visit the 'General Practice: Innovation, impact and sustainable change' research here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In the first episode of 2026, Ben is joined by Dr Zalan Alam, General Practitioner, Director of Medical Education and GP Partner, to explore Rochdale's selection as a site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) and what this means in practice for general practice and PCNs. The discussion focuses on improving patient journeys, particularly for frail patients and those in the last year or 1,000 days of life, by strengthening connectivity between primary care, community services, hospices, ambulance services and acute trusts, using standardised frailty assessments, shared care plans and tools such as the Greater Manchester Care Record. The episode also covers targeted neighbourhood working in Rochdale South, the importance of peer leadership and measurable impact for frontline practices, and what comes next as the programme moves from planning into delivery, with an emphasis on locally adaptable models rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Introduction (00:08)
Why Rochdale was selected for NHIP (00:29)
Population, PCNs and deprivation (01:22)
How the programme is structured (02:42)
Early priorities and patient journey focus (03:35)
Targeting Rochdale South as a proof of concept (05:33)
Connectivity gaps and 'lightbulb moments' (06:25)
How neighbourhood working operates in practice (07:03)
Standardising care plans and frailty pathways (08:40)
Using data to identify priority cohorts (10:07)
Shared tools, shared vision (12:01)
Impact on PCNs and general practice (14:09)
System-level integration and why it works in Rochdale (16:12)
Moving from planning to delivery (17:42)
Measuring impact and managing expectations (18:40)
Learning from other NHIP sites (19:13)
Reflections & next steps (20:26)
Listen to Zalan's previous podcasts 'Innovative intermediate care' here and 'Integration working in practice' here.
Contact Zalan via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben is joined by Judy Oliver from Oliver & Company to discuss the role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in healthcare and general practice. Judy explains why the voluntary sector is essential yet often misunderstood. She explores how social prescribing and asset mapping can better connect patients with non-clinical support, highlights successful collaborative models such as the Bromley by Bow Centre, and discusses the challenges VCSE organisations face around funding and visibility. The conversation focuses on practical ways PCNs and practices can work more effectively with local voluntary groups, move towards neighbourhood-based care, and take simple next steps to build meaningful partnerships that improve patient outcomes.
Introduction (00:08)
The Voluntary Sector in General Practice (00:22)
What does VCSE mean? (02:23)
Does it deliver real benefit? (03:21)
How have PCNs worked with the voluntary sector? (05:22)
How to find what's available in your area (07:40)
Finding the right people (10:22)
From PCNs to neighbourhood working (15:01)
Next steps (18:18)
Getting in touch (19:47)
Visit the Oliver & Company website here, or contact Judy via email here, or Charlotte here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we're joined by Claire Houston from Practice Index, Paul Gordon from Atomos, and James Gransby from Azets to break down what the latest budget really means for general practice. We explore how tools like the salary calculator and benchmarking manager can support smarter decision making as practices respond to rising costs.
They also look closely at how these budget changes affect personal finances, from the withdrawal of personal allowances for high earners to the long term impact of frozen tax thresholds. With insights on NHS pensions, future tax considerations, and the importance of revisiting financial plans, this episode offers straightforward guidance to help practice teams and individuals stay confident, informed, and financially resilient.
The Budget (00:08)
Benchmarking Manager (02:28)
Reactions to the budget (03:30)
What should people be doing differently now? (07:55)
NHS Pension (09:09)
What will be different? (10:58)
Increase in the National Living Wage (14:27)
The Carr-Hill formula (16:31)
The timeframe (19:25)
Other changes.. (20:34)
ISA changes.. (21:37)
Final thoughts.. (24:16)
To book your free Benchmarking Manager demo, click here or to access the Salary Calculator, login here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this solo episode, Ben explores how PCNs can transform their role within the local healthcare system by taking the lead in organising neighborhood meetings. Moving beyond the limits of bilateral conversations, Ben explains how these gatherings can unite stakeholders, such as ambulance trusts and mental health services, to drive collaboration, set shared priorities, and influence the direction of neighborhood healthcare planning before formal mandates take shape.
With practical advice on starting small, building trust, and fostering genuine partnership, this episode offers tips for PCNs ready to step up as proactive leaders shaping the future of their communities.
Introduction (00:09)
Neighbourhood meetings (00:30)
Convening the neighbourhood meeting.. (02:24)
Why does Ben think it's a good idea? (03:14)
Argument against.. (10:00)
How do I convene a neighbourhood? (14:00)
Key takeaways (20:20)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Can AI truly transform how patients access healthcare? In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Hannan Chaudery, Chief Technology Officer of GP Triage, to explore how autonomous AI is reshaping patient care across the NHS. Hannan explains how GP Triage's innovative system prioritises appointments based on clinical urgency, easing the pressure on receptionists and clinicians while improving patient outcomes. With the NHS now requiring online consultations, GP Triage's AI powered triage is leading the way in managing surging demand efficiently and effectively, and adapting seamlessly to the needs of each individual practice.
Introduction (00:08)
Autonomous AI triage (00:18)
Are requirements increasing demand? (01:08)
More about Dr Hannan Chaudery.. (02:02)
More about GP Triage Ltd.. (02:58)
The tools learning (05:42)
The risks.. (06:35)
Your tool doesn't make mistakes? (07:59)
Giving patients the choice (08:53)
Evolving your tool over time (12:29)
The accuracy of the tool (13:26)
Coverage in England and beyond.. (14:48)
Implementing change.. (15:40)
How do you define success? (17:34)
Online vs telephone (20:22)
How it all works and what it costs.. (22:00)
What's next? (24:31)
Visit the GP Triage website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regular Claire Houston and returning guest Kay Keane from Urban Village Medical Practice, a practice that recently achieved an Outstanding CQC rating. Together, they share practical advice and real experiences from the CQC inspection process, from innovative community services to managing the pressures of staff questionnaires and documentation. Kay offers a candid look at how preparation, teamwork, and a strong practice culture can make all the difference.
Claire highlights how practices can use tools and resources from Practice Index to streamline compliance, boost confidence, and maintain readiness all year round. They also discuss how to turn inspection challenges into opportunities for growth, the importance of clear communication, and practical tips for approaching appeals calmly and effectively. Whether you're preparing for your first inspection or aiming to strengthen your next rating, this episode is full of valuable insight and encouragement for every practice team.
Introduction (00:09)
From good to outstanding.. CQC visits (01:36)
Preparing in advance.. (04:44)
Specifics of a CQC inspection (07:25)
The inspection (08:39)
Reaching for 'Outstanding' (14:06)
Changes in the regime (14:29)
Making inspectors feel welcome (16:19)
The pressures.. (21:41)
The feedback (22:20)
The 'correct' way to appeal (28:02)
Final thoughts and advice (30:19)
Listen back to our episodes with the Urban Village Medical Practice;
About Urban Village
Urban Village Strategies to Support Homelessness
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, Dr. Debbie Hipps, a pioneering GP and primary care lead, joins Ben to explore how genomic medicine is transforming general practice. From enhancing risk assessments, family history evaluations, and cancer treatments to driving the NHS’s shift from reactive to preventative care, Debbie highlights the urgent need for GPs and pharmacists to upskill in this fast-evolving field. We discuss practical tools like the Genomics Education Programme, real-world examples such as managing Lynch syndrome, and the broader challenges of integrating genomics into primary care, while looking ahead to a future of more precise, personalised treatments.
Introduction (00:10)
Genomic medicine (01:43)
Genomics in the 10 year plan (02:28)
How is genomic medicine being used in general practice now? (03:21)
What makes something genomic medicine? (07:02)
What genetic tests are available for patients? (07:53)
Examples of practices who regularly use the testing.. (11:45)
The near future.. (13:10)
Staying up to date.. (16:13)
Services across the UK.. (17:19)
Resources (19:01)
Can it make the shift from treatment to prevention.. (19:31)
Access the RCGP Genomic Toolkit and Curriculum Guidance here.
Access the Genomics Education Programme: Genomics in Primary Care here.
Access the Genetic Test Ordering in Primary Care Resources here.
Access the Genomic notes for clinicians here.
Visit the Gateway C Course: The role of Genomics in Primary Care here.
Visit the Futurelearn: the Future of Genetics in Medicine Online Course here.
Download the Genomics information on an App here (Please note - only currently available for SE, NThames and East regions)
North Thames GMSA Educational Resources can be accessed here.
eLearning for Health Genomics in Healthcare is found here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Griffiths and Dr. Bryony Kendall open up about one of the most sensitive challenges in general practice, supporting families through the loss of a child. They share the journey of creating a new framework for GPs, co-produced with bereaved parents and the Alder Centre, to help doctors provide compassionate and consistent care. The discussion highlights why child bereavement is often avoided in society, and how GPs can play a vital role in offering empathy, continuity, and support at such difficult times. They also explore the national child bereavement support document, its UK-wide relevance, and the importance of preparedness in general practice. They emphasise the privilege and responsibility of walking alongside grieving families, and the lessons this work brings to healthcare. A powerful and practical conversation for all healthcare providers seeking to offer comfort when it’s needed most.
Introduction (00:09)
When a Child Dies Framework (00:48)
Lack of support available.. (02:47)
Discussions with practices (06:36)
Three main areas (07:35)
Tailoring the approach (12:24)
Reactions to the framework so far.. (18:49)
Where to access the document (21:40)
Next steps.. (22:14)
When a Child Dies: An NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Framework can be found here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to discuss the financial challenges currently facing general practice. Together they highlight how inadequate core contract funding and rising inflation are leaving practices unable to cover the real costs of staffing and operations. They also examine the upcoming October contract changes, considering how these may heighten patient expectations around appointments and access, while creating practical challenges for practices working across both digital and analogue systems. Finally, they reflect on the uncertainty surrounding the future of general practice, stressing the importance of safe staffing levels, staff wellbeing, and the urgent need for honest conversations with government about funding and expectations to secure the sustainability of primary care.
Introduction (00:09)
Practice Index (00:43)
changes to the contract since it was first agreed.. (01:21)
Funding.. (05:47)
Have take home profits gone up in practice? (07:42)
Uncertainty for practice, uncertainty for staff and insufficient funding.. (09:03)
Increase in patient expectations (13:37)
What's different from what was available on the 1st of April? (15:17)
Do you think there's a chance the wording will get changed (18:41)
What's your advice? (23:00)
The new contract.. (25:21)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
What if general practice could seamlessly connect with secondary care? In this episode, Ben speaks with Dr. Charlie Andrews, a GP at Somerset’s Summer Valley Medical Group and a leading voice in gastroenterology. Charlie shares his journey and the inspiration behind pioneering specialised roles for GPs. He discusses his innovative training programme, supported by NHS England and the Southwest Endoscopy Training Academy, which empowers GPs to expand into areas like inflammatory bowel disease and endoscopy while collaborating with hospital specialists. Charlie also explores the challenges of recruiting and funding GPs for extended roles and explains the practical implementation guide that ensures smooth transitions and proper supervision. Join us for an insightful conversation about how collaboration, innovation, and passion are reshaping patient care, bridging the gap between primary and secondary care, and opening exciting new pathways for GPs across the UK.
Introduction (0:09)
Does anyone else offer the same training programme? (03:54)
Joint working between General Practice & Secondary care.. (04:21)
A two way learning.. (06:45)
Referral and utilisation rates (07:23)
Making it better for patients (08:01)
The 10 year plan (08:46)
The training programme (10:17)
The placements (12:44)
Funding (14:14)
Learnings so far.. (15:53)
Find out more.. (17:54)
What does gastroenterology look like in 10 years time (20:17)
Getting in touch (22:28)
Access the GPwER framework document here.
The GPwER course brochure can be found here.
The training programme evaluation can be found here.
Listen to Charlies educational podcast that he runs for the PCSG for primary care clinicians here.
Contact Charlie directly via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben explores the NHS's 10 year plan through the lens of general practice funding. Joined by finance expert Andy Pow, they unpack the major shifts proposed in the plan, including resource movement from acute care to community services and the ambitious productivity expectations placed on general practice. Andy shares his insights on the feasibility of these changes and the implications of emerging GP contracts, such as single and multi-neighborhood provider models, which could fundamentally reshape funding and delivery structures. The discussion also touches on governance challenges, potential cultural friction, and the risk of small practices being sidelined by larger entities. This episode offers a deep dive into how general practice must evolve to remain central in a shifting healthcare landscape.
Introduction (0:08)
The 10 year plan (00:50)
No new cash.. (01:52)
Do you think that is an opportunity for general practice? (02:30)
A move away from funding for general practice being primarily via the core contract? (03:51)
PCN DES (05:17)
Where is the money to go into the core general practice contract? (06:12)
The two new contracts.. (07:53)
Can PCNs take on the contracts?? (09:23)
ICBs are being encouraged to get a range of potential providers for these contracts.. (11:18)
What are you signing up for?. (12:40)
Full circle.. (14:25)
How important is it that General Practice holds these contracts? (15:50)
How do we be proactive and not act like victims to all of this? (17:24)
A risk or an opportunity for General Practice? (19:18)
What's your advice? (21:08)
Getting in touch.. (22:34)
Visit the Pow and Thomas website here.
To find Andy Pow on socials, visit his X profile here, Bluesky here & Linkedin here.
To find Power and Thomas on socials, visit their X profile here, Bluesky here & Linkedin here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
What does the future hold for general practice in our communities? In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Adrian Down & Ceri Chaplin to unpack the NHS’s ambitious 10 year plan to shift care from hospitals into local settings, with a focus on digital transformation and preventative strategies. With a blend of optimism and realism, Adrian and Ceri explore what these changes mean for small, independent practices, particularly in rural areas, sharing contrasting experiences and hopes for the neighbourhood health service model. They delve into the feasibility of single and multi-neighbourhood provider contracts, the evolving role of PCNs, and the future of the partnership model. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the need for local voices in shaping national implementation, using examples from regions like Hereford to demonstrate how innovation can work hand in hand with the core values of general practice.
Introduction (00:09)
Are you excited about the vision? (01:45)
Are neighbourhoods a threat? (03:50)
What is a neighbourhood? (07:01)
General Practice has a voice.. (08:33)
The importance of having a good structure.. (10:54)
Is it realistic? (12:33)
New contracts (17:13)
Concerns.. (18:48)
The Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (21:40)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
Access the ‘Change Management Masterclass’ here.
Visit the ‘An Introduction to Managing Change’ class here.
Browse all the bespoke courses for GP practice staff here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, healthcare leaders Katie Bramall-Stainer & Alice Benton unpack the newly published 10-year NHS plan, highlighting the vital yet often overlooked role of practicing professionals in shaping effective policy. They explore the transformative potential of tools like the NHS app and AI, the real world challenges facing GPs, and the shifting balance of resources from hospitals to community care. With a strong focus on funding transparency, integration, and the importance of GP voices in decision making, this conversation is a timely call for healthcare professionals to stay engaged, informed, and proactive in shaping the future of general practice.
Introduction (0:08)
The 10 year plan (00:39)
The front door of the NHS (03:39)
The core contract (12:38)
The heart of the system (15:19)
The direction of travel (18:49)
What’s your advice? (22:23)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this solo episode, Ben examines the newly published 10-Year NHS Plan, Fit for the Future, and its implications for general practice as the NHS shifts towards a neighbourhood health service model. He discusses how digital platforms like the NHS app are reshaping patient access, moving general practice away from its traditional front-door role. The episode highlights opportunities for growth and investment, the organisational changes needed to realise them, and the risks to established models of care. Ben also explores how neighbourhood services could reduce reliance on hospitals and how new contracts may drive larger-scale operations. Future episodes will feature experts to delve even deeper into these changes..
The 10 year plan (0:09)
Major changes to the way the NHS operates (02:06)
The new role for General Practice.. (04:24)
Segmented neighbourhood populations (05:19)
What does it actually mean by a neighbourhood? (06:24)
Analogue to digital.. (07:20)
General Practice will be a part of neighbourhood health (08:53)
Two new contracts for General Practice (10:46)
So what about money? (14:00)
Delivery over the next 3 to 4 years (14:35)
What to think about now? (15:44)
Finally.. (16:51)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us this week as we explore the transformative journey of Pure Unity Health with our insightful guests, Vicky Maskill and Adam Davies. Discover how Pure Unity Health has grown into a leading provider of first contact physiotherapy services across the UK. Vicky and Adam share their experiences of delivering high quality services and maintaining robust data reporting, while highlighting the importance of building strong relationships with PCNs. The conversation also explores their innovative health coaching initiatives, including the integration of pain cafes and community based coaching through PCNs. Plus, they discuss new QOF targets around cardiovascular disease, and the vital role of behaviour change and lifestyle coaching in improving patient care and supporting NHS preventative strategies.
Introduction (00:09)
Pure Unity Health (00:59)
What have you learnt from working with PCNs? (02:09)
How can you supply physiotherapists when PCNs are struggling to recruit themselves? (04:38)
Third party providers (06:25)
How it works in practice.. (12:33)
Locally owned.. (14:30)
Helping PCNs and practices with new QOF targets (17:58)
Getting in touch.. (20:33)
Visit the Pure Unity Health website here.
Contact Vicky directly here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Robyn Clark and introduce new guest Tracey Clarke to discuss the vital role of reception teams in general practice. They explore efforts to better support these teams, including the launch of a new campaign video, and highlight the importance of safeguarding staff wellbeing. The episode calls for action against patient aggression, the need to stand up for colleagues, and greater recognition of the crucial part receptionists play in patient care. It also touches on training opportunities, such as e-learning and masterclasses, to help reception staff thrive and innovate. Useful resources, including Zero Tolerance policies, Dealing with Abusive Patients policies, and more, can be found in the Practice Index Hub.
Introduction (00:08)
What has IGPM been up to? (00:51)
Influencing the 10 year plan.. (03:30)
The new campaign (05:32)
80% of receptionists suffer abuse every day.. (08:49)
Where should the support come from? (11:18)
Zero tolerance (14:53)
How has the receptionist role changed? (16:36)
Response to the new campaign (19:48)
How do practices get involved? (23:15)
Visit the Practice Index hub here.
View Practice Index’s bespoke, engaging courses here.
Access the ‘Receptionists in General Practice Masterclass’ here, or the ‘Learning Package’ here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
With Pride Month just around the corner, join us for an insightful discussion with Alex Matheson, Director of Inclusion at the LGBT Foundation, as we explore the vital work being done to improve healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities. Alex shares their expertise on the comprehensive services offered by the foundation, including talking therapies, addiction recovery, and mental health support. Discover the origins and impact of the Pride in Practice program, a key initiative addressing health inequalities and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing healthcare. Alex highlights the importance of understanding the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people and how systemic gaps in education contribute to misinformation and delayed healthcare access, ultimately affecting treatment outcomes. This conversation is an invitation to healthcare practices to engage with these initiatives and work towards more equitable healthcare for all.
Introduction (00:09)
Funding.. (01:28)
Are your services national? (02:02)
Pride in Practice (02:20)
Barriers the community experience (03:43)
General practice has become an important role.. (07:29)
Are staff also experiencing challenges? (08:55)
Do figures break down to General Practice? (10:38)
More about Pride in Practice.. (11:38)
Common changes (15:06)
Monitoring the impact.. (17:45)
Which practices need ‘Pride in Practice’ (20:15)
How to get involved/Getting in touch.. (22:30)
Visit the LGBT Foundation website here, or contact Alex directly via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This episode features Dr Rachel Morris discussing the impact of stress and burnout on GP partners and PCN Clinical Directors, with a focus on how maintaining job control can help reduce pressure. It also introduces a communication model rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the principle of "highest intent," offering strategies for improving workplace relationships. The importance of trust-building and direct, face-to-face communication is explored as a way to bridge gaps between practices and strengthen collaboration, drawing on Stephen Covey’s principles to turn misunderstanding into teamwork. Join us as we explore how fostering these personal connections can help overcome common challenges, transforming tension into teamwork.
Introduction (00:09)
The stress that leaders are facing.. (00:37)
What can we control? (01:38)
Controlling leaders (03:28)
Avoiding difficult conversations (05:29)
Advice for having difficult conversations (07:28)
When is a problem too large to tackle? (18:34)
Listening & understanding (21:45)
Maintaining relationships within PCNs (24:42)
How & where to hear more from Rachel (28:26)
The Lead Generator for HiFIVE model handout can be found here.
To attend ‘Work Well Live: Prevent Burnout, Boost Retention and Protect Your Time and Energy - A New Approach’ click here.
The replay of ‘FrogFest Virtual 2024 - This Time it's Awkward Recording’ can be found here.
Website - https://youarenotafrog.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drrachelmorris/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-morris/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrRachelMorris
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@youarenotafrog
Our FREE Am I Stressed, Overwhelmed or Burnt Out Toolkit - https://www.shapestoolkit.com/stressed-overwhelmed-burnout-toolkit
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston and Ceri Chaplin to explore the major changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework for the 2025/26 contract, and what they mean for general practice. The episode dives into the removal of income protected indicators and the Quality Improvement domain, marking a shift back to an outcomes driven framework. This change could bring increased financial pressure, making strategic budgeting and achievement planning more important than ever. Beyond QOF, they also discuss the wider challenge of promoting preventative care, with a focus on childhood immunisation targets and cardiovascular disease management. With public trust in vaccinations still recovering post-pandemic, practices will need to innovate to meet targets and boost patient engagement. Tune in for a practical and insightful look at how these updates could reshape the future of general practice.
Introduction (00:08)
The main changes to QOF (00:36)
Stepping back.. (01:49)
Reducing the admin for practices (02:20)
Budgeting.. (03:10)
The risk for practices (04:30)
Are the targets achievable? (06:58)
Advice to practices (09:28)
Do PCNs have a role in this? (12:45)
Retirement of the quality improvement domain (17:28)
The future for QOF (20:41)
A more local focus.. (22:33)
Where to find support.. (25:03)
Book your QOF achievement session below;
QOF Changes 2025/26 (Tuesday 13th May)
QOF Changes 2025/26 (Tuesday 20th May)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode we welcome back Pete Woodward, from Cheadle Medical Practice. Over the past year, Pete has experienced a whirlwind of success, including winning the Practice Manager of the Year Award and stepping into the role of managing partner. He shares insights into the evolution of their innovative triage, The Human Touch, which continues to reduce call wait times and enhance patient satisfaction despite seasonal challenges. Pete's commitment to minor adjustments rather than sweeping changes has been pivotal in maintaining momentum and avoiding change fatigue, ensuring a seamless service delivery. Pete & Ben also explore the strategic side of managing a medical practice, focusing on financial planning. Finally, Pete shares the importance of communication and collaboration in healthcare management. Tune in to hear Pete's valuable experiences and insights as he continues to champion innovation and efficiency in healthcare.
Introduction (00:08)
The Human Touch (01:16)
How are the results looking now? (02:35)
Is winter affecting the results? (03:53)
Updates to the system.. (04:36)
Scaling up.. (05:34)
Have the same results been achieved across other practices? (06:05)
Funding & finances (06:59)
Budgeting for the year (10:13)
Taking action sooner.. (11:10)
How is this managed in the practice? (12:55)
Making a difference (15:03)
Funding via PCNs (16:07)
Financial challenges within practices (17:45)
Financial benefits to be gained from scale (18:56)
Getting in touch (23:25)
Listen to Pete’s previous episode, The Human Touch, here.
To contact Pete directly, please contact him by email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Is the Future of General Practice Finally Looking Brighter?
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston, Robyn Clark, and James Gransby to discuss the newly agreed contract for general practice. After three years of imposed terms, the promise of an additional £889 million in funding offers a glimmer of hope. However, the episode delves into the reality that much of this funding may simply offset rising staffing costs and increased national insurance contributions, providing little genuine financial relief for GP partners. We explore the complexities and uncertainties these changes bring, emphasising the importance of clear contract planning to secure financial stability and better outcomes for both practices and patients.
Introduction (00:08)
An agreed contract (01:22)
Are practices feeling better? (02:28)
Is it helping the underlying profitability? (06:59)
The changes & impact for ARRS? (11:10)
More money for ARRS? (12:17)
What's your take on the impact? (12:35)
Keeping the online consultation tool on.. (15:56)
The GPC.. (18:40)
NHS England is going to be abolished (20:12)
Final thoughts.. (23:28)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, we welcome Ashleigh Perryman and Michael Norris from Gosport PCN to discuss their pioneering work in team-based pharmacy services across five GP practices. Leading a team of 10 pharmacists, 10 technicians, and 4 admin staff, they share how their centralised approach fosters collaboration and innovation. Learn how strategic staff deployment ensures comprehensive care, while specialisation and ongoing training enhance service offerings. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in forward-thinking healthcare strategies, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving world of pharmacy services.
Introduction (00:08)
The team.. (01:42)
Developing the team (02:47)
Career progression within the team (03:31)
Equal Pharmacy Techs and Pharmacists (05:40)
Development for individuals (08:13)
Turnover of pharmacists (09:27)
The outcomes of the videos.. (13:35
Safety searches.. (13:59)
Most at risk patients being prioritised.. (15:22)
How does it work across multiple practices? (15:34)
Taking this to PCN management (18:15)
Plans for the future.. (19:59)
Getting in touch (22:36)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston and Tara Humphrey, Founder and CEO of THC Primary Care, to explore the transformative potential of the new Neighbourhood Health Guidelines. Ben, Claire, and Tara examine how these guidelines could reshape healthcare delivery at the neighbourhood level, particularly their impact on general practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs). They discuss the intersection of PCNs and emerging neighbourhood structures, highlighting the potential shift toward integrated care that involves community and social services. The conversation underscores the ongoing importance of access to general practice in maintaining patient wellbeing, especially as life expectancy continues to rise. This episode also sets the stage for future discussions on NHS developments, including insights from upcoming announcements such as the 10-year plan and next year’s GP contract.
Introduction (00:08)
Neighbourhoods (00:44)
The impact on general practice & PCN’s.. (02:38)
Six core components (04:01)
Creating an infrastructure (06:46)
Will we see pressure from local areas for PCNs to change boundaries? (11:21)
Could local arguments start to emerge? (13:15)
Funding.. (17:40)
Freedom to local areas (21:20)
Can practices and PCNs influence development? (25:24)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Unlock the secrets to revolutionising general practice with Ruth Rankine from the NHS Confederation, as she guides us through the intricate web of healthcare innovation and policy shaping. Learn how Ruth's pivotal role empowers her to engage with key stakeholders to drive transformative changes across the healthcare landscape. Discover the unique position of the NHS Confederation compared to the General Practitioners Committee, with a focus that extends beyond individual practices to embrace a diverse array of primary care providers. Ruth offers a candid look at the current landscape of general practice, highlighting the dynamic challenges and opportunities healthcare providers face amidst evolving governmental policies. With a focus on strategic co-production, community infrastructure, and organisational development, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of primary care and the path towards creating a resilient healthcare system.
Introduction (00:09)
A day in Ruth's life.. (01:18)
Influencing on behalf of members (02:37)
The difference between you & the GPC? (03:53)
The current situation for General Practice (05:02)
What does the government want from General Practice? (07:20)
General Practice & Neighbourhood teams.. (11:46)
Coordination of organisations.. (14:03)
How will collaborations work for local systems? (16:59)
Do collaborations exist everywhere? (21:08)
Next steps.. (23:03)
Getting in touch.. (25:13)
Visit the NHS Confederation website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston, Kay Keane, and Hussain Gandhi. Together, they delve into the significant changes in advice and guidance funding for general practice, introduced as part of the government's new Elective Recovery Plan. With a focus on patient choice and the new £20 funding per advice and guidance request for GPs, they examine whether this fee truly reflects the work involved. They also discuss the potential shift in workload from secondary to primary care and what this means for practices. Additionally, the conversation touches on the evolving role of digital healthcare and its varied impact across regions, highlighting the importance of clear contractual details to ensure fair compensation for GPs. Tune in for an insightful discussion to help practices navigate these changes and prepare for the future of healthcare.
Introduction (00:08)
The recovery plan (00:53)
Advice and guidance (02:15)
Existing funding (05:31)
How advice and guidance requests work.. (07:35)
Additional money (11:36)
Other elements (13:13)
Patient-initiated follow-ups (14:10)
Is advice and guidance coming off the ‘list’ (21:11)
The details.. (22:29)
How to prepare.. (23:11)
Visit the Practice Index Hub directly, here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
We’re pleased to kick off the new year with a returning guest, Lorenz Kemper, Co-founder and Director of Medlink Solutions. Since his last appearance during the pandemic in 2020, Medlink has achieved remarkable growth and innovation in transforming general practice operations across the UK. In this episode, Lorenz discusses how Medlink has expanded its client base and unveiled an automated recall system integrated with EMIS Web. This breakthrough reduces administrative workloads, increases clinical capacity, and absorbs communication costs, resulting in significant savings and improved efficiency for practices.
Join us to explore how these advancements are reshaping the way practices manage enhanced services.
Introduction (00:08)
Peak of the pandemic.. (01:38)
What’s happened since then? (02:05)
How do you manage health checks remotely.. (02:47)
Is this practice focused? (03:41)
What does MedLink do? (05:30)
How have practices found this system? (10:02)
Providing patients with options.. (12:42)
What’s included for each practice? (13:26)
Future plans.. (14:27)
Development of neighbourhood teams (15:24)
Working with secondary care.. (18:01)
Finding out more.. (18:48)
You can visit the MedLink website here.
You can listen back to Lorenz’ & Ben’s previous episode ‘Online long-term condition reviews using MedLink’ here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston & Kay Keane, they explore the financial challenges that general practices are facing in light of recent budget changes. Practices are grappling with significant costs, and the fear of potential staff reductions looms large. They highlight the ongoing financial strain on practices, emphasising the gap between headline funding figures and the real growth in income. They reflect on the emotional and practical struggles faced by healthcare workers amidst rising operational costs. The lack of clear communication from governing bodies only adds to the difficulty of managing budgets effectively. This episode paints a vivid picture of the challenging landscape that general practices navigate while striving to maintain service standards.
Introduction (00:09)
The impact on practices (02:51)
Finances for practices (04:22)
Is there time? (07:41)
Is it going to get resolved.. (09:10)
IGPMs reaction (12:03)
Collective action (14:15)
A difficult period.. (16:43)
How do you see it playing out? (22:02)
The salary calculator (23:32)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben in this solo episode as he explores the rapidly changing landscape of general practice and primary care networks. With the five year contract ending in March, is general practice facing significant financial challenges and an uncertain future? Ben explores the potential shift towards a neighbourhood based model of healthcare integration. As Primary Care Networks take a backseat, the focus shifts to integrated neighbourhood teams, designed to deliver seamless, holistic care. He also discusses the implications for Integrated Care Boards and the critical need for strong organisational infrastructure to support this transformation. Listen in as Ben navigates the challenges and opportunities, pondering what the future holds for general practice..
The changing landscape for primary care networks and for GP practices (0:09)
Contract limbo situation (0:22)
The Fuller Report (02:08)
Integrated neighborhood teams (03:49)
The Darzi report.. (06:09)
GP contracts needs to have some major reform (07:14)
Think tank.. (08:00)
‘Working Better Together in Neighbourhoods’ Report (08:54)
The job of ICB’s (10:48)
PCNs.. (11:31)
Introduction of neighbourhoods (12:57)
What does all this mean? (14:20)
Relationships in your local area (17:14)
Taking on leadership roles for cross organisational working.. (18:11)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, Ben is joined by former colleague, Adrian McCourt, to explore groundbreaking innovations in general practice health services. Adrian shares his transformative work from the past three years, focusing on how addressing social determinants of health can enhance healthcare outcomes. He highlights the challenges and impacts of tackling issues like housing, finances, and social networks, particularly for frail patients who experience frequent hospital readmissions. The episode concludes with Adrian offering practical advice on implementing these innovations in various settings, providing a roadmap for those looking to pursue similar initiatives. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into driving innovation in general practice.
Introduction (00:09)
How did the project come about? (00:46)
Social determinants.. (02:04)
Influences.. (02:21)
Population health management (03:41)
Making a difference.. (05:04)
Seeing a difference.. (08:57)
Demonstrating the difference.. (10:34)
The costs involved (14:24)
The future.. (18:36)
Getting in touch.. (22:02)
Visit Sodexo’s website here, or get in touch with Adrian via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Primary care leader Dr Tom Holdsworth returns to the podcast, bringing his wealth of experience from Sheffield's dynamic healthcare scene. This episode uncovers how his team embraced an NHS England pilot with a mix of enthusiasm and cautious optimism, aiming to revolutionise data accuracy and effectiveness in primary care.
Eager to innovate, Tom explores strategic approaches to data collection and capacity building, he sheds light on the importance of establishing consistent baselines and the potential for debunking myths around general practice funding through transparent data. Our conversation also paves the way for a richer understanding of frailty care expansion and the integration of neighbourhood teams to enhance emergency services coordination. Looking ahead, they delve into the promising future of the GP programme, with plans for new staff appointments and expanded capacity. Join us as we anticipate the transformative impact this will have on patient care and eagerly await future outcomes.
Introduction (00:09)
Tom’s roles.. (00:23)
The focus.. (02:01)
The NHS England PCN Pilot Scheme.. (02:58)
10% increase in capacity.. (07:31)
The impact of data overtime.. (09:03)
Investing in General Practice (10:29)
The future of the pilot.. (17:33)
Support throughout the pilot (18:41)
Results from the pilot.. (19:51)
Listen to Tom’s previous episode here - ‘Supporting frailty in Sheffield’.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Could the future of rural healthcare be at risk? Join us as we welcome Nicola Davies, Matthew Isom & Ed Kennedy to discuss the pressing challenges confronting dispensing practices in rural areas. These practices, crucial for providing medication to patients living far from pharmacies, are battling rising drug costs and inadequate reimbursements.
Hear how once profitable operations are now facing financial strain, threatening essential healthcare services for communities who depend on them. Tune in to understand why national level resolutions are crucial to preventing health inequalities and preserving essential services for rural communities.
Introduction (00:08)
The 1.6kilometre rule.. (01:34)
Challenges dispensing practices are facing.. (02:10)
A third are operating at a loss.. (05:42)
Does dispensing activity subsidise core service delivery? (07:51)
Reports.. (19:06)
What needs to change? (20:58)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben as he explores the new primary care patient safety strategy released in September, with expert Laura Marshall, Co-Founder L&L Consultancy Group and senior associate at Oliver and Company. This episode uncovers the strategy's potential to revolutionise patient safety in general practice and addresses the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Ben & Laura highlight the need for a different culture where staff can report incidents without fear of blame. By fostering trust and confidence through effective communication of outcomes and changes, they aim to encourage comprehensive reporting and learning within general practices. Don't miss Laura's enthusiasm and willingness to engage with listeners for more in-depth discussions on these crucial topics.
Introduction (00:09)
Patient Safety Strategy (00:37)
Not reporting issues.. (01:13)
Learning, not blaming (04:41)
How to implement these changes? (07:02)
Who does this fall on? (08:14)
What difference will practices see? (10:22)
Overcoming the fear.. (11:41)
Feedback on reporting.. (15:19)
Implementing this into practices (16:51)
Additional resources? (19:11)
What will be different? (20:24)
The CQC (21:57)
Getting in touch.. (24:47)
Contact Laura directly via email here, or find Laura on LinkedIn here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome James Gransby and Ceri Chaplin. They join Ben to discuss the implications of the recent budget on general practice, sharing concerns about how these changes could significantly impact practice finances. They highlight the projected cost increase for employing someone on minimum wage next year, illustrating the financial pressures facing GP practices. The episode further explores the funding challenges general practice managers face, focusing on the gap between rising staff salaries and insufficient funding. The episode emphasises the need for more clarity and planning to ensure primary care can effectively manage resources amidst these financial uncertainties.
If you'd like to come to Guidelines Live (free for practice management staff), simply click here and ensure you select 'Practice Management' in the profession field. Alternatively, you can email info@practiceindex.co.uk to secure your ticket.
Introduction (00:08)
The budget (00:50)
The two big changes.. (01:48)
The changes to the National Living Wage? (03:15)
Impact on practices (03:45)
Another rise, unfunded or underfunded? (04:08)
Calculations about the impact on practices. (04:37)
Has general practice been caught in the crossfire? (05:26)
The offset.. (06:35)
The partnership model.. (08:39)
What are the other impacts from the budget? (10:37)
Could partners leave sooner? (12:30)
Practice premises upgrade.. (13:37)
The future is looking promising.. (14:37)
The local community (15:20)
Key takeaways (17:33)
Advice & final thoughts.. (20:53)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben as he brings together pensions expert Paul Gordon and accountant James Gransby to explore the recent changes in NHS pensions. They discuss the aftermath of the age discrimination case and its consequences following the government's loss, which has resulted in revised pension statements for many NHS members.
The discussion delves into the complexities of NHS pension figures and annual allowance returns, highlighting the challenges faced by both individuals and practices. They emphasise the importance of using medical specialist accountants to ensure accuracy in submissions.
Join Paul and James for this dynamic discussion and how to prepare yourself with the knowledge to tackle these pension challenges, and those dreaded brown envelopes, with confidence.
To join the session Paul & James are running at 8am on the 31st October, the invite can be accessed here.
Meeting ID: 372 708 777 60
Passcode: UHL7CW
Introduction (00:09)
The update (00:57)
Updated statements (02:09)
Making a choice.. (04:00)
Rollback? (05:12)
Why is it not available on the website? (06:28)
The brown envelope (07:29)
What do you need to do? (08:37)
January deadline.. (10:48)
What’s happened since the brown envelope delivery? (11:28)
Changing schemes.. (15:31)
Summary.. (16:30)
The inside scoop.. (18:01)
Budget breakfast & how to attend (24:11)
The HMRC tool mentioned by James, ‘Calculate your public service pension adjustment’, can be accessed here.
To contact James directly, his email can be found here, or visit James’ bio on the Azets website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben this week, with guest Joe McManners, a GP in Oxford, as they explore the challenges and potential solutions for enhancing primary and community care within the NHS. They tackle the provocative notion that a sudden influx of funding into primary care might not yield the desired outcomes without the necessary structures and capacity. Drawing insights from the Darcy report, they discuss the persistent issues plaguing the NHS and the historical difficulties of transitioning resources from hospital care to community-based care. They also explore the ongoing debate within general practice about expanding services versus adhering to current boundaries. Tune in for a discussion that underscores the need for stability and long-term planning in the evolving landscape of primary care.
Introduction (00:09)
The Health Service Journal (00:53)
Going back to the 90s.. (02:34)
What's needed to make it different this time? (03:54)
Examples of this approach working (06:12)
Capacity in the community (07:45)
Future structures? (09:38)
What do we mean by a neighbourhood? (10:44)
Integral structures.. (13:20)
Capital investment.. (14:27)
Policy agenda (16:47)
New government, new investments? (19:31)
What do we need to see in the next year? (20:45)
The future of PCNs.. (22:16)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston. Ben & Claire discuss the challenges PCNs face with the tight timelines and ambiguous guidance surrounding the new additional role reimbursement scheme for GPs. Claire shares her perspective on the recruitment hurdles, including stringent criteria, funding constraints, and the lack of clarity about funding beyond the initial six months. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on these pressing issues and potential pathways to sustainability in primary care.
Introduction (00:08)
Underspend on the additional role reimbursement scheme (00:57)
Introduction of the new additional role reimbursement scheme.. (01:50)
Funding beyond March (03:17)
Separate pot from the additional role reimbursement scheme (05:55)
Assurances by NHS England (07:08)
The numbers.. (08:43)
Where is additional money coming from? (09:43)
Providing support to the new GPs (11:30)
Where to place additional role staff.. (13:58)
Other stand outs about the new PCN Des.. (15:41)
PCN’s position.. (16:53)
Using unspent ARRS money.. (20:26)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben as he explores the critical intersection of healthcare and environmental sustainability with Dr Fran Cundill, a dedicated GP from North Sheffield and the chair of South Yorkshire Greener Practice. In their conversation, Fran shares her inspiring journey of spearheading sustainability initiatives across four PCNs. Discover how she crafted tailored green plans for each PCN, focusing on priorities like energy cost reduction, clinical de-prescribing, and green prescribing. Fran also candidly discusses the challenges and successes encountered along the way, emphasising the importance of integrating sustainability into daily healthcare practices.
Fran shares her focus on a targeted initiative aimed at improving asthma care within a PCN. This initiative has not only garnered positive reception but also resulted in environmental benefits. Hear about the successful implementation of an asthma project within a PCN, and the role of key stakeholders in driving the project’s success..
Introduction (00:08)
Environmental sustainability work (01:36)
Turning the brief into specifics.. (02:53)
Working with each PCN.. (03:52)
The biggest impacts (04:40)
The asthma project (06:33)
Signing the practices up.. (08:32)
Setting targets (09:05)
What changes were made? (10:14)
The overall impact.. (12:06)
The future.. (12:59)
Key takeaways.. (14:11)
Finding support (15:49)
What's next for Fran? (17:38)
Visit the Greener Practice website here, the toolkit here, and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben for an engaging conversation with Amy Sissons, business partner and head of innovation at Qualitas Consortium, and Dr Naomi Bennett, GP partner and graduate of the Pathway for Partnership programme. Together, they explore how the Pathway for Partnership programme empowers both new and experienced GP partners to enhance their leadership abilities and drive practice transformation. Discover how the programme instils the confidence to challenge norms, enabling data-driven decisions and improving patient care. The discussion also covers the programme’s positive impact on practice operations and its role in addressing NHS pressures.
Introduction (0:08)
Pathway for Partnership Programme.. (03:36)
Partners.. (05:01)
New partnership scheme (05:16)
How does it work in practice? (06:26)
How did you hear about the programme? (08:12
Becoming a GP Partner (09:16)
What were the things then you kind of found most useful? (09:56)
Overall impact on the practice, staff & patients.. (12:22)
Patient Participation Group (15:33)
Development after the programme (17:09)
Top tips for a new partner.. (18:58)
Find out more.. (20:55)
Visit the Qualitas Consortium uk website here, or visit their facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Amy Sissons & Naomi Bennett – Pathway for Partnership Shaping the Future of General Practice appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
For the sixth year running, we welcome back Hussain Gandhi, to reflect on the transformative journey of PCNs since their launch in 2019. Ben & Gandhi discuss the evolution of managing Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme roles, highlighting the transition from rapid growth and role definition to achieving stability and effectiveness within the workforce. They explore the power of collective action within PCNs, showcasing how diverse roles like health and wellbeing coaches, pharmacists, and care coordinators collaborate to enhance patient care. They discuss the importance of community partnerships in addressing broader health issues and reflect on the impact of recent governmental initiatives on general practice. Gandhi provides a critical analysis of potential future reforms and the need for targeted changes to support the sustainability and effectiveness of general practice in the UK. Listen in for a discussion that offers both a retrospective and forward looking perspective on the future of general practice.
Introduction (0:09)
2019 to now.. (00:30)
Does it feel different this year? (01:45)
How do you stop that from happening? (02:52)
Specific teams within the ARS group (03:22)
Getting the balance right.. (04:46)
Has the balance changed? (05:43)
Gandhi's thoughts on GPs being added to the additional roles scheme (06:50)
Could GPs take on a leadership role? (08:28)
Population management (09:52)
Community hub.. (12:19)
Collective action.. (14:38)
The right approach (16:59)
The new government (19:07)
How do you predict things are going to play out over the next few years? (20:48)
PCN Plus conference (23:50)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben this week as he explores the cutting-edge implementation of autonomous patient triage in general practice with esteemed guests, Jake Kennerson, at The Groves Medical Centre and Elango Vijaykumar, at NHS Surrey Heartlands. Over the course of this episode, Jake and Elango share their experiences with Rapid Health, a revolutionary triage tool that has transformed their practices. They describe how the system has allowed for seamless online appointment booking, significantly reducing the need for traditional phone based systems. Listen in as they reflect on the significant impact of these changes and share best practices for continued success in implementing these innovative solutions in general practice.
Introduction (00:08)
Rapid Health (01:08)
How's it going.. (04:02)
Autonomous patient triage.. (05:20)
Refining the process (07:33)
Statistics.. (08:59)
Clinical governances & patient safety.. (12:14)
Patient reaction so far.. (14:22)
Impact on practices.(18:30)
Capacity concerns (21:02)
Advice for others.. (23:18)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Should GPs be added to the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme? Join Ben & Tara Humphrey from THC Primary Care, as they dissect the details of the new funding scheme specifically allocated for GPs and its potential impact on PCNs. Tara shares her insights on learning from past experiences, avoiding resource dilution, and the practicalities of financial feasibility. Together, they look at the recent funds allocation by NHS England for hiring more GPs, debating the most effective distribution of this funding, and providing practical advice on making the most of this opportunity despite its potential limitations. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of GP roles in PCNs.
Introduction (00:09)
Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme.. (00:39)
Making decisions.. (02:46)
Making the most of the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme (03:56)
One GP per PCN? (04:59)
How to get the most value out of the GPs? (06:43)
Is a new service required? (08:22)
A focal point for this new role.. (09:01)
Impact GP’s could have to the additional role teams? (09:59)
Sharing resources.. (10:54)
Restrictions for GPs.. (11:51)
Releasing information.. (13:43)
How can we offer people any security (16:03)
Price competition (18:03)
Preparation for PCNs.. (20:53)
Getting in touch.. (22:20)
To contact Tara directly, visit her LinkedIn here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Ben for his first episode back as he talks with Adrian Down & Darren Altus, as they explore the fascinating journey of K2 Healthcare. They focus on the strategic approach to healthcare model implementation, emphasising the importance of tailoring funding and structure around a predefined model. Explore the methods of measuring success, the feedback loop from clinicians, and the long term impact of sustained interventions. They also discuss the challenges of managing multiple PCNs and the role of federations in the future of healthcare delivery. To wrap up the episode, they highlight the need for PCNs to think beyond traditional roles and engage in integrated community partnerships, balancing collaborative efforts with maintaining individuality. Join Ben, Adrian & Darren for an insightful conversation on the future developments in the neighbourhood team model and much more.
Introduction (00:09)
The Federation – K2 (02:51)
Pre PCN.. (04:04)
Funding.. (05:08)
What was the impact of PCNs on your federation? (06:28)
Tension between federations.. (09:22)
K2 & PCNs.. (10:37)
Keeping contact with practices.. (12:59)
Integrated neighbourhood teams (14:47)
Measuring success (16:58)
Seeing the results.. (18:45)
Involvement in pilots.. (19:34)
How do you see the role of federations in the future? (20:38)
Getting in touch.. (22:47)
Contact Adrian via email here, & Darren here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Adrian Down & Darren Altus – K2 Healthcare appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Join Ben as he explores the evolving role of pharmacists in general practice, with special guests Ruhina Kassam & Mahmud Mamayusupov from Clinical Pharmacist Solutions. They share insights on the push for pharmacists to become prescribers, emphasising the importance of this shift to meet increasing healthcare demands. Ruhina & Mahmud introduce the DPP Finder service, designed to connect pharmacists with designated prescribing practitioners, facilitating the required practice hours for their prescribing qualification.
They also discuss the balance between community pharmacy and PCN pharmacists, improvements in workforce distribution, and the Pharmacy First scheme. Don’t miss this insightful discussion that highlights the significant developments and opportunities in the pharmacy profession.
Introduction (00:09)
Updates from Clinical Pharmacist Solutions.. (00:29)
Becoming advanced practitioners.. (01:16)
Do pharmacists want to become prescribing pharmacists? (03:15)
The scheme.. (04:13)
Pharmacists in their own practice (06:34)
Mentorship.. (07:08)
90 hours.. (08:56)
Is the scheme funded? (09:40)
Limits to the prescribing qualification.. (11:33)
Additional qualifications (13:09)
Specialist vs general approach (13:40)
Thoughts on the way that pharmacists are being used in general practice and by PCNs? (14:07)
Quality of supervision offered via PCNs.. (15:58)
Turnover of pharmacists.. (16:57)
Impact on community pharmacy.. (20:32)
Pharmacy First (21:16)
Getting in touch.. (23:01)
Visit the DPP Connect website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Mahmud Mamayusupov & Ruhina Kassam – Innovative Training for Future Pharmacists appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Join us as we welcome Judy Oliver and Charlotte Cummings from Oliver and Company to discuss the fascinating journey and evolution of integrated neighbourhood teams. Judy and Charlotte share invaluable insights on customising the program to bring together community services, social care, general practice, mental health, and the voluntary sector, emphasising the critical importance of strong inter-professional relationships to deliver seamless, patient-centred care.
Finally, Judy and Charlotte shed light on the role of expert facilitation and coaching in enhancing team dynamics and outcomes, emphasising the importance of continuous improvement in fostering successful integrated teams in general practice. Don't miss this insightful conversation on creating cohesive, cross-organisational healthcare teams that truly make a difference.
Introduction (00:09)
Integrated neighbourhood team (02:56)
The core design of integrated neighbourhood teams (05:01)
What should they look like? (07:05)
PCNs & GP practises role.. (12:13)
Moving ahead (15:03)
Is a mindset shift needed? (18:59)
The next few years.. (22:16)
Getting in touch (23:33)
Visit the website for ‘Oliver and Company’ here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome Adrian Down, the managing partner at Caythorpe & Ancaster Medical Practice. Adrian shares his fascinating journey from a high-paying role in a multinational firm to becoming a practice manager in general practice. He reflects on his transition and discusses the dynamics of equality within his practice partnership.
Adrian and Ben explore the challenges faced by non-GP professionals in general practice partnerships and shed light on the value of the partnership model in maintaining the effectiveness and accessibility of general practice. Discover how Adrian’s passion for helping people has sustained him in this role and how his partnership model has remained effective over time.
Introduction (00:08)
An equal voice.. (01:47)
Has being a practice manager matched your expectations? (02:35)
Then and now (03:16)
Has the model evolved over time? (04:42)
Status inequality between non-gp partners and gp partners (05:54)
Guidance for non-gp partners (07:29)
National LMC conference (08:58)
Feedback & next steps.. (12:51)
Working with the IGPM (14:40)
Information or resources (16:05)
Contact Adrian via email here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Practice Index – Advocacy and Unity in General Practice appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Join us this week as Ben welcomes Dr. Steph Cook and Dr. Jennifer Greenlaw to discuss the groundbreaking concept of women's health hubs. Steph and Jennifer are both experienced GPs with a focus on women's health, and share their innovative work in Liverpool and Manchester. Discover how these hubs bring together existing services to provide comprehensive care, reducing the need for multiple appointments and learn about the impact of the Women's Health Strategy.
They also explore the success and feedback from women accessing contraceptive services, highlighting the popularity of convenient options like Saturday clinics. Understand the logistics of providing these services, including self-referral processes, short wait times, and the flexibility of primary care networks. Tune in to hear how the Women's Health Strategy is bringing renewed focus to these essential services and improving access, experience, and outcomes for women, especially those in underserved populations.
Introduction (00:09)
Women's Health Hubs (01:30)
Single locations? (03:27)
Women's Health Strategy (04:28)
Funding.. (05:31)
General practice & PCNs.. (06:25)
Making that shift for Women’s health (08:49)
Feedback from women.. (11:05)
Payments for services.. (12:03)
Support from the ICB’s (17:41)
Top tips.. (21:04)
Accessing the toolkit (21:50)
Getting in touch.. (22:55)
Access ‘The Women’s Health Hub Toolkit’ here.
Contact Steph by email here & Jennifer here.
Listen to a previous episode introducing ‘Urban Village Medical Practice’ here and learn their Innovative Strategies to Support Homelessness here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Robert McCartney, an associate at Hemsons, is back again, as they explore his recent work on PCNs and integrated neighbourhood teams. Robert shares his insights into the complexities of creating legal constructs for these collaborations, emphasising the importance of contractual agreements with community services and third parties like pharmacies and charities.
Ben & Robert also touch on the broader landscape of how PCNs are evolving and the impact this has on healthcare delivery and collaboration.
In this episode, they focus on the recent updates to the premises cost directions, which govern funding and access to funds for GP premises. These changes include the potential for 100% improvement grants and funding for land purchases, offering some relief to practices facing financial pressures due to increased demand and the influx of PCN staff. They look at the implications of these updates, such as the expanded ability for commissioners to use a broader range of valuers, the impact on VAT negotiations, and practical steps practices should take to navigate these new directions effectively.
Introduction (00:09)
Finding ways of developing new services together (00:37)
Contractual agreement.. (01:11)
The premises cost directions (01:48)
Why now? (02:53)
What are the main changes in the new updates? (03:53)
Carrying out necessary extensions.. (05:53)
What’s the catch? (06:48)
18 year commitment (08:06)
Last man standing (09:14)
But the money isn’t there.. (09:46)
How to get better access to the funds.. (11:25)
Other changes.. (12:06)
Further guidance.. (13:17)
Freedom for practices.. (13:54)
PCNs.. (15:27)
VAT implications.. (16:19)
Next steps.. (17:18)
Is this positive? (18:29)
Getting in touch.. (19:37)
Contact Robert via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us in this enlightening episode as we reconnect with Dr. Donal Collins, to explore innovative approaches to managing type 2 diabetes. Through shared decision-making, whether it’s dietary changes or new medications, we discuss how managing insulin and energy intake can shrink fat cells and reduce inflammation.
Donal & Ben explore the strategic decision-making required at various levels—individual practices, PCNs, and integrated care boards, to implement these changes effectively. This conversation touches on the challenges of demonstrating long-term cost benefits of proactive care, so tune in for a comprehensive discussion on the future of managing chronic diseases.
Introduction (00:09)
Treatment for type 2 diabetes (01:32)
Impact of current treatment.. (05:26)
Why is it something we’ve never been able to achieve? (09:04)
Making the effort.. (10:39)
Where is the right place for these conversations? (12:29)
Introduction of new roles (13:32)
Where do you think this best sits? (15:29)
The science of change.. (18:21)
Getting in touch.. (20:57)
Listen to Donal & Bens previous episode here.
Contact Donal Collins via email here, via twitter here or access his LinkedIn here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Donal Collins – From Traditional Remedies to Cutting-Edge Diabetes Solutions appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Join Ben this week, as we celebrate the 400th episode of the General Practice Podcast, by tackling the intricate landscape of the 2024-2025 period for general practices. In this solo episode, Ben discusses the challenges brought on by the continuation of the five-year GP contract with added cuts, addressing issues such as below-inflation pay growth and heightened cost pressures.
Listen in as Ben examines the dynamics between PCNs and their member practices, offering insights into navigating financial pressures while maintaining independence. Discover three potential paths practices can take: maintaining strict boundaries, merging to become as large as the PCN, or adopting a hybrid model.
This episode emphasises the importance of trust and transparency, so stay tuned for a discussion on how collective efforts can help navigate the anticipated challenges of the upcoming year in general practice.
Celebrating 400 episodes (00:09)
Navigating 2024-2025 (01:09)
Contract changes.. (02:30)
PCN DES (03:31)
The end of PCNs? (04:01)
Referendum on the contract.. (04:59)
Mass Resignations (05:40)
PCN core functions (06:36)
Relationship between PCNs & practices (08:19)
The 3 choices.. (09:29)
The hybrid model.. (11:19)
How can we work together (16:58)
Financial pressures (17:52)
Supporting each other.. (18:07)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back the insightful Robyn Clark and Kay Keane, who share their pioneering experiences with the ‘Right Care, First Time’ campaign.
This episode brings to light the complex skills required of modern patient services teams, the critical need for recognition and appropriate compensation for their work, and how their evolution is instrumental in guiding patients to the right care. Join us for this enlightening conversation that’s bound to reshape your perspective on the ever-changing landscape of general practice.
Right Care, First Time (00:09)
The thinking behind the campaign.. (01:13)
Modern General Practice (02:35)
Who is the campaign targeted at? (03:44)
Getting the message across.. (04:30)
Acceptance of new roles.. (05:49)
Funding.. (09:07)
Targeting specific needs.. (09:49)
A more flexible pot? (12:54)
Trust within PCN’s (15:00)
NHS England Care Navigation Training.. (17:13)
Building the confidence of the public.. (19:29)
Feedback following the video.. (21:45)
Where can I access the video? (22:02)
What does industrial action look like for General Practice? (22:56)
Access the “Right Care, First Time” video here.
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Practice Index – Right Care, First Time appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Ben is joined, once again by Dr. Neil Modha, a mastermind in revolutionising patient care through innovative practices and strategic partnerships, as the GP partner of Thistlemoor Medical Centre. Neil discusses the fine art of managing workload and curbing GP burnout by staying ahead of the curve with bespoke roles designed to meet patient demands.
Neil offers a sneak peek into the promising future of GP and pharmacy collaborations. Ben & Neil also look into the financial challenges and opportunities for community pharmacies, contemplating the evolution of the GP partnership model amidst current contractual changes.
Introduction (00:09)
Latest achievements.. (00:20)
Thistlemoor turns 30! (01:14)
What makes Thistlemoor different? (01:50)
Additional roles.. (03:28)
Recent changes to roles.. (05:16)
Consultations in the pharmacy.. (08:25)
Learnings so far.. (10:33)
Creating effective partnerships.. (11:54)
Bring the practice and pharmacy together (14:17)
Thoughts on the GP Partnership model? (17:00)
A difficult year ahead.. (18:54)
What’s next? (20:06) .
Taking a risk.. (23:12)
Getting in touch.. (25:59)
You can listen to Episode 116: Neil Modha – An innovative model for general practice here.
Find Neil on LinkedIn, Twitter & email, you can also visit Thistlemoor Medical Centre on twitter & their website.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Neil Modha – Pioneering the Future of Unified Healthcare appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Ben is joined by George Gavriel & Bobby Ozzoni-Child, from the Bucks GP Provider Alliance. Their engaging discussion looks at the crucial role of collaboration with the ICB to amplify the GP provider voice and underscores the value of place-based leadership groups as emphasised in the Fuller stock take. Discover the intricate structure of Bucks' GP, the interplay of its practices, PCNs, and the local federation, and learn how challenges are navigated to align these entities.Tune in for a conversation that's at the heart of transforming patient care and healthcare leadership at the local level..
Introduction (00:08)
Bucks GP Provider Alliance (00:40)
Place-wide federation (01:38)
Bobby’s role.. (03:18)
Other staff.. (04:11)
Bringing together the leaders (06:02)
Do practices understand the system and how it works? (07:12)
Objectives of the GP Provider alliance.. (09:25)
How long have you been going? (11:19)
What are your main achievements so far? (11:51)
Annual report.. (13:47)
Funding.. (14:24)
Benefits to the ICB of having you guys in place? (16:45)
Support for practices.. (18:40)
Biggest learning so far.. (21:10)
To find out more contact Bobby via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
We are joined, once again, by Dr Nigel Fraser, Dr Mike Hearne, and Conor Price. This week they discuss how Herefordshire has taken significant strides in influencing integrated care board decisions through data sharing and analytics, highlighting the critical role of Primary Care Analytics in the evolution of local data systems.
Hear about the national landscape of general practice data analytics and its impact on healthcare strategies from our guests. They bring to the table discussions on the need for a unified voice in the sector, the challenges in translating complex activities into actionable insights, and the role primary care analysts play in this domain. The episode wraps up with a look at the strategic enhancement of data analytics in primary care. Don't miss part 2 of this insightful discussion on revolutionising general practice and promoting innovation across the nation.
Introduction (00:09)
Data in General Practice (02:03)
The importance of sharing data (03:32)
Controls.. (04:36)
Primary Care Analytics.. (05:02)
Primary Care Analytics forum.. (07:54)
General Practice influence (08:53)
Skills gap within General Practice (10:04)
Working together.. (11:08)
Measuring what’s important (13:09)
Supporting other areas.. (13:59)
Influencing at a ICB level (17:20)
Getting in touch.. (18:37)
Starting a National movement.. (19:00)
Final thoughts (19:37)
Contact Conor Price via email here & visit the Primary Care Analytics website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us as we explore the advancements in general practice data and analytics, as Ben sits down with Dr Nigel Fraser, Dr Mike Hearne, and Conor Price. They share their invaluable insights on the early initiatives of data sharing using EMIS and the importance of establishing trust among practices. Together, they unravel the complexities of standardising data to enhance collaborative healthcare and reflect on the journey from the initial phases to the sophisticated state of data utilisation today.
Listen in as they tackle the significant strides made in healthcare data management and the importance of standardised coding templates, the trust required in data sharing, and the role of mobile healthcare in addressing critical issues. They also discuss the creation of robust data management teams and the strategic deployment of data to advocate for primary care investments, all while recognising the undeniable power of data in steering healthcare improvements and fortifying practice support within the larger system..
Introduction (00:08)
Primary Care Analytics (01:57)
Comparing apples with apples (04:02)
LMC’s perspective.. (05:07)
The pro’s of providing the data.. (05:54)
The developments & benefits.. (07:06)
Using the data right (11:34)
Producing information.. (14:23)
Data analyst & beyond.. (16:55)
What does the data look like now? (18:36)
How does the data help? (21:28)
How to get in touch (23:02)
Contact Conor Price via email here & visit the Primary Care Analytics website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
With general practice at a crossroads, Practice Index podcast regulars Robyn Clark and Claire Houston join Ben to assess the financial hurdles presented within the latest GP contract. The 2% funding increase is a drop in the ocean against towering inflation and the uptick in the national living wage could well see a situation whereby practices are unable to hire or replace departing staff, calling into question, once again, the issue of sustainability.
We consider newer directives linked to capacity and access such as telephony, online consultations, and care navigation systems and probe the effectiveness of the Integrated Care Board payments - and the Quality and Outcomes Framework - questioning their impact on an already stretched thin resource pool.
Don't miss this episode for a frank and insightful examination of the state of general practice right now, with our expert practice management panel guiding the conversation.
Introduction (00.:09)
Welcoming the panel (00:39)
Funding implications (00:52)
An unrealistic uplift against the economic reality (02:12)
Impact on practices (03:06)
Government response and continuing uncertainty (03:48)
Complications with budget-setting (05:38)
Advice from Clare when planning ahead (06:49)
Debating the QOF changes (07:53)
Changes related to vaccs and imms (09:46)
Scrapping the IIF in favour of capacity and access (10:32)
Achieving the 30% (12:33)
National extraction of demand data (14:25)
A new “registration solution” (17:03)
Merging the PCN DES spec and ARRS (17:55)
The future of general practice taskforce (20:48)
GP referendum (21:55)
Final thoughts (23:47)
The importance of standing together (24:40)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Listen in as we welcome back experts James Gransby from RSM UK and Robert McCartney from Hempsons for an insightful analysis of the upcoming 24/25 GP contract changes and the associated financial pressures. They tackle the stark realities practices are facing, including the modest wage increases and low inflation rate adjustments set against a backdrop of historical underfunding. They examine potential cost savings, opportunities for service expansion, and the balance between growth and maintaining a strong practice culture. Join us to also highlight the success of organic mergers and the concept of 'soft mergers' as a means to foster collaboration while preserving individual practice identity.
Introduction (00:09)
Reactions to the 24/25 contract.. (00:33)
Percentages used.. (01:42)
What’s new? (03:31)
Continuity of care (04:37)
Financial pressure on individual practices (05:35)
Section 96 (06:24)
Point of no return.. (07:01)
Funding during COVID.. (07:40)
Do practices need to merge? (08:54)
Economies of scale.. (14:15)
The need for a plan.. (15:10)
When does it become too big? (16:40)
Thinking about a merger? (19:01)
Merging organically.. (21:05)
Soft merging (23:12)
Getting in touch.. (23:52)
Contact Robert via email here & James via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes back podcast favourite, Sheinaz Stansfield, Quality Improvement Lead for Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group. Sheinaz joins Ben to share her pioneering methods for workforce redesign in General Practice, which include a thorough examination of patient demand and the utilisation of tools to distinguish between activity and demand. Their discussion also looks into how to integrate new roles into healthcare teams, highlights the benefits of mentorship for unique roles, and the significant impact this can have on enhancing patient experiences and alleviating the pressure on clinicians. Join us and learn from Sheinaz’s tales of transformation, where a focus on demand and capacity has the power to revolutionise primary care..
Introduction (00:09)
Workforce redesign (00:39)
Measuring demand (01:56)
Findings & surprises.. (02:36)
Is demand greater than capacity? (04:04)
Increasing capacity.. (05:28)
Changing your workforce.. (07:58)
Identifying additional roles your Practice needs.. (09:19)
Workforce redesign principles.. (10:16)
Additional roles becoming part of the PCN.. (12:27)
Do you have a divide? (15:20)
Impacts on the GPs.. (16:15)
Key takeaways for listeners.. (17:05)
Advice.. (19:06)
Previous examples.. (20:56)
Making the most of an individual's skills.. (22:14)
Resources.. (23:06)
Listen to Ben & Sheinaz’s previous podcast episodes below:
Sheinaz Stansfield – social prescribing
Sheinaz Stansfield – Releasing time for care in Gateshead
Sheinaz Stansfield – The role of the frailty nurse in general practice
Sheinaz Stansfield – Better Health
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Unlock the secrets to compassionate healthcare as we join forces with Kay Keane, Shaun Jackson and Katherine Scott from Urban Village Medical Practice, to discuss primary care's pivotal role in supporting the homeless community. Together, they navigate the complex definition of homelessness, the responsibilities of local authorities, and how healthcare providers can assist individuals in this challenging system. This discussion is just the beginning of a series aimed at guiding practices in providing care to those experiencing homelessness. Discover the importance of using the practice's address for correspondence and learn how to maintain continuity of care for this population. This episode is designed to raise awareness and equip healthcare providers with the tools needed to offer empathetic and effective support to patients experiencing homelessness, a testament to the compassion and innovation that earned Urban Village Medical Practice its esteemed award.
Introduction (00:08)
What can we do to help people who are experiencing homelessness (00:52)
The plan.. (01:49)
Katherine's role.. (02:36)
What is homelessness? (03:32)
Why is it such an important issue for Primary Care? (04:53)
Support on offer.. (06:36)
Recognise the population (07:52)
Other organisations.. (10:22)
Noticing a difference.. (11:15)
What can practices do? (12:30)
Have the conversation with patients.. (15:55)
Getting it right.. (17:47)
Additional roles (19:26)
Homeless patients interacting with health services.. (20:48)
Supporting the patients.. (24:08)
Getting in touch.. (26:52)
Urban Village Medical Practice website & to find out more contact Kay Keane here.
Listen to the previous episode from Urban Village here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, Kay Keane and Claire Houston join Ben for a candid discussion on the financial challenges practices are facing. At the heart of their discussion lies the tension between the escalating costs of running a practice, including the forthcoming minimum wage hike, and the proposed 1.9% budget increase. Kay, Claire and Ben reflect on the squeeze this puts on profits and how it's driving a potential shift in the structure of General Practice. They look into the hard choices that lie ahead, and consider the implications of relying on additional roles over traditional GP-led models. They discuss what practices can do in face of such a financially challenging environment, and offer practical tips for those who are struggling. Tune in to hear more about the creative strategies practices are employing to navigate funding challenges and how this might shape the future of General Practice.
Introduction (00:09)
Practice finances (00:50)
Claire’s thoughts.. (01:58)
The 1.9% offer (03:54)
Claire & Kay’s thoughts regarding the offer? (04:38)
How are Practices make ends meet? (07:13)
What kind of uplift in income is possible for Practices? (09:46)
PCN income.. (12:32)
The challenges.. (14:22)
Working together.. (16:08)
Additional roles.. (16:51)
Making savings by increasing size.. (22:52)
Resources & information.. (25:08)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Tim Rigg & Jessie Teggin join Ben to discuss ‘Out in the Field’, a provider of retreats for NHS staff. This episode looks into the transformative journey of healthcare staff towards holistic wellbeing, Jessie and Tim share information about the unique retreats that are aimed at nurturing the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, empowering them to unwind, rejuvenate, along with creating stronger connections within their teams. Join us to learn more about the retreats, and how NHS staff are embracing them..
Introduction (00:09)
Out in the field (01:21)
Forest bathing (05:30)
Why did you decide on retreats for your primary care team? (08:53)
Staff's thoughts.. (12:51)
How did the retreat run? (14:18)
What difference did it make to staff.. (18:27)
Are there more sessions to come? (21:02)
Jessie’s thoughts on the day.. (21:38)
How to find out more.. (24:45)
Visit the ‘Out in the Field’ website here & ‘The Quadrangle’ here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join Andy and Gandhi from eGPLearning and Tara Humphrey for something different this week, as our very own Ben joined eGPLearning’s live discussion to explore what is next for PCNs. They look into the future of General Practice, GP contract negotiations and the evolution of patient care. They navigate through the challenges of recruitment, resource allocation, and a modest funding uplift set against rising inflation. They also share information for the upcoming live event in Nottingham, where success stories and the resilience of healthcare professionals will take centre stage.
Introduction to PCN Plus (00:09)
Introduction (00:31)
The latest video from Katie.. (01:41)
Contract negotiations.. (03:35)
GPs in ARRS roles (06:37)
Comments from live listeners (11:34)
1.9% uplift (12:24)
Further comments from live listeners.. (18:37)
Joining the PCN Plus conference (20:38)
Listen to the full live streamed episode of ‘What is next for PCNs with PCN Plus’ here.
Register for the PCN Plus conference on Wednesday 17th April here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode of the podcast, we look into the world of total triage with Pete Woodward, from Cheadle Medical Practice. Join us as we learn how tailored questionnaires and advanced triage tools have led to a significant leap in diagnosis accuracy and patient satisfaction. Discover the secrets behind their efficient triage process, The Human Touch, which not only heightened patient contentment but also optimised the staff's schedule, ensuring availability for urgent cases. This episode is packed with valuable information, tune in to transform your understanding of patient care and triage in the modern medical environment.
Introduction (00:09)
Pete’s role.. (00:35)
The Human Touch (00:47)
Struggling with demand (01:40)
Face to face demand (02:07)
What changes were made? (02:55)
What came next.. (03:49)
Creating a model.. (04:26)
Identifying areas.. (05:33)
Patient questionnaires.. (06:17)
Next steps.. (06:45)
The role of the reception team.. (07:29)
Decision pathway (08:30)
Impact of the changes.. (08:41)
Reduction of phone calls (09:17)
How long did it take to see a reduction? (09:46)
Patient feedback (10:16)
Hurdles the practice overcame.. (10:45)
Creating capacity (11:48)
Protecting appointments (13:54)
The situation now.. (14:43)
Reacting to changes (15:38)
What’s next? (16:14)
Supporting other practices (17:22)
Advice for getting people onboard.. (19:57)
Contacting Pete (21:02)
More about ‘The Human Touch’ (21:51)
To contact Pete directly, please contact him by email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us this week to discuss the new CQC revamped Practice Inspection Framework, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, with panel regular Robyn Clark & manager partner of a GP practice in North London, Rathai Thevananth. This essential episode of our podcast provides a comprehensive breakdown of the significant changes affecting healthcare practices. Gain an in-depth understanding of the new quality statements and learn how the updated numerical scoring system will enhance self-assessment and benchmarking for your practice. With Rathai’s insights, we look into how you can prepare for a CQC visit, we also share practical strategies to achieve and maintain excellence. From organising documentation to analysing patient feedback and improving accountability, this episode is packed with actionable advice to ensure your healthcare practice not only meets but exceeds inspection standards.
Introduction (00:09)
New CQC framework.. (01:35)
The biggest difference? (02:16)
Making it easier for practices.. (02:42)
Is there a change to the ratings? (03:24)
Final scoring (03:53)
Robyn’s thoughts.. (04:31)
Evidence required.. (05:55)
How is the rollout going? (06:58)
Robyn’s practice visit.. (08:20)
Feedback so far.. (10:20)
Frequency of visits (11:12)
Tips for the CQC inspection (12:08)
Common struggle areas.. (14:04)
Common mistakes.. (15:57)
Organisation.. (17:23)
Does Robyn feel ready? (18:34)
What makes a practice ‘outstanding’? (20:01)
Best places to get information.. (21:02)
Further recommendations (21:37)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Jacob Haddad, co-founder of Accurx, returns to our podcast to discuss Accurx’s latest report. With a focus on total triage and its impact on the healthcare delivery model, we uncover a system where appointments are a last resort, leading to increased efficiency and a transformative patient experience. The conversation pivots to the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of general practices that are pioneering this approach. You'll hear firsthand accounts of how clinics grapple with increased workloads and leverage the expertise of senior GPs to ensure a successful transition. By highlighting the community of practices that have already embraced these changes, we invite listeners to join a network of forward-thinkers revolutionising patient care. So, if you're a healthcare professional ready to learn from the best, or simply a curious mind intrigued by the future of healthcare, this episode is your gateway to an evolving world where change is not just expected, it's embraced.
Introduction (00:09)
Staying relevant.. (00:32)
Digital transformation (01:16)
The report.. (01:57)
The changes.. (03:09)
Making it successful (03:53)
The maths.. (08:26)
Putting the changes into motion.. (11:10)
Who to put in charge of triage? (12:45)
How did Jacob research this? (14:59)
Plan for Practices.. (16:16)
Modern General Practice.. (18:06)
Practices making the change together.. (19:45)
Accessing the report & finding support .. (21:39)
Download the Accurx report: a blueprint for recovering access here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, this week we focus on the topic of annual leave. Ben is joined by Claire Hoston and Robyn Clark to tackle the topic of managing annual leave in general practice. Navigating the peaks of holiday seasons can be a tumultuous affair in any workplace, but it's especially challenging in healthcare settings where patients need surge following breaks like Christmas and school holidays. They share their strategies for equitable leave distribution, such as annual planning meetings for clinical staff and specific rules for management teams. The conversation reveals how crucial a clear leave policy is for maintaining harmony and ensuring everyone gets a chance to recharge. Whether you're a practice manager or a team member trying to navigate your leave schedule, this episode offers insights and solutions for managing this critical aspect of workplace well-being.
Introduction & annual leave (00:08)
Managing annual leave (03:06)
Annual planning meeting.. (04:25)
Proactive approach about staff taking leave (05:41)
Managing leave expectations.. (07:00)
Carrying over leave.. (07:59)
The importance of people taking leave in the year? (08:50)
Practice Managers difficulty taking annual leave (10:28)
Work backlog.. (11:33)
Time off in lieu (12:10)
The development of the HR package (13:43)
Managing cultural balance.. (14:55)
Annual leave allowance.. (16:28)
Best practice when setting annual leave levels? (17:36)
Challenges of recruitment? (19:24)
Annual leave policies or practices recommended to people listening? (20:44)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
We're thrilled to welcome the inspiring Dr. Helen Kingston, a GP and senior partner at Frome Medical Practice, who shares with us her team's unique and effective approach to healthcare that prioritises sustainability. Their journey to green healthcare is quite remarkable, from integrating social prescribing into medical practice to being the first practice to receive the prestigious RCGP Green Impact Gold Plus Award. Ben & Helen explore the extensive collaborative work happening on a community level. And rounding it all off, Helen shares her thoughts on the importance of motivation and the role of networks like the Greener Practice Network in driving sustainability in general practice. Each bit of the episode is packed with valuable insights and practical takeaways on fostering sustainable healthcare practices.
Introduction (0:08)
How it all started (0:40)
Social prescribers prior to PCN’s? (1:52)
Are social subscribers integrated? (2:59)
Capturing the impacts.. (4:37)
RCGP Green Impact Gold Plus Award.. (5:49)
Is team involvement key? (8:00)
Trying something outside Practice with the local community.... (10:42)
What is a community connector? (12:26)
Are they staff? (13:44)
How does it work? (14:05)
Evolution of the patient participation groups? (14:56)
The project.. (15:19)
Measuring the impact of the programme.. (17:34)
Helen’s view on sustainability.. (19:02)
Reflections on collaborative working? (19:48)
Working together.. (21:45)
What’s next? (22:24)
Any advice for people who want to do something in their Practice? (23:27)
Access The UK's primary care sustainability network, Greener Practice here and the toolkit here
Listen back to the previous episode: Terry Kemple, Sustainable general practice here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Joining Ben to discuss how they managed to establish a PCN hub in their area is Dr Aravinth Balachandran, clinical director at Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN, Andy Gove, digital transformation manager at the same PCN & Adriana Jimenez, Primary Care Transformation Senior Innovation Access Lead, all with first hand experience in establishing a PCN hub. With the discussion rooted in their experiences, they reflect on the conception of the hub idea and its co-design with practices, demonstrating the importance of collaboration, trust, and relationship-building between practices. The conversation explores the positive effects of online consultations, improved response times, and better access to patient records. In essence, the PCN hub has brought about happier practices and positive feedback from patients.. Don't miss out on these exclusive insights and resources..
Introduction (0:09)
Establishing a PCN Hub.. (01:14)
Did you have a history of collaborative working across the practices? (03:23)
How did you get to a hub as a solution? (03:55)
What is a hub? (05:50)
Initial intentions for the hub.. (06:46)
Enhanced access funding.. (08:52)
Andy’s involvement.. (09:30)
What were the key gaps that you identified? (11:24)
Is all the work fully integrated with the GP records in their own practices? (13:28)
Transforming the digital infrastructure.. (14:53)
Adriana’s involvement.. (15:43)
Resolving the estates issue.. (17:11)
Funding.. (18:30)
Resolving governance issues.. 19:27
Impact the hub has had so far (20:21)
How do you see the hub developer in the future? (24:24)
Accessing further information.. (26:24)
Access the blueprint materials and resources here.
If you’re a PCN embarking on a similar project and would like to get in touch, email the Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN leadership team here.
For more information about how the NHS England South East regional office supported this project, please email Adriana Jimenez, Primary Care Transformation Senior Innovation Access Lead, NHS England here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us this week, as we navigate the complexities of the new provider selection regime and what it means for general practice with our guest, Ross Clark, a partner at Hemsons. The new provider selection regime, he explains, will allow integrated care boards to award contracts to providers including PCNs, GP provider companies, and federations without a competitive procurement process. Ross discusses the concept of direct award and the selection of suitable providers, which may streamline the merger and acquisition of practices. However, he also explores how these changes may complicate matters for commissioners wanting to switch providers. Alongside this, we discuss exceptions to these processes and their applicability in particular situations. This episode offers invaluable insights on how the new regime will impact practices, PCNs and federations..
Introduction (0:09)
What is the Provider Selection Regime? (1:19)
Thoughts behind the change.. (5:06)
What does this mean in practice? (7:08)
Being awarded the ‘Most Suitable Provider’.. (10:11)
When an APMS contract comes to an end.. (10:41)
Are we starting to see contracts being directly awarded to PCNs? (11:44)
Exceptions to these rules.. (14:01)
Encouraging mergers and PCN level services.. (15:10)
Can the regime work the other way? (16:27)
Impact on GP federations.. (19:27)
A federation of federations.. (21:04)
NHS Guidance updates.. (23:36)
Subcontracting contracts.. (24:21)
Timescales for the Provider Selection Regime.. (26:48)
Access The New Provider Selection Regime here and the Provider Selection Regime Guidance here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, this week we focus on the topic of improving the support that Practices and PCNs can give to care homes. Ben is joined by Lisa Davis, who is the PCN clinical lead for enhanced health and care homes, and Lucy Jones, who is the PCN manager, both at HMG PCN in Hereford. They shed light on how the Living Well in Later Life event has not only reinforced their relationship with care homes but also greatly enhanced their outreach. As they continue their journey in strengthening partnerships, they extend an open invitation to those who are keen to learn and build connections. Join us as we unpack these insights and experiences for a more integrated and improved support for care homes..
Introduction (0:09)
Separation between Practice and PCNs (01:54)
Living Well in Later Life.. (02:42)
Designed for clinical teams working in care homes.. (03:24)
What services are in place already? (03:57)
Who was the conference for? (04:30)
Events best bits.. (05:37)
Results from the conference.. (06:00)
Better interaction.. (06:24)
Role of the care coordinators (06:56)
Do care homes feel supported? (07:34)
Next steps.. (07:57)
Structured learning time.. (08:21)
Expanding the event.. (08:51)
Would you recommend a similar event to others? (09:43)
Ward rounds within care homes (09:59)
GP’s in care homes (10:31)
Measuring the outcomes (10:55)
Who to contact? (11:43)
Advice for those planning a similar event (12:00)
When to start planning.. (13:34)
Repeating the event.. (13:54)
How to get in touch (14:44)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben is joined by the individuals from Venn Health and People Wellbeing: James Davies, Alasdair Everest-Ford, and Vicky Fytche. Venn Health, an independent agency specialising in problem-solving for the health and care sector, has recently collaborated with People Wellbeing, a provider focused on creating healthier environments and staff wellbeing. Together, they are dedicated to meeting the needs and providing support for Practices & PCN’s through Wellbeing interventions. The conversation delves into the crucial aspects of cultivating a positive culture and effective management behaviour, essential for establishing a sustainable wellbeing environment in the ever-evolving landscape of General Practice. The discussion covers the significant pressures faced by GP Partners and Practice Managers, challenges in staff retention, the importance of flexible working, and insights into The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)..
Venn Health introduction (0:09)
People Wellbeing introduction (1:49)
Wellbeing within General Practice (3:18)
GP Partners & Practice Managers pressures.. (4:12)
Staff retainment (5:23)
Changes from the pandemic.. (7:02)
Benefits of a Wellbeing Provider? (7:45)
Helpful or a criticism? (9:58)
Motivations for staff.. (10:42)
Findings so far.. (11:52)
The Quality and Outcomes Framework (13:16)
Venn Health & People Wellbeing collaboration.. (14:08)
The Wellbeing Intervention.. (15:42)
Next steps.. (17:24)
Vell Health’s role.. (18:29)
Getting in touch (19:19)
Visit the Staff Wellbeing Guide for NHS General Practice and PCN Teams here.
To access the People Wellbeing Website click here and for Venn Health here.
Contact a workforce wellbeing specialist at People Wellbeing by email or contact Venn Health directly via email.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben and Donal discuss the fascinating world of Metabolic Health. Our special guest, Donal Collins, generously takes us on a journey through his own experience with type 2 diabetes, illustrating his remarkable transformation. Donal elaborates on the modifications he implemented, the exceptional results he attained, and how he turned his personal journey into inspiration for others. They discuss the concept of treating disease by promoting good health and addressing their root causes, such as using food as a treatment. Donal provides insights into the adjustments he made in his role as a practising GP and how his priorities have shifted. He also sheds light on the interventions that have been put into action and the remarkable outcomes achieved thus far. Donal offers a glimpse into his future endeavours and outlines his focus for the upcoming years.
Introduction (0:09)
Donal’s journey.. (0:52)
Changes that were made.. (5:09)
How did you get to what you’re doing now? (5:52)
Changes Donal made as a practising GP.. (7:23)
Donal’s change of career.. (8:10)
The intervention.. (10:47)
Which patients are your focus? (11:42)
Initiating the intervention.. (12:52)
Success creating more participants.. (14:23)
What’s next for Donal? (15:17)
Any roadblocks? (16:10)
Getting in touch.. (18:10)
Making a difference.. (18:45)
Contact Donal Collins via email here, via twitter here or access his linkedin here. To Access the study click here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes two special guests, Minal Bakhai and Sheinaz Stansfield, to discuss the General Practice Improvement Programme. Minal delves into the details of GPIP and elaborates on the support it offers to PCNs and Practices. Sheinaz shares her personal experiences with the programme and discusses the transformative impact of data and support on PCNs and Practices. The episode also unveils key insights gained thus far, valuable advice for moving forward, and future programme plans. Discover who can benefit from this program and learn how to get involved in GPIP..
Introduction & why the programmes been introduced (0:09)
Introducing modern General Practice.. (3:05)
Information about the programme.. (4:47)
How much funding for practices? (6:45)
Sheinaz’ support in the programme.. (7:39)
Telephony data (9:23)
What difference were you able to make? (10:14)
Staffing changes due to data.. (11:15)
Does the Practice feel different? (12:09)
Supporting GPIP implementation across the PCN.. (12:49)
What is failure demand? (14:43)
Sharing resources throughout PCN’s (15:29)
Learnings so far & advice for moving forward.. (16:14)
Disconnect between PCN’s and Practices.. (17:56)
Plans for the programme.. (18:52)
Signing up to GPIP.. (20:07)
Is this for everyone? (21:13)
Choosing the support for you.. (21:50)
Visit the National General Practice Improvement Programme here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode Ben reunites with NHS pensions expert Paul Gordon to explore recent changes to the NHS pension scheme. Paul last joined us in March 2023, they start by revisiting their previous discussion and the scheme's updates. Paul shares the positive changes, and the popularity around them, as well as the associated restrictions. He provides insightful details, including calculations and their impact on individuals' pension plans. Paul also offers a glimpse into the future- hoping for an increased clarity in navigating the complicated topic.
Introduction (0:09)
Recap from March 2023.. (0:35)
24 hour retirement changes.. (1:33)
What’s different now? (2:55)
Age restrictions.. (3:32)
A rise in partial retirements.. (4:24)
Working less, earning more (5:35)
Changes to the annual allowance.. (6:14)
Better rate of growth for McCloud period.. (11:01)
Annual allowance growth charge.. (11:56)
Lifetime allowance being abolished.. (13:11)
Accessing your pension information.. (15:05)
Checking your pension information.. (17:08)
Making a decision (19:02)
Decision at the point of retirement.. (21:21)
Contact details (23:13)
Get in touch with Paul via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Back by popular demand, we're excited to welcome back Naj Seedat and Andy Pow for another insightful episode.The topic of conversation has come to light due to an ICB that awarded what was an APMS contract, converted to a GMS contract to a PCN, Naj and Andy share their valuable insights and perspectives on this matter. Naj also shares his experience with having both APMS and GMS practices within his patch, shedding light on the approaches they've adopted. The three of them engage in a conversation about the potential future of APMS contracts, the crucial issue of General Practice funding, and their visions for what lies ahead in this ever-evolving landscape.
Introduction (0:09)
Independent Contractor Model (1:16)
Naj’s thoughts.. (2:44)
APMs contract reviews.. (4:58)
The end for APMS contracts? (6:43)
Andy’s thoughts.. (9:09)
How do PCN’s hold a GMS contract? (10:10)
Ben's thoughts on the future for integration? (12:40)
Naj & Andy’s salaries & integration thoughts... (15:40)
Shift in the funding.. (18:32)
Distribution of funding.. (19:29)
PCN’s are here to stay.. (21:28)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode we have the pleasure of welcoming back Hussain Gandhi, for the fifth year running as a PCN Clinical Director. During the conversation, Gandhi reflects on his time as a Clinical Director, sharing both the achievements and the challenges his PCN has encountered. Gandhi and Ben engage in a discussion about the difficulties associated with adapting to the changes of the IIF, the issues PCNs are currently facing, and challenges such as retention due to financial uncertainty. Gandhi also presents his vision for a ‘hub’ and discusses the topic of additional roles, specifically Physician Associates. They talk through the implications of contractual changes and funding issues which have posed significant challenges for practices and PCNs. Finally, Gandhi shares his reflections on the past four to five years of his role as a PCN Clinical Director.
Introduction (0:09)
Gandhi’s PCN.. (0:45)
The PCN’s biggest achievements (1:19)
Investment and Impact Fund criteria (1:48)
The PCN’s ‘lessons learned’ (2:52)
Funding changes.. (3:38)
Challenges as a PCN.. (4:13)
Uncertainty.. (5:09)
Additional roles.. (7:38)
Supporting additional roles.. (9:18)
Further challenges as a PCN.. (10:45)
Bureaucracy.. (11:23)
The hub.. (12:06)
The hub's staffing.. (13:08)
Effects of contractual change (13:32)
Funding issues within practices and PCN’s.. (15:01)
Disengagement within practices.. (17:04)
Active planning for the future.. (18:29)
Is Gandhi staying? (19:39)
Impact of PCN’s on General Practice.. (20:16)
How to move forward? (21:37)
PCN’s sustainability in the future.. (23:00)
Gandhi’s reflections over the last 4 to 5 years.. (24:10)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In today's episode, Ben is joined by James Catton, Physician Associate in General Practice, host of the Physician Associate Podcast and a PA Ambassador. Together, they deep dive into the role and responsibilities of a PA Ambassador, and discuss James' own creation, The Physician Associate Podcast. Throughout their conversation, James and Ben explore the challenges Physician Associates are currently facing and provide insights into the reasons behind this complex topic. They also offer valuable guidance on how to support PA's effectively and maximise their contributions within practices. James generously shares resources to assist individuals during these challenging times.
Introduction (0:09)
The role of a Physician Ambassador (0:21)
The Physician Associate Podcast (1:25)
Physician Associate listeners (2:16)
Challenging time for Physician Associates.. (3:03)
Factors contributing to the challenging time for PA's (3:31)
PA’s being targeted.. (4:41)
Numbers of PA’s working in General Practice? (6:26)
PA’s experiences so far within General Practice? (7:40)
What would be helpful? (8:45)
Additional roles.. (9:36)
What next? (11:13)
Essential support PA's Require (11:47)
Building a supportive Network within PCN's (13:13)
Emphasising the value of teamwork (14:18)
Enhancing support for PA's working alone (15:35)
Looking to the future.. (15:59)
Resources for PA’s & for supporting PA’s.. (17:53)
Listen to ‘The Physician Associate Podcast’ here, access ‘The PA+PER Magazine’ here, & ‘The Faculty of Physician Associates’ (FPA) here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Returning to the podcast this week is Tara Humphrey, Managing Director of THC. Tara joins Ben to discuss the current priorities of PCNs. Tara shares her insights into the most significant challenges PCNs are currently facing, touching upon various issues and tensions within these networks. Tara emphasises the importance of interactions within PCNs and how this directly impacts the trust levels among participating practices. The discussion also revolves around the opportunity PCNs have to collaborate, learn from each other, and provide support for one another, all while recognising that all practices share a common goal and are part of the same team. Tara outlines her expectations regarding the infrastructure needed to support PCN staff effectively. The conversation finishes on the topic of security within PCN roles and what steps networks can take now ready for the future.
Introduction (0:09)
Nomination for the 'Great British Business Women's Awards' (0:37)
Identifying the most biggest challenges faced by PCNs now (1:00)
Collaboration issues (1:41)
Challenges and issues within PCNs (2:04)
Tensions within the networks (2:58)
Repairing relationships (4:08)
Issues related to funding (6:22)
Trust within practices (7:23)
The correlation between trust and interactions (8:47)
Inattention to results (10:26)
PCNs adapting to the change of ‘access requirements’ (11:30)
The value of learning from each other (12:31)
PCN leaders (13:42)
Infrastructure to support staff (14:33)
What infrastructure works best? (16:18)
Security concerns within roles (16:59)
Strategies for tackling uncertainty (18:02)
Recommended steps to take now (19:15)
The current reality (20:33)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Find out more about Tara and the work she does via her website.
It was about time we welcomed back Dr Rachel Morris, speaker, host of ‘You Are Not a Frog’ podcast, GP, Coach and creator of the Shapes Toolkit Resilience Training Programme for doctors and other professionals. In this episode Rachel generously imparts invaluable insights into the importance of establishing professional boundaries, sheds light on the treatment of general practice, and offers guidance on navigating the uncertain times that general practice is facing. Rachel emphasises the crucial need for a strong support system and kindly shares advice on coping with times of uncertainty.
Introduction & Rachels recent work (0:09)
Professional boundaries.. (0:58)
The art of saying ‘no’.. (3:18)
How General Practice is being treated.. (7:21)
System of support.. (11:03)
QI wellbeing resources.. (12:53)
The impact of virtual working on wellbeing..(15:11)
Face to face vs online.. (17:16)
Managing uncertainty.. (17:58)
Zone of power.. (22:30)
Getting in touch with Rachel.. (24:21)
Find out more about the QI Wellbeing QoF Toolkit and the Work Well Webinar Series here. You can also tune in to the 'You Are Not a Frog' podcast, or get in touch with Rachel via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week's episode features panel regular Robyn Clark, along with Pete Maynard & Naj Seedat. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Practice Index & this week focuses on the topic of practice managers as partners in GP practices. Robyn and Pete share their personal journeys, recounting their transitions from practice managers to partners. They provide insights into the intricacies of this transition and shed light on the differences they've observed since moving into their partner roles. Naj offers his perspective on the appeal of having business decisions made by management partners, they discuss the resistance some practices encounter and the factors contributing to the reluctance to make practice managers partners. Additionally, they explore whether more practice managers are expressing interest in pursuing this career shift and who should consider taking this path. As the podcast concludes, our experts generously offer valuable advice for those contemplating the journey towards becoming a partner within their GP practice.
Introduction (0:31)
Becoming a Partner (1:04)
Navigating the partnership process (2:15)
Pete's path to partnership (4:43)
Addressing resistance to Practice Managers as Partners (7:10)
Growing interest among Practice Managers (9:21)
Insights from the journey as partners so far (11:48)
The appeal of business partner-led decision making (14:55)
Impact on practice performance and staff perspectives (16:10)
Navigating the complexity of the Practice Manager to Partner relationship (19:17)
IGPM Accreditation Framework (21:24)
Expert Advice for aspiring Partners (22:57)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes Robert McCartney back to the podcast. Although Robert has been a guest on the podcast before he has now joined Hempsons as an associate where he focuses on aiding GP mergers and assisting PCNs, helping them form entities. This episode revolves around the relationship between GP Practices and PCNs, highlighting its significance for their future. They discuss the existing challenges that GP Practices and PCNs are facing regarding mergers, whilst also exploring potential strategies to overcome these hurdles and address ongoing disputes. Robert shares insights into his criteria for assessing governance within PCNs, covering aspects such as financial matters, decision-making processes, performance evaluation, staffing, and lastly, clinical governance. Robert wraps up the episode by sharing reflections, suggestions for proactive steps, and advice to facilitate progress moving forward.
Introduction (0:09)
Relationship between Practices & PCNs.. (0:51)
Current issues.. (2:26)
Financial disputes.. (3:56)
Moving forward with disputes.. (4:58)
External support.. (6:08)
PCN funding.. (7:47)
Importance of trust.. (9:50)
Governance within PCN’s.. (10:42)
Minimum level of infrastructure that Robert would expect to see.. (12:42)
Have PCN’s got the minimum level of infrastructure in place? (13:59)
PCN’s going down the incorporation route.. (15:52)
Access the ‘No risk’ of PCNs being scrapped, says NHS England GP lead’ article here (17:21)
Risks of creating distances between organisations .. (18:48)
Practices merging to become PCN size.. (21:25)
Should practices merge in stages or all at once? (22:27)
Robert’s final thoughts.. (24:23)
Robert’s contact details.. (26:19)
Contact Robert via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week’s podcast episode, Ben is accompanied by Su Suehr, Amanda Spooner, and Linzi Fisher. The main focus of their discussion revolves around the recent implementation of the new integrated team lead role. Throughout the podcast they discuss the advantages brought about by this role, and share what the integrated model looks like to Su and Amanda. Additionally, they recount the hurdles they managed to overcome in order to establish this role. Linzi takes the time to discuss her personal journey within the role detailing the obstacles she has encountered but also highlighting how this experience has widened her horizons, and made her feel like a significant contributor. Linzi emphasises her substantial growth and her privileged position to share her insights with the staff, who have exhibited great enthusiasm for the upcoming prospects. The trio outlines their forthcoming objectives, focusing on discovering more avenues for supportive integrated collaboration and further integration. Finally, they share advice for those considering a similar path, drawing from their own transformative journey.
Introduction & how the idea come about.. (0:09)
How did you get talking? (1:45)
Any worry around losing control of staff.. (3:06)
What benefits did the trust gain? (3:51)
What does an integrated model look like to you? (4:31)
What challenges have you overcome? (Su) (5:44)
How does the governance work? (6:28)
What challenges have you overcome? (Amanda).. (7:08)
Resistance to the role.. (8:15)
Linzi’s role.. (10:44)
What’s the experience been like so far? (11:39)
Broadening opportunities.. (12:49)
Working both ways.. (14:53)
Stand out ideas.. (16:09)
Biggest challenges.. (17:16)
How is the role working 4 months in? (18:39)
GP’s reactions.. (19:54)
Is this the beginning of integrated neighbourhood teams? (20:26)
Advice for others.. (21:50)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
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Today, Ben is joined by Rasha Gadelrab, a GP & Medical Educator & Healthcare Engagement Specialist. Rasha kicks off the podcast by sharing her professional journey and how she arrived at her current position. Rasha possesses extensive experience, ranging from working as a biotechnology recruitment consultant to becoming a GP educator, healthcare corporate trainer, workforce […]
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Today, Ben is accompanied by Ben Allen, Partner at a Sheffield GP and Clinical Director for primary care in Sheffield, supporting primary care to thrive. During the podcast, they delve into the document that Ben has worked on, titled ‘Another General Practice is possible’, a document that has served as a catalyst for initiating change […]
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This week, Ben offers a solo episode where he discusses the future for PCNs and shares his insights on what to expect from March 2024 onwards. During the podcast, he covers various topics, including the NHS long term plan, the 5 year GP contract and the Fuller stocktake report. Ben also addresses the growing unpopularity […]
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This week’s episode features discussions led by our Practice Index sponsored panel members Jo Wadey, Robyn Clark, and Nicola Davies. This episode focuses on the ‘NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’. They delve into the positive aspects associated with the long-term plan while also addressing the concerns they have since its publication. The panel members discuss […]
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On this week’s Ockham podcast Ben welcomes Kay Keane, Anthony Verrall and Shaun Jackson from Urban Village Medical Practice. Together they delve into the beginnings of Urban Village and discuss how the practice has progressed. Originally Urban Village focused on facilitating registration for homeless individuals in Manchester but has since expanded its scope to provide […]
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We return this week with another instalment from our Practice Index sponsored Practice Manager panel members Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies, who feature alongside fellow podcast favourite Dr Hussain Gandhi, Clinical Director for Nottingham City East PCN and eGPlearning guru. Ben was keen to gauge the group's reaction to the recent changes in contractual requirements to ensure same-day contact with patients and how this can possibly be met in an environment where many practices are struggling with recruitment of receptionists, management of training in care navigation, staff wellbeing and the ongoing mismatch in patient expectations and media perception.
Introduction (0.34)
Gandhi's initial thoughts (0.50)
Embedding the total triage model (1.11)
The importance of patient education (1.55)
Where do we stand re. patient engagement? (2.27)
A lack of support centrally - and from the media at large (3.19)
Knock-on effect (3.39)
Direction from ICBs and local systems (4.48)
Why total triage won't work in every practice (6.08)
Having permission to develop a system which works for individual patient populations (6.49)
Is this contractual change more impactful than the capacity and access plans we have to submit? How is Gandhi managing this in his area, within his capacity as Clinical Director? (7.19)
Empowerment of reception teams and enablement of the care navigation role (9.11)
Concern re. public perception of reception staff (10.50)
What's being offered in terms of upskilling reception teams? (11.52)
Challenges of recruitment (13.05)
Moving the care navigation initiative forward (13.43)
Support from secondary care colleagues (15.07)
Referrals back to primary care (16.09)
Dissecting the BMA response (17.05)
Protection of primary care staff wellbeing and working within safe limits (18.50)
A mismatch in expectations (20.00)
Positive advice for practices from Robyn (20.49)
Strength in numbers (22.37)
Continuous engagement with ICBs (23.21)
Working as a network (24.44)
For more information about NHS England's Looking after you too scheme, click here
Check out eGPlearning for tons of resources to help practices and networks to navigate the new contractual obligations
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben is joined by both Geraldine Hoban, managing director & Philip Wallek, clinical director, who are colleagues at Foundry Healthcare surgery in Lewes. Foundry Healthcare Lewes is a NHS Primary Care Network, the ‘new normal’ for Lewes surgeries who have come together to improve GP and other healthcare services in Lewes and surrounding areas. They […]
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This week Ben is joined by David McKenzie, GP Rudgwick Medical Centre based in North West Sussex. David has been spending his time developing an automation system, ABC insights, that he believes will be helpful to GPs and patients moving forward. David explains how ABC works, the barriers he has faced so far with the […]
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In today’s episode we are delighted to bring together Tara Humphrey, Dr Naj Seedat, Robert McCartney & podcast host Ben Gowland, who collectively run the ‘New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme’. They discuss the growing influence of PCNs on GP practices, and what this means for GP partners. The group reflect on what partnerships in general practice look like at the moment, how new partners can find their feet when arriving at a new practice and how to avoid tensions within partnerships. The 4 course presenters explain how all this is covered in the New to General Practice Partnership programme,, as well as sharing more details about the course, how it works and the value it provides for participants.
Introduction (0:09)
What does general practices partnership look like at the moment? (0:34)
What key messages would you be giving to new GP partners? (2:41)
What conversations are you having and how are PCN’s impacting practices? (4:00)
How do new GP partners find their place in a new partnership? (5:34)
Ben’s top tips for new GPs partners? (6:50)
How do GP partners avoid the financial tensions? (8:33)
The ‘New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme’ & how their partnership works (13:25)
Feedback from a previous session.. (15:05)
Ben’s recent blog post.. (16:25)
More on the programme.. (17:28)
Managing staff.. (18:03)
Final words.. (20:28)
How to find out more about the ‘New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme’ (21:32)
Access the ‘New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme’ here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The post Podcast – Tara, Naj, Robert & Ben – GP partnerships and PCNs appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
Today Ben is joined by Trish Hawitt Palmer, Practice Manager at Acorns Surgery in Huntington and Lisa Drake, director of quality services and improvement at Redmore Health. They discuss ‘the digital journey planner’. This is a place for general practice staff to complete a self-assessment that is intended to help practices understand all of the elements required to deliver high quality, safe online services in the most effective way. The planner includes a number of modules, each describing the benefits of working this way and starts with a checklist of questions as an assessment. Lisa shares how she started using the digital journey planner and what her experience with it has been so far. They talk; examples, costs, their advice and how to find the digital journey planner.
Introduction (0:09)
The digital journey planner.. (1:02)
Is it nationally available? (3:24)
Does it link to the new GP access recovery plan? (4:22)
Hand holding examples.. (6:00)
How does the Digital Journey Planner work? (7:14)
How Trish started using the Digital Journey Planner.. (8:16)
Trish’s experience so far.. (9:03)
Implementing the Digital Journey Planner (10:15)
Experience with online consultations & cloud telephony.. (12:06)
Does the Digital Journey Planner work at a PCN level? (14:22)
Digital & transformation leads.. (16:19)
Outputs of the Digital Journey Planner (17:49)
Words of advice.. (18:20)
How to access the Digital Journey Planner... (20:46)
Free tools.. (22:42)
How to find the Digital Journey Planner & contact Lisa.. (23:18)
How the Digital Journey Planner can help the Digital & Transformation Lead
To create an account for the digital journey planner, email hello@redmoorhealth.co.uk or lisa@redmoorhealth.co.uk. Just mention Ockham in the subject of the email.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes back podcast favourite, Sheinaz Stansfield for the first time in a while. Sheinaz is a partner at Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group, director of transformation for Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN and she continues to work with the GP transformation team at NHS England. Sheinaz shares her experience regarding ‘Better health at work’ and how the involvement has improved mental health and wellbeing within her own workforce. The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the practice.
Introduction (0:09)
Thoughts on the The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).. (0:46)
Core challenges behind looking after our staff.. (1:26)
Where did Sheinaz start in terms of improving mental health for staff? (2:24)
Challenges within the workforce.. (3:46)
Better Health at work (5:53)
What's involved in Better Health at work? (6:33)
Action plan.. (7:26)
HR processes.. (8:14)
Examples of changes within Sheinaz’s practice.. (10:22)
Importance of listening to staff.. (11:04)
Covid impact within the practice.. (12:37)
Continuing with new changes? (13:32)
Feedback from staff.. (15:14)
Impact on the practice? (16:13)
Costings.. (17:06)
Thoughts on Health & Wellbeing coaches? (18:02)
Sheinaz shares her advice.. (19:16)
How to get in touch & where to find further information (22:06)
Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles and the model for improvement
For further questions for Sheinaz please contact Ben Gowland here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, Ben is joined by Najib Seedat & Andy Pow. They met at the end of April 2023 to discuss the new 2023/2024 contract that has been imposed on general practice for the 5th and final year of the 5 year deal. They share their thoughts on PCNs & General Practice working together, how it works in terms of funding and how PCNs and general practices can get the balance right. They deliberate the reintroduced requirements for GP’s to declare their earnings above a threshold, how this could affect General Practices and what this requirement is trying to achieve. Andy kindly finishes the episode by sharing some advice for practices to help mitigate some cost pressures.
Introduction (0:09)
Thoughts on the imposed terms… (0:40)
Impact on practices? (2:53)
Investment through PCNs.. (5:40)
Introduced access changes.. (8:48)
Insights into the General Practice access recovery plan.. (10:40)
Redirection of care.. (12:31)
Requirements for GP’s to declare earnings.. (13:45)
Potential consequences of not declaring earnings.. (18:27)
Calculations of earnings.. (20:15)
Reaction to this year's contract.. (21:56)
Tips to help mitigate cost pressures (26:22)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this month’s Practice Index sponsored panel episode, Ben is reunited with Nicola Davies and Robyn Clark. Ben, Nicola, and Robyn discuss the new contractual requirements and how they will impact practices moving forward. Nicola and Robyn look at the year ahead and what their priorities will be during this tough time. They touch on some difficult subjects such as underfunding, pay and taking care of the staff's wellbeing within the practices. Robyn finishes the podcast on a positive note by sharing some ideas for the future and having patients help to save general practices.
Introduction (0:09)
How is life in General Practice at the moment? (0:50)
Robyn & Nicola share their views on the new contract.. (1:43)
Funding... (2:52)
Patients' expectations... (4:52)
Disconnect between the messages to the public & practices.. (6:14)
The year ahead.. (8:15)
Introduction of cloud based telephony.. (9:34)
Inflation compared to pay rises.. (12:01)
Collective action or practice by practice basis? (14:08)
Publishing salaries above £159k.. (14:56)
Thoughts on the Hewitt review.. (18:53)
Thoughts on the future.. (20:23)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode Ben is joined by GPs Caroline Baker & Lavan Baskaran, both looking to find ways to improve their GPs lifestyle through triage. Rapid Health uses intelligent software to assess patient needs at first contact, to then navigate them to the right care – all based on the individual practices rules and availability. Ben discusses Rapid Health with both Caroline & Lavan, who are at different stages of introducing Rapid Health into their practices. They share their personal experience with Rapid Health, how patients and staff have reacted to it since it’s been introduced and how it’s working in their practices so far.
Introduction (0:09)
Experiences with Rapid Health so far? (0:54)
Personalising Rapid Health (5:16)
Navigating and prioritising patients.. (6:32)
How to organise routes for patients in your practices? (10:41)
Patients' reaction to Rapid Health? (12:18)
Staffs’ reaction to Rapid Health? (13:48)
How did you initially introduce Rapid Health? (Lavan) (15:03)
Shift in percentage of urgent appointments? (18:38)
PCN access plan.. (22:27)
Is previous experience making people nervous for Rapid Health? (25:25)
Were there initial hurdles? (26:53)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Today, Ben is joined by both Conor Burke and Simon Abrams from Urgent Health UK. UHUK is a long-standing membership organisation, committed to providing the highest quality of care for patients. UHUK’s members provide out-of-hours and clinical assessment services whilst sharing expertise and knowledge amongst the members, as well as benchmarking their quality against each other. Ben, Conor & Simon discuss the recent changes, how they have affected their members and the potential tension it could cause between members and General Practices. Conor and Simon kindly share their advice for PCNs and Practices who want to create partnerships in the future.
Introduction (0:09)
UHUKs organisations (0:52)
Organisations involvement (2:21)
Simon's role (3:29)
Have the changes impacted UHUKs members? (4:47)
Potential tension between UHUK members and General Practices (5:45)
Thoughts around same day access.. (9:00)
Advice for PCNs & General Practices who want to create partnerships? (15:10)
Could future changes help partnerships grow? (16:59)
What makes partnerships difficult? (20:24)
Visit the UHUK website here.
Conor and Simon can be contacted using the following email address’ conor.burke6@nhs.net & simon.abrams@nhs.net.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week Ben is joined by Dr Ollie Hart. Ollie has been a GP for over 20 years and is a clinical director of Heeley Plus PCN. Alongside this, Ollie is a director of a health coaching training company called Peak Health Coaching. Peak Health Coaching deliver PCI accredited health coach training and have trained hundreds of health coaches across the UK. During the podcast Ben and Ollie discuss how health coaching could help practices and PCNs improve health outcomes. In addition Ollie talks about his interest in pain management and speaks more about how he got into the health coaching world. Ollie shares information about the upcoming national conference he is holding on May 16th, what attendees can expect and how you can purchase tickets to the conference.
Introduction (0:09)
How Ollie first got into Health Coaching.. (0:58)
Applying Health Coaching into the GP role.. (1:55)
What works well? (2:50)
Ollie’s examples.. (4:01)
Is this approach practical in General Practice? (5:08)
Impacts ARR’s have made.. (6:17)
Ollie's tips for GPs with health coaches in place (7:11)
Are health coaches getting the right patients? (8:22)
What patients would benefit from health coaching? (9:15)
Is weight loss a good focus for health coaches? (10:17)
Thoughts on GP’s current model.. (11:14)
Ollie’s approach to health coaching in his PCN.. (13:01)
Resistance to health coaching.. (14:44)
Peak health coaching.. (16:36)
Who have you trained so far? (17:47)
Peak Health Coaching’s first national conference.. (18:39)
Further information about the conference.. (19:29)
Ben & Ollie discuss their views on health coaching.. (20:17)
For more information on the conference, visit their website here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this month’s Practice Index sponsored panel episode Ben is joined by panel regular Robyn Clark, and HR expert Susi O’Brien. They discuss what life is like in practices now following the GP contract update and reflect on the potential future pressures for practices. They consider the funding that is going to be provided, what the time ahead could look like for GP practices and what changes may need to be made. Susi explains how to decide the best options for the practices and how to manage changes through open engagement with employees. Robyn and Susi share their concerns around the new contract and how practices will cope with the new requirements alongside limited funding.
Introduction (0:09)
Life in practices following the GP contract letters (0:51)
Funding for practices.. (1:38)
Effects of the funding (3:49)
What changes are practices considering? (4:51)
How to go about introducing the changes? (6:00)
Openness within the GP practices (9:00)
How to start thinking about your options? (10:45)
Changing employee terms & conditions.. (12:25)
Making redundancies fair.. (14:59)
Lessons learnt from previous experience? (16:36)
Legal perspective around GP’s striking? (18:00)
What action is needed? (19:07)
Last words of advice.. (20:52)
To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, Ben is joined by guest, Dr Richard Wood, co-CEO of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire LMC. Richard discusses his day-to-day role, directing the teams which execute the LMC’s agenda. He shares his thoughts behind the Integrated Care System and what the move means for General Practice and also the thinking behind the GP Leadership groups. Richard took over as co-CEO in 2018, on the podcast he explains what he felt was important at the time, what route he went down and how the groups look today. Finally, Richard shares the lessons he has learnt along the way and any advice he has for others on the same journey.
Introduction (0:09)
Richard Woods day to day role (0:25)
Place based Leadership routes within an Integrated Care System... (0:45)
The thinking behind needing GP Leadership groups (2:09)
LMC or system request? (3:05)
Is there a potential for LMC to grow? (4:21)
What locations are you connected with currently? (5:59)
Tell us about the process you went through… (7:32)
Any surprises from the principles? (9:36)
What route did you go down? (10:10)
How to prevent the smaller groups from being isolated? (11:29)
PCN CD’s… (12:41)
How does funding work? (13:51)
What is involved in the meetings? (16:15)
What does success look like within the groups? (18:02)
How do the groups work together to have an influence? (19:10)
Dr Woods' advice.. (20:10)
Final words.. (21:16)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben is joined once again by NHS pensions expert, Paul Gordon. Paul returns to the podcast to discuss new changes to the NHS pension scheme. Ben and Paul last spoke in December 2022 prior to the consultation taking place. The consultation completed at the end of January this year and as of the 7th March feedback has been shared. Paul communicates the outcome from the consultation and explains the proposed changes in relation to the flexibilities around retirement, tax charges and the impact of the changes on staff.
Introduction (0:09)
Consultation outcome.. (0:39)
Introducing new flexibilities to retirement.. (1:36)
How does this make things easier? (2:54)
Pensions and a full salary income.. (3:32)
Tax implications.. (4:56)
Lifetime allowance.. (8:02)
Total rewards statement.. (10:51)
How to calculate the best outcome for you? (13:11)
Changes to 24 hour retirement.. (16:39)
Risks in single handed practices and small practices.. (19:20)
Effects of inflation.. (22:06)
Widening the access to pension scheme (25:32)
When will the changes be applied? (27:41)
Accessing your Total Rewards Statement
To contact Paul directly: Paul.gordon@atomos.co.uk
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Dr George Gavriel, who is partner at the Swan Practice and Clinical Director of the Swan PCN, & Emma Vye who is Operations Manager at both Swan Practice and Swan PCN are guests on the podcast this week. Their practice is a single practice PCN and they join Ben to discuss their journey of moving into being stand alone. Ben gets an understanding of how the single practice and PCN works in terms of their resources, clinical delivery and management team. They discuss the ‘Gold card’ approach for clients who can be seen on the same day through a ‘same day service’ system. They reflect on how it has benefited them being an independent PCN and why others may or may not look into doing the same.
Introduction (0:09)
Where they’re located.. (0:25)
Single Practice PCN (0:41)
What was the rationale for you to work alone? (1:14)
Resistance from commissioners.. (2.27)
Benefits of being a single Practice & PCN? (3:06)
The shift into being a single Practice, Emma's perspective (4:21)
How does it work? (4:44)
How many sites do you have? (6:07)
Issues of allocating staff.. (7:26)
The fuller report.. (7:57)
Challenges of setting up the same day service? (9:38)
Staffing of the same day service.. (11:54)
Deploying ARS staff into the same day service.. (13:37)
Gold card.. (13:58)
Impact of the PCN & Practice (15:04)
Reflections of being a single Practice PCN.. (16:51)
Value of being independent? (19:24)
Contact details.. (22:05)
Contact George directly on george.gavriel@nhs.net.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, we revisit the podcast published back on 26th June 2017, we return to Helen Parker and her fascinating insights into general practice half way round the world. Helen has, for the past four years, worked in New Zealand for the Pinnacle network of GP practices and this is the second part of an interview that we began in Episode 64. In this part Helen goes into more detail about the structured model of general practice they are introducing in New Zealand; how it is being implemented and what it means for patient and staff satisfaction.
Introduction (0.09)
Re-engineering the inside of general practice – the Healthcare Home model (0.45)
Planning a model of best general practice (2.31)
Getting sign-up to the model (4.05)
Strengthening and preserving general practice (5.56)
Central resources from working at scale (6.55)
The new patient information system and the patient portal (7.29)
The call centre (8.26)
Getting involved in the business of the practices (9.58)
The “lean” programme for ensuring high quality general practice (10.46)
Supporting the implementation of the model into general practice (11.41)
Funding the support (13.17)
Financial incentives/disincentives (13.51)
Ensuring the changes happen – leadership (15.03)
The change team (16.12)
The outcomes of introducing the new model on patients and staff (16.55)
The wider impact (18.12)
The clarity of the process – lessons for the UK (19.36)
Further information can be found here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
We revisit the podcast published back on 29th September 2019, this was the second conversation between Ben and Paul Deffley, Hove GP and clinical director of Practice Unbound; a not-for-profit organisation devoted to “helping general practice work smarter”. In this episode Paul uses the example of a pathology delegation pilot to look at how practices can effectively work together across networks, how they can better manage change and, working at scale, deliver network solutions to collective problems.
Introduction (0.09)
Paul outlines his background and his positive view of PCNs (0.43)
An example of working together – a pilot for pathology delegation (2.50)
Tests not needing a clinical context (4.56)
Understanding the pathology activity – what’s safe to delegate (6.03)
Clinical variation in pathology requests – and reducing requesting patterns (7.15)
Managing the delegated requests – a non-clinical team approach (8.33)
Group consultations? Testing different ways of managing patients (9.12)
Overcoming the concerns about risk (9.43)
Understanding the fears (10.55)
Grouping routine tests (11.13)
Auditing the administrators (12.50)
The impact on GP workload – 90% of routine bloods are handled by the admin team (13.23)
Working smarter (14.00)
Clinical variation down (14.57)
Is this a legitimate use of PCN time and energy? (15.28)
PCNs looking at individual GP practice (16.44)
Establishing and maintaining trust (18.32)
The impact of networks on shared problems (19.43)
Making the most of development funding (20.43)
An end-to-end flow exercise (22.45)
Positive relationships (23.29)
Further information (24.15)
Practice Unbound’s web address can be found here.
And Paul can be emailed directly at Pauldeffley@nhs.net
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week we revisit a previous podcast from 11th November 2019, Rachel Morris has “starred” in two of our most popular podcasts and through her work on GP resilience, she was inspired to set up her own “You Are Not A Frog” podcast. In a recent edition of that podcast, she interviewed our own Ben Gowland to discuss ways in which general practice can effectively introduce change, particularly against a background of resistance.
Introduction (0.09)
Ben explains how his career progressed to setting up Ockham Healthcare (0.44)
How Ockham Healthcare developed its unique offering (1.54)
Working with at-scale general practice – a means to an end (2.39)
The goals for working at scale (3.29)
Making a difference – Time for Care (4.21)
Change is difficult so how do we approach it? (6.53)
Introducing pharmacists – a practical example (7.24)
Resistance to change – a systematic approach (9.07)
The problem is obvious why we need to change? Isn’t it? (11.17)
The system and what you can control (12.15)
Overcoming the emotional response (13.20)
Picking the changes you pursue – small or large (14.26)
Ockham Healthcare’s role in supporting joint working (16.31)
Influencing without hierarchical “power” – a practice’s relationship with the PCN (17.49)
What’s the one big thing a PCN should be doing? (19.35)
Expect resistance – dealing with your “No Nos” (20.54)
Becoming positive about change (22.09)
Contacting Ben (23.20)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
The You Are Not a Frog podcast is available in a number of places including here.
In this week's episode, Ben is joined by three guests, Veena Aggarwal, Aarti Bansal & Alastair Jackson. Together they discuss the Greener Practice Community, healthcare professionals working together to inspire sustainable primary care. Aarti explains the Greener Practice Network and the ‘one-stop hub’ website and how like-minded individuals can join. The podcast also focuses on asthma, particularly in relation to inhalers and the toolkit on offer to help reduce the environmental impacts of inhalers.
Introduction (0.08)
How Aarti Bansal got into sustainability.. (0.28)
How Alastair Jackson got into sustainability.. (1.05)
How Veena Aggarwal got into sustainability.. (1.54)
Greener Practice Network & what’s involved (2.34)
The focus on inhalers in relation to sustainability (5.07)
Asthma toolkit (6.40)
The use of the Asthma toolkit.. (8.03)
Where to find the toolkit (8.53)
The implementation of the toolkit.. (9.29)
Training & protocols for Asthma clinics (11.04)
Obstacles to overcome when implementing the toolkit? (13.32)
What barriers are in the way of the implementation? (15.32)
What do you need to drive the change? (18.33)
Other advice (21.34)
Greener Practice website information (24.42)
To visit the Greener Practice Website, use this link.
To read the ‘Better and Greener Asthma Care’ short blog, please click here.
The link to the PCN Green Page (including respiratory resources, use this link.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes both Neil Macey and Christy Paxman to his podcast this week to discuss Centralised High-Risk Drug Monitoring. Neil has been a guest on the podcast before when he discussed a centralised PCN, and he is back to discuss further innovations. In today's episode, Neil and Christy explain how they came up with the plan of Care Coordinators within the Pharmacy Teams and rolling out Centralised High-Risk Drug Monitoring.
Introduction (0.09)
Recap of Suffolks PCNs (0.30)
Christy Paxman’s role (1.18)
Care Coordinators in Pharmacy teams & Centralised High-Risk Drug Monitoring (1.36)
The plan… (2.46)
The results of your Centralised model (4.10)
Discussions around the centralised model (4.52)
How many Practices were involved? (5.23)
What’s the process? (6.05)
How has the process been adapted over time? (9.06)
Feedback from Practices… (10.15)
Checking and Monitoring (11.58)
Initial discoveries.. (11.54)
Feedback from Practices & Patients.. (14.52)
Managing time… (16.24)
Next steps… (18.18)
What advice do you have for other PCNs? (19.25)
Graph showing the site-by-site progress that has been made since introducing the HRDM service up until 17/11/2
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Jamie Hynes is a GP in Black Country and on this podcast he discusses his brand new, incredible, creation ‘It’s a (GP's) Wonderful Life’. It’s a story of a GP approaching burnout, whose guardian angel visits, (Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard) and presents all the evidence on continuity of care and shows the impact on the town had he got his wish to have never been a GP. All set, as you may have guessed, within the narrative of the well-known film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. In this episode, Ben also asks Jamie to share his thoughts on the difficulties within General Practice and the future of continuity of care. We also get to hear about what’s next for Jamie.
Introduction (0.09)
Jamie’s role.. (0.30)
It’s a (GP's) Wonderful Life... (1.06)
The pressures of working (3.04)
How burnout feels (4.01)
The creation of ‘It’s a (GP's) Wonderful Life’ (4.39)
The importance of the illustrations within the video (6.10)
The star of the show (7.43)
How much time has it taken to create this important story? (8.08)
The difficulties of General Practice (9.06)
The future of continuity of care in General Practice (12.44)
Awaiting Government's response.. (14.59)
Thoughts on the recommendations of the Stocktake review (15.48)
How to watch ‘It’s a (GP’s) Wonderful Life’ (16.51)
What’s next for Jamie Hynes? (17.32)
Final words (20.36)
To watch 'It's a (GP's) Wonderful Life', click here.
To watch any further videos mentioned by Jamie today, see links below;
The National Health
GPKipling
StartTheFire
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode, we are joined by Hussain Gandhi who reflects on his last three and a half years as a Clinical Director. Gandhi and Ben discuss the Primary Care Network infrastructure; what has changed in terms of staffing and the introduction of the additional roles, the impact of these changes and what we might expect to see next. We also quiz Gandhi about the transition to a more hybrid pattern of working; the overall impact of this on teams and what is necessary in terms of tech, and other considerations, for supporting strong communication and maximising our effectiveness.
Introduction - Life as a PCN Clinical Director (1.13)
Re-election process for a Clinical Director (1.39)
Splitting your role as a Clinical Director (2.08)
What areas of the role do you enjoy? (2.54)
Infrastructure of a PCN (3.46)
Enhanced access (5.21)
Technology progress in PCN (6.06)
Does remote working affect your PCN? (8.11)
Any tips for making remote meetings work? (9.54)
New entrants to the IT market for General Practice (11.14)
Reflecting over the past 3 and a half years (12.37)
What’s next for PCN’s? (13.46)
The GP Assistant role (14.47)
How do you introduce new roles into PCN’s? (16.43)
Next steps for the workforce in the PCN (17.57)
Are operational requirements of PCNs manageable? (20.09)
The impact of Integrated Care Systems and what’s expected next? (21.31)
How does the BMA Current Policy & the Fuller Review affect your role? (23.41)
What lessons have you learnt since becoming a Clinical Director? (25.27)
Where to find information on EGP Learning (26.49)
The link to the eGP learning YouTube channel is here and for all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
To find out more information about Livi, their services and how to get in touch, check out their website here.
In this month’s Practice Index sponsored panel episode, Robyn and Ben are joined by Practice Index HR guru Susi O’Brien to reflect upon a rollercoaster last three years in general practice and the resulting impact on staffing levels. Post-Covid demand and ongoing strike action across the healthcare sector (amongst other factors) are leading to a steep increase in rates of employee dissatisfaction and a culture of ‘quiet quitting’. What exactly is ‘quiet quitting’ though? What can lead to people quitting quietly? And most importantly, how can we better address the causes of demotivation, stress and burnout within the workforce, to improve staff satisfaction and retention in our own networks?
Introduction (0.43)
Common findings from the clinics Robyn and Susi hold (1.19)
What is quiet quitting? (1.48)
Quiet quitting in the workplace (3.44)
Is quiet quitting linked to pay and inflation? (5.0)
Has the pressure of the past three years caused staff to burn out? (7.02)
Addressing quiet quitting (8.11)
Impact of remote working (10.28)
Managers supporting each other (12.28)
Impact of strikes - Robyn (14.56)
Impact of strikes - Susi (16.35)
How to be proactive regarding quiet quitting (18.04)
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here (add email links)
This week, we are proud to introduce none other than Sir David Haslam, former Chair & President of the Royal College of GPs, former President of the British Medical Association, and former NICE Chair, amongst his countless other guises. Within this ‘must-listen’ episode, David talks to Ben about some of the key areas of focus within his fascinating new book; ‘Side Effects….’ and to offer his views on more the more problematic areas of general practice, as well as where we can and should be more progressive, from his perspective as a former GP, and as things stand currently.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting David (1 min 8 secs)
What prompted David to write his book? (1 min 31 secs)
Identifying what we are trying to achieve (3 mins 2 secs)
Choosing what and where to prioritise (4 mins 49 secs)
Applying rationality to what we can (and can’t) provide support for at system level (6 mins 55 secs)
Managing public expectation (8 mins 26 secs)
The impact focusing on individuals has on maintaining effective delivery (10 mins 53 secs)
Investment in preventative care and what that looks like (11 mins 59 secs)
‘Sexing up’ general practice? (13 mins 55 secs)
The risks to continuity of care (16 mins 6 secs)
ICS implications where the loss of financial ownership is concerned (17 mins 41 secs)
The role of communities in the creation of a more sustainable future (18 mins 53 secs)
How we deliver services within a community-based model (20 mins 12 secs)
David’s take on the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (21 mins 34 secs)
Where does David see effective and positive changes happening going forwards? (23 mins 13 secs)
Getting your hands on a copy of the book…. (24 mins 30 secs)
‘Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost its Way and How We Fix it’ by David Haslam is available in all the usual places but here’s a link to the outlet David mentioned within the episode.
You can learn more about David and his work via his dedicated website here.
Most of us are aware of the impact of having pharmacy expertise within our practice and network teams but in many areas, the continuing issue of sourcing (and retaining) pharmacists is proving to be a very challenge. In this week’s episode, we meet Holly Laurence and Ruhina Kassam from Clinical Pharmacist Solutions (CPS), an award-winning training, recruitment and clinical services provider that specialise in providing much-needed, skilled pharmacy resources to practices and primary care networks. Holly and Ruhina talk to Ben about the problem of sourcing staff, why it can be so difficult to hold on to good pharmacists, what we can be doing to incentivise potential new pharmacy staff (and hold onto them), and what CPS can offer by way of support.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting Holly, Head of Primary Care Support (26 secs)
…and Service Manager Ruhina (1 min 10 secs)
Is recruitment of Clinical Pharmacists a widespread problem, generally? And if so, why? (1 min 29 secs)
Working out what you want from your pharmacist (3 mins 29 secs)
Setting up dedicated support networks (4 mins 51 secs)
Expectations of salary (5 mins 30 secs)
Handling pay scales (6 mins 41 secs)
Meeting pharmacist expectations (7 mins 20 secs)
Maintaining retention (8 mins 2 secs)
Working within a multi practice network? (8 mins 39 secs)
Holly’s role and how she can ease the burden of recruitment on primary care staff (9 mins 36 secs)
Access and availability of pharmacists (11 mins 11 secs)
The CPS training programme (12 mins 8 secs)
Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) assessment (14 mins 38 secs)
What else do CPS offer by way of support to practices (15 mins 10 secs)
Slotting in alongside the national pharmacy training programme (16 mins 9 secs)
Pricing schedules (16 mins 45 secs)
Getting in touch (17 mins 41 secs)
If you’d like further information please check out the CPS website or their LinkedIn page here.
Rightly or wrongly, we often find ourselves neglecting basic policy and procedural elements of the job, when patient demand, clinical priorities and a never-ending stream of new directives are cascaded down from on high. So, with this in mind, we invited regulatory solicitor and lecturer David Sinclair to feature on today’s podcast, to bring governance and cyber security more sharply into focus. With the threat of cyber-attacks on the rise, coupled with a quickly evolving policy landscape when it comes to GDPR, data protection and information security, we discuss what practices should be doing now to ready themselves, who should take responsibility for this critical area of work, and what to expect going forwards.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting David (1 min 5 secs)
Current prevalence of cyber attacks on GP practices (1 min 22 secs)
What do practices need to be doing right now to protect themselves against the risk of cyber security breaches? (2 mins 26 secs)
Management of governance and data protection protocols (3 mins 1 sec)
The importance of employing the services of those with the required, specialist knowledge (4 mins 21 secs)
Establishment of a named Data Protection Officer (DPO) (5 mins 24 secs)
Who is accountable if / when something goes wrong? (7 mins)
Proactive proof of compliance (8 mins 15 secs)
How do we best demonstrate GDPR compliance? (9 mins 35 secs)
Commonly made mistakes and issues (11 mins 26 secs)
Responding to data subject access requests (13 mins 29 secs)
Who should we consult when seeking advice specifically related to data subject access requests? (14 mins 45 secs)
Strategies for managing subject access requests (15 mins 21 secs)
Other commonly faced issues and things to be aware of going forwards (16 mins 59 secs)
What the future might look like when it comes to governance and security (18 mins 12 secs)
Summarising today’s discussions (19 mins 6 secs)
A final word from David (19 mins 56 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 41 secs)
If you’d like further information, and / or to connect with David directly, please check out the DR Solicitors website.
As part of a series of sponsored podcasts, we meet Livi’s Lead GP Dr Bryony Henderson to discuss the dynamics of virtual consultations and life as a Livi GP. Bryony talks us through her own experiences; her background as a GP Partner and subsequent transition to virtual working, why she feels the flexibility it affords has made such a profound difference to managing her own workload and meeting patient needs, how her schedule of work runs in practice and the support networks which are available within Livi’s network, and why the numbers of healthcare staff opting to join the Livi revolution is increasing.
Introduction (9 secs)
Livi GPs in numbers (1 min 11 secs)
An offer of flexible working (1 min 39 secs)
Is there a typical route in for Livi GPs? (2 mins 20 secs)
How does a shift with Livi run in practice? (3 mins 6 secs)
How are patients referred and what’s the appointment process? (3 mins 56 secs)
Sacrificing continuity of care? (5 mins 35 secs)
Looking after the wellbeing of a virtual GP cohort (6 mins 55 secs)
What are the most important factors when it comes to maintaining wellbeing? (8 mins 27 secs)
Measuring job satisfaction (9 mins 8 secs)
Contracted appointment schedules (9 mins 44 secs)
Patient reaction (10 mins 26 secs)
Managing onwards referrals, where face to face consultation is required (11 mins 21 secs)
How do we change current public perception where demand for face-to-face appointments is concerned? (12 mins)
What’s next for Livi? (13 mins 56 secs)
Is there an impact on GP numbers across the board? (14 mins 27 secs)
Working patterns as a virtual GP (15mins 8 secs)
Where can I get more information? (15 mins 51 secs)
Opportunities for other staffing groups (6 mins 24 secs)
To find out more information about Livi, their services and how to get in touch, check out their website here.
In this month’s Practice Index sponsored Practice Manager panel, Nicola, Robyn, and Ben turn their attentions to planning for, funding, and staffing the winter months ahead. With the recent NHS England announcement of a Primary Care funding package, the group discuss the parameters of this, how the funding model has been set out and how we might utilise the allocated monies to best effect, and also discuss the wider ramifications such as the influence of the media, policy makers and public perception on managing and meeting demand during a time when pressure is at its highest and staffing levels remain at the lowest they have ever been.
Introduction (9 secs)
Will NHS England’s package of support be of benefit this year? Nicola’s view (35 secs)
Robyn’s initial thoughts (1 min 44 secs)
Flexibility of funding? (2 mins 14 secs)
System development funding and framework – the application process from a Practice Manager perspective (3 mins 16 secs)
Establishment of two-way communication (5 mins 59 secs)
Urgent care demand and the impact on general practice workload (7 mins 36 secs)
A change in central communications (8 mins 52 secs)
Issues of consistency when it comes to messaging (11 mins 32 secs)
Impact on staffing and recruitment (12 mins 47 secs)
‘Sexing up’ Primary Care (14 mins 37 secs)
What can practices do to make the most of the winter funding pot? (16 mins 3 secs)
Applying flexibility in funding local needs (17 mins 38 secs)
A creative and community-based approach (18 mins 34 secs)
“Seeking forgiveness, rather than permission” (19 mins 24 secs)
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
In the latest of our podcast episodes sponsored by Livi, we meet GPs Nicole Atkinson and Nicola Decker, who have similarly considerable experience of working in leadership roles, both within the outgoing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), and now within the newer Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), and critically, in supporting and managing the transition within their own local areas. They offer Ben their thoughts on where the main challenges may lie, the lessons they have learned whilst on their own, respective journeys, where we should be focusing our energies and priorities right now, and why they feel general practice (and primary care as a whole) has what it takes to succeed in a wider and a possibly less level playing field.
Intro (9 secs)
Meeting Nicola Decker (1 min 4 secs)
Nicole’s remit and experience (2 mins 5 secs)
…and her take on what ICSs are and how she feels they differ from CCGs (2 mins 45 secs)
Nicola’s views on the newer models of care (4 mins 12 secs)
Organisation of resources, having influence and establishment of a voice within a larger system (5 mins 25 secs)
How do we enable general practice to be an effective partner? (7 mins 40 secs)
The Primary Care Collaborative….at place or system level? (9 mins 53 secs)
Consideration of the task, the ask and the purpose (10 mins 48 secs)
How does Primary Care take ownership and hold their influence across the system? (11 mins 20 secs)
Managing the transition and ensuring that we can be as proactive as possible (13 mins 49 secs)
Has there ever been a better time for general practice to collaborate effectively? (15 mins 7 secs)
Is this a time limited opportunity? (17 mins 27 secs)
Are we united by a shared challenge? (18 mins 10 secs)
Working out where to start (19 mins 45 secs)
A change of mindset and working across boundaries (20 mins 35 secs)
A final word from Nicola (22 mins 46 secs)
To find out more information about Livi, their services and how to get in touch, check out their website here.
As chair of the Fuller Report workstream focused on data, population health management, demand/capacity, risk stratification and health inequalities, GP Partner and Clinical Chair of the Greater Peterborough Network, Dr Neil Modha is well placed to offer further insight into the objectives and outcomes of the report, and what it really means for the general practice of the future. Fortunately, Ben has managed to grab 23 minutes of Neil’s time to discuss some of the key takeaways such as; when and how do we embed some of the report’s recommendations, how do we adapt these to ensure we are able to meet local needs, how do these fit within the new backdrop of integrated care, and what are the expectations of primary care now, and in the future?
Introduction (9 secs)
Neil’s take on the final version of the Fuller Report (30 secs)
How mindful of the report are we in general practice right now? (1 min 24 secs)
A muted reaction? (2 mins 23 secs)
What are the key implications of the report? (3 mins 39 secs)
Access and urgent care (4 mins 28 secs)
Where does responsibility sit for meeting and managing the urgent care demand? (6 mins 30 secs)
Are we moving towards a ‘hub’ style of working practice? (8 mins 19 secs)
Why we should be proactive in shaping the future, and in embedding the recommendations within the report (10 mins)
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams; the end of the road for PCNs? (10 mins 52 secs)
Where does general practice sit in terms of a leadership perspective (13 mins 42 secs)
Funding new models of care (15 mins 21 secs)
Thoughts on maintaining influence within a wider context (17 mins 50 secs)
Neil’s advice for networks and practices on ensuring preparedness (19 mins 45 secs)
In the latest of our Livi-sponsored podcast episodes, Ben speaks to Dr Harriet Bradley, GP, and Medical Director at Livi, and Dan Kane, GP Federation Chief Executive Officer at Northampton General Practice Alliance, about the widespread shortage of GPs across the country, and how Livi are working with local systems to support them in meeting patient demand and increasing capacity. Harriet talks to us about the Livi ethos, their work and how they operate as a service and also, from the perspective of local practices and networks, Dan is able to offer valuable insight into the impact that employment of Livi’s services has made on them in not only increasing the availability of doctors but as to how the service has been received by primary care staff and the benefits felt by the patients they serve.
Introductions (1 min 4 secs)
Meeting Livi’s Harriet Bradley (1 min 20 secs)
Meeting Dan Kane, Northampton General Practice Alliance’s CEO (1 min 49 secs)
The relationship between Livi and GPA (2 mins 15 secs)
How does the service work in practice and how are the Livi GPs embedded within existing local systems? (3 mins 24 secs)
Tailored support models for each individual area (4 mins 22 secs)
The response from practices (5 mins 34 secs)
Support at federation level (7 mins 26 secs)
Building trust and effective communication channels (8 mins 30 secs)
Dan fills us in on the GPA journey with Livi and why they decided to use their services (9 mins 36 secs)
How do local GPs feel about Livi? (10 mins 40 secs)
Getting buy-in from the get-go (11 mins 50 secs)
Integration with EMIS and SystmOne (12 mins 57 secs)
Building up the reserves of doctor capacity from Livi’s perspective (14 mins 21 secs)
IT access and requirements (15 mins 26 secs)
Funding and payment to Livi (15 mins 58 secs)
Who typically commissions Livi’s services? (16 mins 55 secs)
What’s next for Dan and GPA? (17 mins 37 secs)
What are Livi’s aims and aspirations, going forwards? (19 mins 5 secs)
Advice from Dan on key considerations and what works (20 mins 1 sec)
Getting in touch with Livi and finding out more (21 mins 39 secs)
To find out more information about Livi, their services and how to get in touch, check out their website here.
In the latest of our Livi-sponsored podcast episodes, Ben speaks to Dr Harriet Bradley, GP, and Medical Director at Livi, and Dan Kane, GP Federation Chief Executive Officer at Northampton General Practice Alliance, about the widespread shortage of GPs across the country, and how Livi are working with local systems to support them in meeting patient demand and increasing capacity. Harriet talks to us about the Livi ethos, their work and how they operate as a service and also, from the perspective of local practices and networks, Dan is able to offer valuable insight into the impact that employment of Livi’s services has made on them in not only increasing the availability of doctors but as to how the service has been received by primary care staff and the benefits felt by the patients they serve.
Introductions (1 min 4 secs)
Meeting Livi’s Harriet Bradley (1 min 20 secs)
Meeting Dan Kane, Northampton General Practice Alliance’s CEO (1 min 49 secs)
The relationship between Livi and GPA (2 mins 15 secs)
How does the service work in practice and how are the Livi GPs embedded within existing local systems? (3 mins 24 secs)
Tailored support models for each individual area (4 mins 22 secs)
The response from practices (5 mins 34 secs)
Support at federation level (7 mins 26 secs)
Building trust and effective communication channels (8 mins 30 secs)
Dan fills us in on the GPA journey with Livi and why they decided to use their services (9 mins 36 secs)
How do local GPs feel about Livi? (10 mins 40 secs)
Getting buy-in from the get-go (11 mins 50 secs)
Integration with EMIS and SystmOne (12 mins 57 secs)
Building up the reserves of doctor capacity from Livi’s perspective (14 mins 21 secs)
IT access and requirements (15 mins 26 secs)
Funding and payment to Livi (15 mins 58 secs)
Who typically commissions Livi’s services? (16 mins 55 secs)
What’s next for Dan and GPA? (17 mins 37 secs)
What are Livi’s aims and aspirations, going forwards? (19 mins 5 secs)
Advice from Dan on key considerations and what works (20 mins 1 sec)
Getting in touch with Livi and finding out more (21 mins 39 secs)
To find out more information about Livi, their services and how to get in touch, check out their website here.
With the nights now beginning to draw in, the reality of the cost-of-living crisis is looming large over general practice. With charges for heating, lighting, and overall maintenance of our premises going up, coupled with the impact of inflation on pay, the promised staff pay rises and the difficulty of balancing the books ever more challenging, and with all the usual winter pressures now around the corner…something has got to give. Our ever-popular Practice Index panel members, and Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) directors, Robyn, and Nicola, return to discuss their own concerns, the approaches they are taking in their own practice areas, and share their thoughts about the key considerations for primary care, as a whole.
Introduction (9 secs)
What has Nicola been up to since our last conversation? (22 secs)
And what’s keeping Robyn busy right now? (43 secs)
What are the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis at practice level? (59 secs)
Balancing staff pay rises (2 mins 35 secs)
Maintenance of buildings and services and rising utilities costs (4 mins 37 secs)
Travelling, home visits, and fuel charges (5 mins 25 secs)
Staff turnover (6 mins 39 secs)
Patient health and wellbeing and the potential for a further increase in demand (8 mins 3 secs)
Implications for GP Partners (9 mins 47 secs)
Sustainability of the practice as a business (11 mins 43 secs)
Is there any support available? (13 mins 4 secs)
Action from the Institute of General Practice Management (14 mins 2 secs)
Making the primary care voice heard (15 mins 14 secs)
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
With the nights now beginning to draw in, the reality of the cost-of-living crisis is looming large over general practice. With charges for heating, lighting, and overall maintenance of our premises going up, coupled with the impact of inflation on pay, the promised staff pay rises and the difficulty of balancing the books ever more challenging, and with all the usual winter pressures now around the corner…something has got to give. Our ever-popular Practice Index panel members, and Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) directors, Robyn, and Nicola, return to discuss their own concerns, the approaches they are taking in their own practice areas, and share their thoughts about the key considerations for primary care, as a whole.
Introduction (9 secs)
What has Nicola been up to since our last conversation? (22 secs)
And what’s keeping Robyn busy right now? (43 secs)
What are the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis at practice level? (59 secs)
Balancing staff pay rises (2 mins 35 secs)
Maintenance of buildings and services and rising utilities costs (4 mins 37 secs)
Travelling, home visits, and fuel charges (5 mins 25 secs)
Staff turnover (6 mins 39 secs)
Patient health and wellbeing and the potential for a further increase in demand (8 mins 3 secs)
Implications for GP Partners (9 mins 47 secs)
Sustainability of the practice as a business (11 mins 43 secs)
Is there any support available? (13 mins 4 secs)
Action from the Institute of General Practice Management (14 mins 2 secs)
Making the primary care voice heard (15 mins 14 secs)
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
Integrated Care Systems are here and with them, the advent of new ways of working and yet more healthcare terminology! Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) may be an original concept to many of us in general practice but in Suffolk and North East Essex, they have been in existence for a little bit longer. In this week’s podcast episode, sponsored by Livi, we are privileged to be joined by Maddie Baker-Woods, Director of Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance at Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, and Paul Little, Director for Integrated Health and Care at Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, who explain how their own, established network of INTs work, how the teams interact with PCNs and primary care more widely, the challenges, and rewards, they have encountered on their own journey – and why localised care is key to meeting the needs of individual population areas, rather than a more widespread approach.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting Maddie and Paul (1 min 6 secs)
Maddie’s role (1 min 16 secs)
All about Paul (2 mins 9 secs)
Building Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (3 mins)
Organising services and a locality-based model (4 mins 33 secs)
Balancing relationships between integrated neighbourhoods and primary care networks (6 mins 53 secs)
Overcoming barriers (7 mins 24 secs)
Working with constraints and challenges (8 mins 30 secs)
How does general practice feed into the integrated neighbourhood teams? (9 mins 8 secs)
Accountability (10 mins 48 secs)
A place-based versus organisational (top down) approach (12 mins 55 secs)
The influence of local demographic (14 mins 28 secs)
Positive outcomes (15 mins 42 secs)
Helping people to be as independently functioning as possible (17 mins 44 secs)
Advice from Paul for others embarking on the same journey (18 mins 51 secs)
Maddie’s top tips (20 mins 45 secs)
Estates and co-location (21 mins 6 secs)
Where general practice should be prioritising their efforts (21 mins 30 secs)
Finding out more (24 mins 14 secs)
To learn more about the work of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, check out their website here.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Livi, the first digital healthcare provider to be rated Outstanding by the CQC. Further information about Livi and what’s on offer can be found here.
Integrated Care Systems are here and with them, the advent of new ways of working and yet more healthcare terminology! Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) may be an original concept to many of us in general practice but in Suffolk and North East Essex, they have been in existence for a little bit longer. In this week’s podcast episode, sponsored by Livi, we are privileged to be joined by Maddie Baker-Woods, Director of Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance at Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, and Paul Little, Director for Integrated Health and Care at Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, who explain how their own, established network of INTs work, how the teams interact with PCNs and primary care more widely, the challenges, and rewards, they have encountered on their own journey – and why localised care is key to meeting the needs of individual population areas, rather than a more widespread approach.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting Maddie and Paul (1 min 6 secs)
Maddie’s role (1 min 16 secs)
All about Paul (2 mins 9 secs)
Building Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (3 mins)
Organising services and a locality-based model (4 mins 33 secs)
Balancing relationships between integrated neighbourhoods and primary care networks (6 mins 53 secs)
Overcoming barriers (7 mins 24 secs)
Working with constraints and challenges (8 mins 30 secs)
How does general practice feed into the integrated neighbourhood teams? (9 mins 8 secs)
Accountability (10 mins 48 secs)
A place-based versus organisational (top down) approach (12 mins 55 secs)
The influence of local demographic (14 mins 28 secs)
Positive outcomes (15 mins 42 secs)
Helping people to be as independently functioning as possible (17 mins 44 secs)
Advice from Paul for others embarking on the same journey (18 mins 51 secs)
Maddie’s top tips (20 mins 45 secs)
Estates and co-location (21 mins 6 secs)
Where general practice should be prioritising their efforts (21 mins 30 secs)
Finding out more (24 mins 14 secs)
To learn more about the work of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, check out their website here.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Livi, the first digital healthcare provider to be rated Outstanding by the CQC. Further information about Livi and what’s on offer can be found here.
This week heralds the start of the new term and a return to weekly podcasts, and we are incredibly privileged to be joined by Dr Naj Seedat; GP Principal and Partner at a large practice in Ilford, northeast London, LMC Board member, GP appraiser and one of the founding fathers of his local GP federation. In this episode, Naj and Ben discuss the challenges faced by those new to GP partnership; the key considerations for those debating whether or not to make the leap into partnership, the experiences of both old hands and those who are just starting out, partnership in the context of the ever evolving primary care landscape, the rewards of partnership and why the New to General Practice Partnership Programme Naj and Ben are launching can be instrumental in shaping and supporting the journey to partnership, and beyond.
Introduction (9 secs)
A bit about Naj (17 secs)
What’s life in partnership like right now? (38 secs)
Is partnership still an attractive prospect whilst nationalism of general practice is being mooted? (2 mins 24 secs)
Working autonomously (4 mins 23 secs)
Transition to partnership and how the programme can help (6 mins 15 secs)
Navigating the Human Resources minefield (9 mins 3 secs)
Managing finance (10 mins 31 secs)
Monitoring practice performance and local KPIs (13 mins 34 secs)
Understanding how to best manage your business and benchmarking progress (15 mins 51 secs)
The external environment / Integrated Care Systems (16 mins 35 secs)
Signing up to cohort three of the New to Partnership Programme (17 mins 57 secs)
It’s not just for GPs! (18 mins 30 secs)
Access to resources and knowledge (19 mins 25 secs)
The next cohort of the New to General Practice Partnership training programme begins on Tuesday 11 October. To find out more and to grab one of the remaining spaces, please follow this link.
Our Practice Index Practice Manager panel return and this week, Robyn and Nicola are joined by two special guests, Brigadier Robin Simpson, RCGP Veterans Champion and the Professor of Military Primary Healthcare and Veterans Health at the University of Chester, and by Darren Davies, former Royal Military Police Staff Sergeant to highlight the issues faced by military veterans in accessing healthcare and how we in primary care can ensure there is better support for our veterans, post service, who frequently suffer in silence with seemingly invisible and escalating health conditions and concerns. With this in mind, the RCGP have launched their veterans’ healthcare toolkit and the GP practice veteran friendly accreditation, which offer insight and much needed guidance on making healthcare more accessible for those in our society who have sacrificed the most, but whose needs are all too often overlooked.
Introduction (9 secs)
Congratulations to our Nicola! (22 secs)
Meeting our guest panel members (41 secs)
The advent of the veteran friendly practice programme (1 min 12 secs)
What are the differences between recognised veteran friendly practice and those who aren’t yet accredited? (2 mins 50 secs)
Darren’s take on the initiative and the impact on veterans (4 mins 8 secs)
The struggle of those returning from tour and access to healthcare (5 mins 37 secs)
Comparison with the more established support systems in the US (6 mins 38 secs)
Promoting practice sign up within a landscape of competing demands (8 mins 38 secs)
The accreditation process (10 mins 11 secs)
Nicola and Robyn’s experiences of sign up (11 mins 12 secs)
PCN accreditation (13 mins 30 secs)
Meeting the health inequalities agenda (14 mins)
Identification of a clinical lead (15 mins 19 secs)
What would it mean for veterans if every practice became accredited? – Robin’s perspective (15 mins 52 secs)
Darren’s view (18 mins 14 secs)
Finding out more and signing up (19 mins 16 secs)
If you’d like to find out more, or even better, spend 15 minutes signing up for the RCGP veteran friendly GP practice accreditation, we strongly encourage you to follow the link here.
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon or Ben Gowland.
Our Practice Index Practice Manager panel return and this week, Robyn and Nicola are joined by two special guests, Brigadier Robin Simpson, RCGP Veterans Champion and the Professor of Military Primary Healthcare and Veterans Health at the University of Chester, and by Darren Davies, former Royal Military Police Staff Sergeant to highlight the issues faced by military veterans in accessing healthcare and how we in primary care can ensure there is better support for our veterans, post service, who frequently suffer in silence with seemingly invisible and escalating health conditions and concerns. With this in mind, the RCGP have launched their veterans’ healthcare toolkit and the GP practice veteran friendly accreditation, which offer insight and much needed guidance on making healthcare more accessible for those in our society who have sacrificed the most, but whose needs are all too often overlooked.
Introduction (9 secs)
Congratulations to our Nicola! (22 secs)
Meeting our guest panel members (41 secs)
The advent of the veteran friendly practice programme (1 min 12 secs)
What are the differences between recognised veteran friendly practice and those who aren’t yet accredited? (2 mins 50 secs)
Darren’s take on the initiative and the impact on veterans (4 mins 8 secs)
The struggle of those returning from tour and access to healthcare (5 mins 37 secs)
Comparison with the more established support systems in the US (6 mins 38 secs)
Promoting practice sign up within a landscape of competing demands (8 mins 38 secs)
The accreditation process (10 mins 11 secs)
Nicola and Robyn’s experiences of sign up (11 mins 12 secs)
PCN accreditation (13 mins 30 secs)
Meeting the health inequalities agenda (14 mins)
Identification of a clinical lead (15 mins 19 secs)
What would it mean for veterans if every practice became accredited? – Robin’s perspective (15 mins 52 secs)
Darren’s view (18 mins 14 secs)
Finding out more and signing up (19 mins 16 secs)
If you’d like to find out more, or even better, spend 15 minutes signing up for the RCGP veteran friendly GP practice accreditation, we strongly encourage you to follow the link here.
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon or Ben Gowland.
Here at Ockham, we are always keen to explore how we deliver high quality content to our audiences and this week Ben is trialling something new. In a change to our usual format, Ben has recorded a solo, “bite size” episode offering his thoughts and advice for practices about the implications of the changing healthcare landscape. Starting from the top, with what Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) actually are, how they are comprised and how resources and funding are likely to be organised, onto what the new systems mean for practices and staff on the ground, the influence of the Fuller Report, how we could and should react and where the priorities and challenges lie, we hope you find our latest podcast offering as insightful and informative as ever!
All by myself…. (9 secs)
What are Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and why is the recent transition so fundamental? (36 secs)
The history and lead up to integrated care (1 min 11 secs)
Why size matters (2 mins 32 secs)
Priorities, challenges, and funding implications (2 mins 57 secs)
Partnership working with other providers (4 mins 8 secs)
Policy direction and the Fuller Report (5 mins 6 secs)
What do all the changes and proposals mean for individual practices? (7 mins 58 secs)
Local priorities; two approaches (9 mins 2 secs)
Maintaining independence whilst creating unity (10 mins 39 secs)
Why cohesive working and collaboration is key (12 mins 7 secs)
Working out how to best align to the strategic directives set out in the Fuller Report (12 mins 52 secs)
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (14 mins 17 secs)
In Summary (16 mins 16 secs)
We need your feedback! (16 mins 58 secs)
We’d love to hear your views about Ben’s first solo podcast and whether you’ve found this shorter, summary edition helpful! Please do get in touch via email, via our website comment area, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook….
Here at Ockham, we are always keen to explore how we deliver high quality content to our audiences and this week Ben is trialling something new. In a change to our usual format, Ben has recorded a solo, “bite size” episode offering his thoughts and advice for practices about the implications of the changing healthcare landscape. Starting from the top, with what Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) actually are, how they are comprised and how resources and funding are likely to be organised, onto what the new systems mean for practices and staff on the ground, the influence of the Fuller Report, how we could and should react and where the priorities and challenges lie, we hope you find our latest podcast offering as insightful and informative as ever!
All by myself…. (9 secs)
What are Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and why is the recent transition so fundamental? (36 secs)
The history and lead up to integrated care (1 min 11 secs)
Why size matters (2 mins 32 secs)
Priorities, challenges, and funding implications (2 mins 57 secs)
Partnership working with other providers (4 mins 8 secs)
Policy direction and the Fuller Report (5 mins 6 secs)
What do all the changes and proposals mean for individual practices? (7 mins 58 secs)
Local priorities; two approaches (9 mins 2 secs)
Maintaining independence whilst creating unity (10 mins 39 secs)
Why cohesive working and collaboration is key (12 mins 7 secs)
Working out how to best align to the strategic directives set out in the Fuller Report (12 mins 52 secs)
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (14 mins 17 secs)
In Summary (16 mins 16 secs)
We need your feedback! (16 mins 58 secs)
We’d love to hear your views about Ben’s first solo podcast and whether you’ve found this shorter, summary edition helpful! Please do get in touch via email, via our website comment area, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook….
It has not escaped our notice that the regularity of our (now almost resident) pensions expert Paul Gordon’s appearances on the podcast is increasing as further changes to the NHS pension (and our wider entitlements) are introduced. Thankfully, with the wisdom of Paul, now Sanlam Wealth’s Head of Medical Specialist Wealth Planners, leading on the NHS pensions proposition, we can keep our listeners abreast of the changes. What are the headlines? How do we ensure we avoid any potential financial landmines? Where can we access further information about our own pension position and get further support? It’s all covered in this week’s podcast episode…
Introduction (9 secs)
A change of circumstance for Paul (20 secs)
What’s the latest on GP pensions? (1 min 26 secs)
Standard annual allowance (2 mins 52 secs)
Exceeding the allowance (3 mins 51 secs)
The financial impact of going above the annual allowance (5 mins 17 secs)
Payment of tax charges (6 mins 58 secs)
Annual allowance calculations (8 mins 42 secs)
Working out how much to pay (10 mins 22 secs)
Annual allowance compensation scheme (12 mins 11 secs)
Understanding my own pension status and key contact points (14 mins 15 secs)
What are the options for those with potentially significant tax liabilities and implications of opting out (15 mins 33 secs)
https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/ (18 mins 39 secs)
BMA response to the government’s handling of the NHS pension (19 mins 7 secs)
When a pension is not index linked (22 mins 2 secs)
Finding out more and further support (23 mins 11 secs)
What to be aware of and what’s coming next (25 mins 36 secs)
If you haven’t done so already, you should speak to NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to request at least seven years of annual allowance growth figures. Their telephone number is 0300 330 1346.
You should also visit https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/ to access your personal pension benefit statement. Your Total Reward Statement additionally offers personalised information about the value of your employment package and includes details about remuneration and the benefits on offer from your employer at a more local level.
If you’d like to get in touch with Paul directly, you can email him here.
It has not escaped our notice that the regularity of our (now almost resident) pensions expert Paul Gordon’s appearances on the podcast is increasing as further changes to the NHS pension (and our wider entitlements) are introduced. Thankfully, with the wisdom of Paul, now Sanlam Wealth’s Head of Medical Specialist Wealth Planners, leading on the NHS pensions proposition, we can keep our listeners abreast of the changes. What are the headlines? How do we ensure we avoid any potential financial landmines? Where can we access further information about our own pension position and get further support? It’s all covered in this week’s podcast episode…
Introduction (9 secs)
A change of circumstance for Paul (20 secs)
What’s the latest on GP pensions? (1 min 26 secs)
Standard annual allowance (2 mins 52 secs)
Exceeding the allowance (3 mins 51 secs)
The financial impact of going above the annual allowance (5 mins 17 secs)
Payment of tax charges (6 mins 58 secs)
Annual allowance calculations (8 mins 42 secs)
Working out how much to pay (10 mins 22 secs)
Annual allowance compensation scheme (12 mins 11 secs)
Understanding my own pension status and key contact points (14 mins 15 secs)
What are the options for those with potentially significant tax liabilities and implications of opting out (15 mins 33 secs)
https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/ (18 mins 39 secs)
BMA response to the government’s handling of the NHS pension (19 mins 7 secs)
When a pension is not index linked (22 mins 2 secs)
Finding out more and further support (23 mins 11 secs)
What to be aware of and what’s coming next (25 mins 36 secs)
If you haven’t done so already, you should speak to NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to request at least seven years of annual allowance growth figures. Their telephone number is 0300 330 1346.
You should also visit https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/ to access your personal pension benefit statement. Your Total Reward Statement additionally offers personalised information about the value of your employment package and includes details about remuneration and the benefits on offer from your employer at a more local level.
If you’d like to get in touch with Paul directly, you can email him here.
Episode 311 - Podcast – Practice Index – Credit where accreditation is due…
We at Ockham Healthcare have closely followed the journey of the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) since its inception at the beginning of 2021. Its four founding Directors, Robyn Clark, Nicola Davies, Kay Keane, and Jo Wadey have worked hard to establish the IGPM presence and ensure the voices of those working in general practice management are represented and heard. This week in a return to our joint Ockham / Practice Index Practice Manager panel podcast, Robyn, Nicola, and Kay talk to us about a major new development in the IGPM world, that of their recently launched accreditation framework which is now on offer to all managers in primary care with a minimum of two years’ experience. It is something the Directors and their regional representatives have put in tireless effort to pull together and in this episode, they explain the process from top to bottom, and why it is beneficial not only for those in Primary Care management roles, but also what the positive knock-on effect will be for wider practice teams and GP partners.
Introduction (9 secs)
An important announcement… (31 secs)
Why accreditation? (1 min 19 secs)
Putting the framework together (2 mins 2 secs)
What does the accreditation process look like and what competencies do you need to demonstrate as a Practice Manager? (3 mins 47 secs)
Improvement in standards (6 mins 3 secs)
Benefits of accreditation to practices and partners (7 mins 5 secs)
MIGPM explained (8 mins 1 sec)
The application process (8 mins 8 secs)
Support in preparing for accreditation assessment (9 mins 37 secs)
Active involvement from the IGPM regional representatives (10 mins 12 secs)
Empowerment and a celebration of skills of achievement (10 mins 59 secs)
Reaction from Practice Managers (11 mins 25 secs)
Establishing Practice Management as a recognised and respected profession (12 mins 48 secs)
Minimum experience criteria (14 mins 21 secs)
Moving from ‘nice to have’ to widespread recognition of skill (15 mins 16 secs)
The New to Partnership Scheme and Practice Managers (16 mins)
Expansion of influence (18 mins 6 secs)
What’s next for the IGPM? (18 mins 51 secs)
More representatives required! (21 mins)
Finding out more (21 min 46 secs)
All the information you need about accreditation, membership, and the work of the IGPM is available on their website here.
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
Episode 311 - Podcast – Practice Index – Credit where accreditation is due…
We at Ockham Healthcare have closely followed the journey of the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) since its inception at the beginning of 2021. Its four founding Directors, Robyn Clark, Nicola Davies, Kay Keane, and Jo Wadey have worked hard to establish the IGPM presence and ensure the voices of those working in general practice management are represented and heard. This week in a return to our joint Ockham / Practice Index Practice Manager panel podcast, Robyn, Nicola, and Kay talk to us about a major new development in the IGPM world, that of their recently launched accreditation framework which is now on offer to all managers in primary care with a minimum of two years’ experience. It is something the Directors and their regional representatives have put in tireless effort to pull together and in this episode, they explain the process from top to bottom, and why it is beneficial not only for those in Primary Care management roles, but also what the positive knock-on effect will be for wider practice teams and GP partners.
Introduction (9 secs)
An important announcement… (31 secs)
Why accreditation? (1 min 19 secs)
Putting the framework together (2 mins 2 secs)
What does the accreditation process look like and what competencies do you need to demonstrate as a Practice Manager? (3 mins 47 secs)
Improvement in standards (6 mins 3 secs)
Benefits of accreditation to practices and partners (7 mins 5 secs)
MIGPM explained (8 mins 1 sec)
The application process (8 mins 8 secs)
Support in preparing for accreditation assessment (9 mins 37 secs)
Active involvement from the IGPM regional representatives (10 mins 12 secs)
Empowerment and a celebration of skills of achievement (10 mins 59 secs)
Reaction from Practice Managers (11 mins 25 secs)
Establishing Practice Management as a recognised and respected profession (12 mins 48 secs)
Minimum experience criteria (14 mins 21 secs)
Moving from ‘nice to have’ to widespread recognition of skill (15 mins 16 secs)
The New to Partnership Scheme and Practice Managers (16 mins)
Expansion of influence (18 mins 6 secs)
What’s next for the IGPM? (18 mins 51 secs)
More representatives required! (21 mins)
Finding out more (21 min 46 secs)
All the information you need about accreditation, membership, and the work of the IGPM is available on their website here.
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
Many practices and networks up and down the country are already aware of the benefits that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can offer however in Suffolk Primary Care, they have taken this to a whole new level with the establishment not only of a centralised Pharmacy team, but in also embedding a standardised pathway across a so-called super PCN area. On this week’s podcast, Ben is joined by Henri Cresswell, East Suffolk PCN’s Head of Pharmacy, and Dr Neil Macey, Medical Director at Suffolk Primary Care, to talk about their journey from the beginning of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) journey and the birth of the Pharmacy team, to where they are now, the lessons they have learned, how they managed to successfully embed a centralised team and processes, within the backdrop of the pandemic and where they are aiming next.
Introductions (9 secs)
Suffolk Primary Care and the relationship with East Suffolk PCN (22 secs)
ARRS and the birth of the Pharmacy team (1 min 19 secs)
All about Henri (2 mins 51 secs)
Getting buy in for a single, standardised process from multiple practices (4 mins 7 secs)
Supporting the change process (5 mins 32 secs)
What were the major challenges? (6 mins 14 secs)
Management of a centrally based team (6 mins 53 secs)
What happens within a pharmacy clinic? (8 mins)
How the temporary shift to remote working helped to embed the service (8 mins 35 secs)
Neil’s role in promoting the team (9 mins 11 secs)
Measuring impact (10 mins 34 secs)
What has the experience been like from the pharmacists’ perspective? (11 mins 40 secs)
Training and supervision (13 mins 49 secs)
Development and progression of the staff (14 mins 33 secs)
Challenges of recruitment (15 mins 44 secs)
What does the future look like? (16 mins 4 secs)
Support from the Care Coordinators (16 mins 45 secs)
Neil’s thoughts on what comes next for the Pharmacy, and wider ARRS team (17 mins 22 secs)
Lesson learned – Neil’s view (18 mins 32 secs)
Henri’s reflections (20 mins 19 secs)
To find out more about the evolution of the Suffolk Primary Care Pharmacy Team, Henri and Neil are both happy to be contacted via their respective emails.
The Suffolk Primary Care website is here.
Many practices and networks up and down the country are already aware of the benefits that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can offer however in Suffolk Primary Care, they have taken this to a whole new level with the establishment not only of a centralised Pharmacy team, but in also embedding a standardised pathway across a so-called super PCN area. On this week’s podcast, Ben is joined by Henri Cresswell, East Suffolk PCN’s Head of Pharmacy, and Dr Neil Macey, Medical Director at Suffolk Primary Care, to talk about their journey from the beginning of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) journey and the birth of the Pharmacy team, to where they are now, the lessons they have learned, how they managed to successfully embed a centralised team and processes, within the backdrop of the pandemic and where they are aiming next.
Introductions (9 secs)
Suffolk Primary Care and the relationship with East Suffolk PCN (22 secs)
ARRS and the birth of the Pharmacy team (1 min 19 secs)
All about Henri (2 mins 51 secs)
Getting buy in for a single, standardised process from multiple practices (4 mins 7 secs)
Supporting the change process (5 mins 32 secs)
What were the major challenges? (6 mins 14 secs)
Management of a centrally based team (6 mins 53 secs)
What happens within a pharmacy clinic? (8 mins)
How the temporary shift to remote working helped to embed the service (8 mins 35 secs)
Neil’s role in promoting the team (9 mins 11 secs)
Measuring impact (10 mins 34 secs)
What has the experience been like from the pharmacists’ perspective? (11 mins 40 secs)
Training and supervision (13 mins 49 secs)
Development and progression of the staff (14 mins 33 secs)
Challenges of recruitment (15 mins 44 secs)
What does the future look like? (16 mins 4 secs)
Support from the Care Coordinators (16 mins 45 secs)
Neil’s thoughts on what comes next for the Pharmacy, and wider ARRS team (17 mins 22 secs)
Lesson learned – Neil’s view (18 mins 32 secs)
Henri’s reflections (20 mins 19 secs)
To find out more about the evolution of the Suffolk Primary Care Pharmacy Team, Henri and Neil are both happy to be contacted via their respective emails.
The Suffolk Primary Care website is here.
Here on the Ockham podcast, we are proud to have been able to feature many inspiring success stories where utilisation of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funding and the introduction of new roles into Primary Care. This week’s is no less thought-provoking. Our guests, GP, and Clinical Director Dr John Stevenson, PCN Development Manager Anna Straker and most importantly, Safeguarding Coordinator Sam Beaumont, talk to Ben about the incredible impact Sam’s role has made on relieving GP workload pressures, establishing and maintaining strong connections with other local systems and providers, and most importantly, ensuring that safeguarding concerns are proactively flagged and managed, to promote safer and more responsive patient care whilst building PCN and wider workforce resilience.
Introduction (9 secs)
PCN make-up (25 secs)
The inception of the Safeguarding Coordinator (51 secs)
How was the Safeguarding process managed previously? (1 min 53 secs)
Anna’s approach to implementation (2 mins 50 secs)
Working out the skills and experienced required (4 mins 37 secs)
Sam’s background and what attracted her to the role (5 mins 45 secs)
Establishment of the role and Sam’s day to day practice (7 mins 27 secs)
Linking back with the clinicians (10 mins 22 secs)
How has the role evolved since Sam started in August / September 2021? (12 mins 18 secs)
Impact on PCN and practices – from John’s perspective (13 mins 34 secs)
Anna’s endorsement (14 mins 51 secs)
Lessons learned (16 mins 17 secs)
The importance of early critical thinking (18 mins 44 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 31 secs)
To find out more about the Safeguarding Coordinator, and WBC’s wider approach to embedding their ARRS team members, you can contact John here, or check out the WBC website here.
Here on the Ockham podcast, we are proud to have been able to feature many inspiring success stories where utilisation of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funding and the introduction of new roles into Primary Care. This week’s is no less thought-provoking. Our guests, GP, and Clinical Director Dr John Stevenson, PCN Development Manager Anna Straker and most importantly, Safeguarding Coordinator Sam Beaumont, talk to Ben about the incredible impact Sam’s role has made on relieving GP workload pressures, establishing and maintaining strong connections with other local systems and providers, and most importantly, ensuring that safeguarding concerns are proactively flagged and managed, to promote safer and more responsive patient care whilst building PCN and wider workforce resilience.
Introduction (9 secs)
PCN make-up (25 secs)
The inception of the Safeguarding Coordinator (51 secs)
How was the Safeguarding process managed previously? (1 min 53 secs)
Anna’s approach to implementation (2 mins 50 secs)
Working out the skills and experienced required (4 mins 37 secs)
Sam’s background and what attracted her to the role (5 mins 45 secs)
Establishment of the role and Sam’s day to day practice (7 mins 27 secs)
Linking back with the clinicians (10 mins 22 secs)
How has the role evolved since Sam started in August / September 2021? (12 mins 18 secs)
Impact on PCN and practices – from John’s perspective (13 mins 34 secs)
Anna’s endorsement (14 mins 51 secs)
Lessons learned (16 mins 17 secs)
The importance of early critical thinking (18 mins 44 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 31 secs)
To find out more about the Safeguarding Coordinator, and WBC’s wider approach to embedding their ARRS team members, you can contact John here, or check out the WBC website here.
We are all aware that the practice workload balance is already, or about to, tip over and with this in mind, it is more important than ever to regularly take stock, check in on our colleagues, proactively plan ahead, take our leave (even if it’s not necessarily when we want to!), and if need be, reach out to others for support. With this in mind, our ever-popular Practice Index Practice Manager panel return to the podcast this week and are joined by GP, executive coach, and resilience expert Dr Rachel Morris to dissect and discuss a situation of which unfortunately many of us are more and more likely to identify with, where a GP partner has been forced to cancel leave due to a mixture of demand and a lack of locum availability. How can we avoid the same fate and how do we start to build resilience whilst most of us are feeling very much like we are close to the same level of vulnerability?
Introduction (33 secs)
Sourcing locums from a practice manager’s perspective (1 min 14 secs)
The situation in Kay’s area in Manchester (1 min 55 secs)
How have we got to a situation where locums are in such high demand? (2 mins 25 secs)
Facing the reality of having to cancel annual leave (3 mins 26 secs)
Working out what you’re in control of and what you’re not (4 mins 29 secs)
Planning leave, proactive rota management and the role of the practice manager (6 mins 21 secs)
Sustainability in a smaller practice (7 mins 31 secs)
Building resilience in larger practices (8 mins 21 secs)
Acknowledging our vulnerabilities and planning for them (9 mins 7 secs)
Added pressure as a GP partner (10 mins 8 secs)
Protecting the workload (10 mins 37 secs)
Support for the wider workforce (11 mins 9 secs)
Collaboration and co-dependence (12 mins 7 secs)
Working out where you can influence and what you can change (13 mins 58 secs)
Why asking for help is not a sign of weakness (15 mins 8 secs)
Buddy practices and increased reliance on others (16 mins 15 secs)
Managing the dearth of GPs and developing practice skill mix (17 mins 26 secs)
Effective communications (18 mins 50 secs)
An analogy of managing patient demand (19 mins 40 secs)
Making the most of the ARRS funding (20 mins 50 secs)
Time management and maximising impact (21 mins 50 secs)
Staff wellbeing is paramount (23 mins 8 secs)
Final thoughts from Robyn and Kay (23 mins 33 secs)
Rachel’s incredibly popular ‘You are not a frog’ podcast can be found here
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
We are all aware that the practice workload balance is already, or about to, tip over and with this in mind, it is more important than ever to regularly take stock, check in on our colleagues, proactively plan ahead, take our leave (even if it’s not necessarily when we want to!), and if need be, reach out to others for support. With this in mind, our ever-popular Practice Index Practice Manager panel return to the podcast this week and are joined by GP, executive coach, and resilience expert Dr Rachel Morris to dissect and discuss a situation of which unfortunately many of us are more and more likely to identify with, where a GP partner has been forced to cancel leave due to a mixture of demand and a lack of locum availability. How can we avoid the same fate and how do we start to build resilience whilst most of us are feeling very much like we are close to the same level of vulnerability?
Introduction (33 secs)
Sourcing locums from a practice manager’s perspective (1 min 14 secs)
The situation in Kay’s area in Manchester (1 min 55 secs)
How have we got to a situation where locums are in such high demand? (2 mins 25 secs)
Facing the reality of having to cancel annual leave (3 mins 26 secs)
Working out what you’re in control of and what you’re not (4 mins 29 secs)
Planning leave, proactive rota management and the role of the practice manager (6 mins 21 secs)
Sustainability in a smaller practice (7 mins 31 secs)
Building resilience in larger practices (8 mins 21 secs)
Acknowledging our vulnerabilities and planning for them (9 mins 7 secs)
Added pressure as a GP partner (10 mins 8 secs)
Protecting the workload (10 mins 37 secs)
Support for the wider workforce (11 mins 9 secs)
Collaboration and co-dependence (12 mins 7 secs)
Working out where you can influence and what you can change (13 mins 58 secs)
Why asking for help is not a sign of weakness (15 mins 8 secs)
Buddy practices and increased reliance on others (16 mins 15 secs)
Managing the dearth of GPs and developing practice skill mix (17 mins 26 secs)
Effective communications (18 mins 50 secs)
An analogy of managing patient demand (19 mins 40 secs)
Making the most of the ARRS funding (20 mins 50 secs)
Time management and maximising impact (21 mins 50 secs)
Staff wellbeing is paramount (23 mins 8 secs)
Final thoughts from Robyn and Kay (23 mins 33 secs)
Rachel’s incredibly popular ‘You are not a frog’ podcast can be found here
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
In another episode documenting general practice preparations for integrated care, we welcome back Dr Jon Griffiths, GP Advisor for Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership, NHS North West Leadership Academy board member, RCGP Mersey Faculty Board deputy council rep and Cheshire LMC member. As part of his GP Advisor role, Jon has worked with colleagues across Cheshire and Merseyside to produce a consensus document focused on the Primary and Secondary Care Interface and improving cohesion and clinical pathways between these two key areas of healthcare. Based on a set of guiding principles and with the aim of establishing a common architecture of good quality, patient-centred communication within the new integrated care systems, Jon talks to Ben about the input from both primary and secondary care, striking a balance between meeting the needs of the wider system and more local requirements, and the key milestones for both sectors when embedding a truly successful system of integrated care.
What is Jonathan’s role and remit right now? (23 secs)
Responsibilities of the ICS GP Advisor (59 secs)
Myth-busting (3 mins 41 secs)
Primary Care views of secondary care (5 mins 25 secs)
Reaction from the secondary care consultants (8 mins 30 secs)
…and the secondary care ask of general practice (10 mins 45 secs)
Establishing mutual benefit (13 mins 14 secs)
Building consistency across primary care (14 mins 41 secs)
Where does the real opportunity for truly integrated care lie and how do we strike a balance between real-time need and the PCN DES requirements? (15 mins 31 secs)
What is needed to enable a strong and united primary and secondary care interface? (17 mins 7 secs)
Life after CCGs (19 mins 37 secs)
Strengthening GP representation (21 min 12 secs)
Accessing the consensus (22 mins 7 secs)
The Consensus document is available within the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership website here.
In another episode documenting general practice preparations for integrated care, we welcome back Dr Jon Griffiths, GP Advisor for Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership, NHS North West Leadership Academy board member, RCGP Mersey Faculty Board deputy council rep and Cheshire LMC member. As part of his GP Advisor role, Jon has worked with colleagues across Cheshire and Merseyside to produce a consensus document focused on the Primary and Secondary Care Interface and improving cohesion and clinical pathways between these two key areas of healthcare. Based on a set of guiding principles and with the aim of establishing a common architecture of good quality, patient-centred communication within the new integrated care systems, Jon talks to Ben about the input from both primary and secondary care, striking a balance between meeting the needs of the wider system and more local requirements, and the key milestones for both sectors when embedding a truly successful system of integrated care.
What is Jonathan’s role and remit right now? (23 secs)
Responsibilities of the ICS GP Advisor (59 secs)
Myth-busting (3 mins 41 secs)
Primary Care views of secondary care (5 mins 25 secs)
Reaction from the secondary care consultants (8 mins 30 secs)
…and the secondary care ask of general practice (10 mins 45 secs)
Establishing mutual benefit (13 mins 14 secs)
Building consistency across primary care (14 mins 41 secs)
Where does the real opportunity for truly integrated care lie and how do we strike a balance between real-time need and the PCN DES requirements? (15 mins 31 secs)
What is needed to enable a strong and united primary and secondary care interface? (17 mins 7 secs)
Life after CCGs (19 mins 37 secs)
Strengthening GP representation (21 min 12 secs)
Accessing the consensus (22 mins 7 secs)
The Consensus document is available within the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership website here.
As ever, here at Ockham, we are fortunate to have been able to have taken some time out from business as usual to put our feet up and properly digest, review, and summarise the recent Fuller report publication on integrated Primary Care (and what this might look like in the context of the wider Integrated Care world). As with everything, our conclusions are our own and having spoken to our allies over at THC Primary Care, it’s clear that the report can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on who you are, where you sit, what your remit is and how prepared you may (or may not) be feeling ahead of the upcoming transition. In this week’s episode, Ben and THC Primary Care founder and MD, and PCN Management expert Tara Humphrey discuss their key takeaways from the stocktake and what they both feel general practice should be doing right now to ready themselves for integrated primary care, and ICSs beyond.
Introduction (9 secs)
Setting the scene…. our differing perspectives (19 secs)
Tara and Ben’s initial thoughts (29 secs)
What’s missing? (45 secs)
Ben’s concerns (1 min 17 secs)
What would Ben liked to have seen within the report? (2 mins 54 secs)
Shaping the debate (4 mins 46 secs)
A threat to the PCN model as we know it? (5 mins 52 secs)
Tara’s views and getting the most out of a larger network infrastructure (8 mins 3 secs)
Readying general practice, as it stands (9 mins 21 secs)
Acknowledgement of existing constraints and what this means going into an ICS environment (9 mins 58 secs)
Do the recommendations within the report pose a risk to the PCN management structure? (11 mins 6 secs)
General Practice influence at an ICS level (12 mins 44 secs)
The importance of a united primary care voice (14 mins 27 secs)
Time pressures and maintaining influence as a GP leader (15 mins 15 secs)
What should we be doing right now in preparation? (16 mins 55 secs)
Tara’s predictions ahead of the transition (17 mins 47 secs)
Recommendations from Ben (18 mins 53 secs)
Tara advises (19 mins 53 secs)
Navigation of bureaucracy versus responsive decision-making (20 mins 43 secs)
We need you! (21 mins 45 secs)
Next steps for integrating primary care: Fuller stocktake report (final report) is available here.
There is still plenty to discuss where the report is concerned and absolutely no way to cover it all this 22-minute podcast instalment. We are keen to hear views and even better, feature representatives from across general practice on the podcast to discuss the transition into the integrated care, what this feels like from your part of the world and your own take on the Fuller Report. So if you (or your team) are interested in taking part, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare or get in touch via Twitter.
As ever, here at Ockham, we are fortunate to have been able to have taken some time out from business as usual to put our feet up and properly digest, review, and summarise the recent Fuller report publication on integrated Primary Care (and what this might look like in the context of the wider Integrated Care world). As with everything, our conclusions are our own and having spoken to our allies over at THC Primary Care, it’s clear that the report can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on who you are, where you sit, what your remit is and how prepared you may (or may not) be feeling ahead of the upcoming transition. In this week’s episode, Ben and THC Primary Care founder and MD, and PCN Management expert Tara Humphrey discuss their key takeaways from the stocktake and what they both feel general practice should be doing right now to ready themselves for integrated primary care, and ICSs beyond.
Introduction (9 secs)
Setting the scene…. our differing perspectives (19 secs)
Tara and Ben’s initial thoughts (29 secs)
What’s missing? (45 secs)
Ben’s concerns (1 min 17 secs)
What would Ben liked to have seen within the report? (2 mins 54 secs)
Shaping the debate (4 mins 46 secs)
A threat to the PCN model as we know it? (5 mins 52 secs)
Tara’s views and getting the most out of a larger network infrastructure (8 mins 3 secs)
Readying general practice, as it stands (9 mins 21 secs)
Acknowledgement of existing constraints and what this means going into an ICS environment (9 mins 58 secs)
Do the recommendations within the report pose a risk to the PCN management structure? (11 mins 6 secs)
General Practice influence at an ICS level (12 mins 44 secs)
The importance of a united primary care voice (14 mins 27 secs)
Time pressures and maintaining influence as a GP leader (15 mins 15 secs)
What should we be doing right now in preparation? (16 mins 55 secs)
Tara’s predictions ahead of the transition (17 mins 47 secs)
Recommendations from Ben (18 mins 53 secs)
Tara advises (19 mins 53 secs)
Navigation of bureaucracy versus responsive decision-making (20 mins 43 secs)
We need you! (21 mins 45 secs)
Next steps for integrating primary care: Fuller stocktake report (final report) is available here.
There is still plenty to discuss where the report is concerned and absolutely no way to cover it all this 22-minute podcast instalment. We are keen to hear views and even better, feature representatives from across general practice on the podcast to discuss the transition into the integrated care, what this feels like from your part of the world and your own take on the Fuller Report. So if you (or your team) are interested in taking part, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare or get in touch via Twitter.
We are in full countdown to ICS mode here on the podcast and in recognition of the existing issues of workload, pressures, and targets - and of the upcoming challenges General Practice is facing as we transition into the new, larger scale networks, we felt it was about time we welcomed back Dr Rachel Morris, GP, executive trainer, coach and all-round leadership and resilience expert. This week’s podcast offers a wealth of practical advice and insight into how and why we should be saying no, how to stick to your guns (and not fall victim to external pressures and pushback), why a long-term approach will always win out and how to stop, take stock and adopt a more strategic forward view during this period of high stress, unpredictability and unprecedented levels of patient demand.
Introduction (9 secs)
Why has the importance of saying “no” become so relevant recently? (19 secs)
Working out what and where your boundaries are (2 mins 6 secs)
Engagement and decision making when setting boundaries (2 mins 41 secs)
Should we benchmark the PCN DES? (3 mins 12 secs)
A case in point: Investment and Impact Fund (3 mins 50 secs)
Identifying our top priorities? (4 mins 27 secs)
What is achievable and what’s not? Managing system pressures (5 mins 42 secs)
Practical measures for dealing with pushback (7 mins 11 secs)
Pressures of conformity in the new world? (8 mins 53 secs)
The importance of taking a long-term approach (10 mins 59 secs)
Moving from firefighting to forward view (11 mins 54 secs)
Applying the same principles for the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (12 mins 56 secs)
When ARRS strategies fail and why (14 mins 6 secs)
“I’m choosing to…..so that…..” (15 mins 12 secs)
Maintaining a strong narrative (15 mins 34 secs)
Do the same strategies work from an individual perspective? (16 mins 9 secs)
The concept of ‘air cover’ and truly having each other’s backs (17 mins 45 secs)
Why proactive engagement matters (19 mins 1 secs)
….and ensuring there is accountability (20 mins 13 secs)
Finding out more / access to resources (21 mins 32 secs)
You can access the free mini video series on helping your team to set boundaries, say “no” powerfully and prioritise time and energy here
Rachel’s incredibly popular ‘You are not a frog’ podcast can be found here
Going into partnership and realising success as a GP Partner can be a difficult enough landscape to navigate but when you are from a black, Asian, or other minority ethnic background, simply finding the opportunity to apply and establish yourself within a partnership can be a challenge in itself, for a variety of reasons. In this week’s episode, Ben welcomes Drs Onyi Okonkwo and Mo Sattar, who provide insight into the barriers and issues both they, and colleagues within the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) GP network have faced (and continue to face) - and share their personal reflections from their respective journeys into senior partnership whilst offering practical advice for those considering taking on partnership on what to expect, how best to prepare and why a difference in culture shouldn’t be a hinderance to achieving success.
Introductions (15 secs)
A meeting of minds (40 secs)
Going into GP Partnership – Onyi’s story (1 min 35 secs)
Mo’s journey to partnership (2 mins 43 secs)
Transitional challenges (3 mins 37 secs)
Making the jump from salaried GP into partnership (5 mins 17 secs)
Dealing with a steep learning curve – advice from Mo (5 mins 59 secs)
Mo’s lessons learned (7 mins 49 secs)
Being propelled into senior partnership (8 mins 30 secs)
Access to formal support (10 mins 25 secs)
The benefit of coaching and mentoring (11 mins 13 secs)
Clinical versus management (13 mins 25 secs)
Issues facing GPs from a BAME background – from Mo’s perspective (14 mins 47 secs)
Onyi’s view (17 mins 12 secs)
Advice from Onyi for BAME GPs considering going into partnership (20 mins 52 secs)
A final word from Mo (22 mins 14 secs)
With patient demand at an all-time high, coupled with a steady increase in relevant funding and the issue of estates, we are having to think ever more creatively when it comes to workforce planning. When Haywards Heath Villages PCN detected that additional support was needed in improving patient outcomes for cancer and the uptake of cancer screenings, the Cancer Nurse Assessor role was born. On this week’s podcast, we talk to Dr Katie Spensley, PCN Clinical Director, and Esther Walker, Cancer Nurse Assessor, about Esther’s approach to the role, her learnings so far, working alongside the ARRS staff, her aims for the future both short and long term, the positive outcomes she is seeing and why she is already a hugely well valued member of the Haywards Heath Villages PCN team.
Introduction (9 secs)
Haywards Heath Villages PCN (21 secs)
The creation of the Cancer Nurse Assessor role (31 secs)
Funding streams (1 min 28 secs)
Esther’s background (2 mins 22 secs)
How does the role work in practice? (3 mins 56 secs)
Auditing the existing service (6 mins 29 secs)
What are Esther’s key objectives? (8 mins 50 secs)
The impact of the role on the PCN- and individual practices (10 mins 25 secs)
Long term plans; for Esther, the service, and the wider workforce (12 mins 39 secs)
Balancing resources against patient needs (14 mins 3 secs)
Esther’s reflections on the PCN transition (14 mins 31 secs)
Interfacing with the ARRS teams (16 mins 43 secs)
Development of staffing going forwards (18 mins 37 secs)
Lessons learned (20 mins 4 secs)
Finding out more / getting in touch (22 mins 33 secs)
Katie is very happy to speak to anyone wanting to learn more about the Cancer Nurse Assessor role and is contactable here.
If you would like to know more about the innovation within Hayward’s Heath Villages PCN, you can also contact their local federation, Alliance for Better Care (who have also recently featured on the podcast). Their website (which contains all the relevant information and contact points) can be found here.
Up until now, there has been a disparate and distinct lack of easily accessible information available to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary community on the practical processes and implications of changing title and gender marker. There have been many reports of misunderstanding and in some cases mistreatment, in the absence of clear guidance on entitlement and expectation; coupled with a widespread lack of knowledge and advice available to staff on the ground in general practice. Luckily, with the colliding of Pride in Practice, Indigo Gender Service, The Institute of General Practice Management and Practice Index worlds, a team of representatives from each have put their heads together, spent time gathering all the available information, experiences and knowledge, and together, Aimee, Luke, Kay, Ali and their colleagues have taken time out to talk us through what is already an invaluable resource; The Gender Identity Toolkit for General Practice.
Introduction (9 secs)
Our panel members (31 secs)
Meeting Aimee and the role of Pride in Practice (54 secs)
Dr Luke Wookey tells us more about Indigo Gender Service (1 min 58 secs)
Why was the toolkit created? (2 mins 51 secs)
The process of centralising knowledge and guidance (4 mins 11 secs)
The importance of information gathering and sharing, and a collective approach (4 mins 49 secs)
Confusion around records management and establishment of clear guidelines (5 mins 34 secs)
Existing barriers felt by the trans and non-binary community (6 mins 19 secs)
Bureaucracy, misunderstanding and a lack of knowledge on all sides (7 mins 23 secs)
How to get the most from the toolkit (8 mins 36 secs)
Summarising the process for changing title and gender marker (9 mins 14 secs)
The implications for screening and having access to a lead professional within the practice (12 mins 5 secs)
Bringing all the information together (13 mins 55 secs)
What difference will the toolkit make? (14 mins 14 secs)
A working example of the impact of Pride in Practice (14 mins 54 secs)
Ensuring the policy is adopted at a local level (16 mins 17 secs)
Applying the policy within daily practice (17 mins 47 secs)
Ensuring there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach (18 mins 42 secs)
Implications of records migration (19 mins 22 secs)
The training on offer from Pride in Practice (20 mins 48 secs)
Accessing the toolkit – and other resources (22 mins 27 secs)
The Practice Index website link to the toolkit (and the relevant discussion forums) is here
You can also access the toolkit via the IGPM website here
Pride in Practice’s website can be found here. If you are interested in learning more about the training on offer, please get in touch here
The link to the Indigo Gender Service website is here
Indigo Gender Service also have a dedicated email for healthcare professionals to get in touch which is indigo.advice@nhs.net - or you can contact Luke directly at lukewookey@nhs.net
Luke has recently featured on another podcast with Primary Care Knowledge Boost around trans health which may also provide some additional useful information for primary care teams.
Kay is contactable on Twitter, if you have any further queries
The Gender Identity Toolkit Launch webinar is available on the IGPM YouTube channel now
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
In another of our series focused on Primary Care preparations for Integrated Care System (ICS) go-live in July and working alongside partners both old and new, we speak to Alliance for Better Care (ABC) Chair, Surrey Heartlands ICS Primary Care Leader and PCN Clinical Director Dr Pramit Patel, and ABC CEO Katherine Saunders, on the role of GP federations, and how they can both support and springboard practices and networks in making the most of the opportunities available in the new world. From establishment of meeting forums and well-balanced structures, to managing and maintaining effective communication across much wider remits, and the role of federations going forwards, ABC offer a best practice view of where we should be challenging our energies over the coming weeks and months, in the lead up to ICS launch.
Meeting Pramit (17 secs)
Introducing Katherine (44 secs)
The ICS / Primary Care Leader role (1 min 7 secs)
Executive Structure (2 mins 12 secs)
Reaching consensus across a large area; meetings and formal structures (2 mins 56 secs)
Summarising the existing setup (5 mins 28 secs)
How does engagement work, particularly at place level? (6 mins 14 secs)
A lone GP voice in the room? (7 mins 37 secs)
Getting a sense of how other parts of the system view general practice (8 mins 33 secs)
External perceptions of Primary Care (9 mins 41 secs)
How does the federation work to support general practice operations within the ICS? (10 mins 38 secs)
The role of the federations in the ‘new world’ (11 mins 56 secs)
Joint working between federations (12 mins 53 secs)
What should the objectives be for general practice, moving forwards? (14 mins 19 secs)
Communication of the positive possibilities (15 mins 49 secs)
What differences will we see and what impacts will we feel at ICS go-live? (17 mins 41 secs)
Readying practices, networks, and federations ahead of July (19 mins 23 secs)
Pramit’s top tips for others (20 mins 32 secs)
Advice from Katherine (21 mins 44 secs)
Further resources, support, and information, as advised by Pramit and Katherine, can be found within the dedicated Primary Care NHS Confederation webpage here
Katherine and Pramit are happy to speak to anyone who would like to learn more about the Surrey Heartlands / Alliance for Better Care journey towards integrated care. Please visit the ABC website for information and contact points.
There is no clear answer when it comes to the ‘ideal’ PCN setup, as it is all very much dependent on an individual spectrum of factors including (and not limited to) population size, numbers of employees, local health needs and priorities, financial setup, and more. With workload becoming ever more complex and demand continuing to grow for general practice services, is incorporation the answer when we are seeking to establish a safe and sustainable structures for the managing partners and their employees, going forwards? Luckily, DR Solicitors own Managing Partner Nils Christiansen features in this week’s podcast episode and guides us expertly through, not only the minefield of incorporation, but offers practical advice on safeguarding and streamlining the PCN as a business entity.
Introduction (9 secs)
The PCN issues which are on Nils’ radar at present (18 secs)
The Practice Agreement (59 secs)
Establishing a sustainable PCN model (2 mins 10 secs)
Discounting the lead practice model? (3 mins 38 secs)
Benefits of incorporation – risk management (4 mins 49 secs)
Other advantages of incorporation (5 mins 38 secs)
Addressing issues of parity (7 mins 31 secs)
When PCNs incorporate, does this affect the fabric of wider general practice? (8 mins 51 secs)
What’s the actual process for incorporation? (10 mins 46 secs)
Can we leverage our existing governance frameworks to make the process smoother? (12 mins 50 secs)
Additional admin burden (14 mins 10 secs)
Implications on the financial flows and resources (15 mins 27 secs)
Employment liabilities (17 mins 46 secs)
Transfer of employees into a new entity (20 mins 9 secs)
NHS Pensions (22 mins 1 sec)
Data on the numbers of PCNs who are incorporating (22 mins 36 secs)
Finding out more (24 mins 37 secs)
If you have more specific questions on any aspect of incorporation and your existing PCN setup, you can visit the DR Solicitors website here, telephone them on 01483 511555, or email Nils at n.christiansen@drsolicitors.com
There are just a couple of spaces up for grabs on our new, online PCN Plus programme and the deadline for sign-ups is this week! Aimed at new PCN Clinical Directors, and experienced PCN Managers, and featuring a team of experts, we will be delivering training and advise on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to confirm your space now, please visit our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
It’s the third in our series of podcasts focused on the preparations for Integrated Care Systems! This time, we meet with Adrian Loades, who is the Corporate Director of People at the London Borough of Redbridge, responsible for Adults and Children’s Social Care (and Education), and Public Health within his remit. Adrian chats to Ben about his thoughts on the preparations and the build up so far towards the new systems of working, the priorities on the local council agenda and how these already align with much of what primary care is aiming to achieve, how general practice and local authorities can come together to establish strong, multi-agency partnerships and ultimately, what we need to do in practice, across the board, to maximise health outcomes in an integrated world.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting Adrian (40 secs)
Adrian’s experiences of working within the local authority (1 min 5 secs)
Is there a council perspective on general practice? (2 mins 20 secs)
The barriers to establishing relationships with general practice, from the council’s point of view (3 mins 43 secs)
Collective working through the pandemic (4 mins 44 secs)
Examples of strong multi-agency initiatives (5 mins 59 secs)
The health inequalities agenda (7 mins 10 secs)
Moving into an ICS environment (8 mins 9 secs)
Neighbourhoods and place-based working (9 mins 28 secs)
Are councils and general practice natural allies when it comes to embedding a place-based approach within an ICS? (11 mins 7 secs)
How will working at place, actually work in practice? (11 mins 45 secs)
What are the key factors when it comes to embedding a place-based approach? (13 mins)
Adrian’s advice for general practice in making a success of working at place (14 mins 12 secs)
Focusing on the needs of the residents, instead of prioritising a political agenda (15 mins 23 secs)
Cultivating relationships with those who can influence council leaders (17 mins 3 secs)
Neighbourhoods and Primary Care Networks (18 mins 4 secs)
The local authority view of PCNs (20 mins 21 secs)
Leveraging PCNs as a means for establishing strong neighbourhoods (20 mins 58 secs)
Advice for PCNs on building relationships within the wider ICS network (21 mins 56 secs)
Support for general practice on sourcing additional space (23 mins 2 secs)
Who to contact at local authority level (23 mins 59 secs)
PCN Plus (24 mins 32 secs)
There are still a few spaces left on our PCN Plus online programme! Aimed at new PCN Clinical Directors, and experienced PCN Managers, and featuring a team of experts, we will be delivering training and advise on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to sign up now, please visit our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
In the second of our series (and on the occasion of our 300th podcast episode), we focus on the preparations for, and the journey towards, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). We are delighted to feature Cambridgeshire Community Services Trust CEO (and NHS England lead for Community Health) Matthew Winn, to get his views on the existing relationship between community services and general practice, and what can be done to establish, enhance and improve existing partnerships locally, in readiness for the new models of care. It is a fascinating insight into how external partners perceive primary care both locally and centrally, and with the advent of new meeting forums, and new initiatives, how we can work together to meet the scale of demand from our patients, post Covid and beyond.
Introduction (9 secs)
Meeting Matthew (39 secs)
The scope of Matthew’s NHS England role (1 min 25 secs)
The future for Primary Care Networks (PCNs) (2 mins 36 secs)
The Community Services view of general practice right now (3 mins 51 secs)
Building relationships with general practice, an external perspective (6 mins 15 secs)
Big versus small? (8 mins)
Reaching out at a local level (10 mins 14 secs)
The remit of place-based Boards (12 mins 47 secs)
A new opportunity to re-establish local partnerships? (14 mins 4 secs)
A shift in strategic focus, where out of hospital is concerned (16 mins 23 secs)
Hospital at Home and virtual wards (18 mins 31 secs)
Thoughts about leadership for the future and upskilling our GPs (20 mins 18 secs)
Matthew’s advice about establishment of stronger relationships with Community Services teams (23 mins 1 sec)
Who should we reach out to? (25 mins 21 secs)
Further information and resources (26 mins 35 secs)
Here is the link to the NHS England and NHS Improvement workspace on futureNHS
Doctors of the World is a leading charitable organisation which aims to break down barriers to healthcare and prevent social injustice for millions, both globally and within the UK. Currently based in London, Doctors of the World provide medical care, information, and practical resources for minority groups who continue to struggle with access to basic healthcare. In this month’s episode of the Practice Manager podcast, Nicola, Robyn and Ben are joined by Dr Yusuf Ciftci, Policy and Advocacy Manager, and Janet Alfred, National Health Advisor, from Doctors of the World to discuss the issues of access in-depth. From the thorny issues of current bureaucracy, prejudice and misunderstanding to re-education and improvements via the medium of programmes such as the Surgeries Initiative, and a powerful personal account of Janet’s own experiences, today’s podcast is a must-listen for general practice in raising awareness of the importance of inclusion – and improving health outcomes for all.
Introduction (9 secs)
Doctors of the World; the charity, and its aims (25 secs)
All about Yusuf (1 min 47 secs)
Janet’s background and her role as a National Health Advisor (2 mins 40 secs)
Janet details her own experiences, including the disparities between England and Scotland in accessing healthcare (3 mins 32 secs)
Why registering with a GP surgery is not necessarily straightforward (4 mins 17 secs)
Prevalence of the registration and access issue (5 mins 21 secs)
Nicola’s view (6 mins 20 secs)
Robyn’s perspective and feedback from the IGPM (8 mins 10 secs)
Re-educating practice staff (9 mins 20 secs)
Improving access and support (10 mins 6 secs)
What changes can be made right now? (12 mins 11 secs)
Doctors of the World’s Safe Surgeries Initiative (13 mins 4 secs)
Signing up for Safe Surgeries (14 mins 24 secs)
Clarification on the resources available (15 mins 5 secs)
Addressing health inequalities as a practice and as a network (15 mins 46 secs)
Robyn’s thoughts about escalation of poor health outcomes and prevention of these locally (17 mins 13 secs)
Janet’s thoughts about how to positively effect change (17 mins 49 secs)
Finding out more (19 mins 26 secs)
The Doctors of the World webpage, which contains all of the resources discussed in this episode, including The Safe Surgeries toolkit, can be found here. You can sign up for the initiative here
The Practice Index website is here
For all enquiries about the Practice Index / Ockham podcast, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
As we so frequently state, a new era is truly beginning in general practice, with so much on the horizon strategically and operationally. With more and more being demanded from our clinical and management leaders, and three years on since the birth of PCNs, we are seeing widespread changes in leadership teams and the styles required to support and motivate staff, meet the ever-growing demand in terms of patients’ needs, centrally driven targets and the push towards further integration. Thankfully, Tara Humphrey, Founder and Director of THC Primary Care, host of the Business of Healthcare podcast and one of the country’s leading experts in PCN Management, is back in the hot seat to share her own experiences of the transition within her area and to offer advice for those currently living through the same changes and challenges, as well as giving insight into two key programmes which are currently on offer to both seasoned managers and new leaders alike.
Introduction (33 secs)
A new dawn for PCN management (57 secs)
What’s the latest from Tara’s area? (1 min 32 secs)
Reaching the decision to step down (2 mins 11 secs)
When there is a complete change in operational and clinical leadership (2 mins 58 secs)
A reform in leadership style? (3 mins 54 secs)
Escalation of workload (4 mins 32 secs)
Handing over (5 mins 49 secs)
Transitional challenges (6 mins 53 secs)
Tara’s reflections and advice for other areas undergoing the same changes (7 mins 56 secs)
Preserving relationships (9 mins 21 secs)
Finding support as a new Clinical Director (10 mins 53 secs)
The PCN Plus Programme for more experienced leaders (12 mins 1 sec)
How Tara’s PCN Accelerator Programme works for new leaders (13 mins 17 secs)
Course dates and information about sign up (14 mins 53 secs)
Our PCN Plus online programme is now open for registrations! Aimed at seasoned PCN Clinical Directors, our team of experts will deliver training on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to sign up, please see our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
If you’re brand new to PCN management, Tara's Online Accelerator Programme is perfect for you. All the details from course content to how to sign up and access the training are contained within the dedicated THC Primary Care page.
We’ve followed the journey of Dr Farzana Hussain, GP lead at The Project Surgery in East London, former 2019 GP of the Year closely over the last three years. Following her recent decision to step down as a Clinical Director, we wanted to revisit her story and find out the reason for her change in direction, particularly while the primary care landscape begins to shift and change once more. In this week’s episode, Farzana gives a typically open and honest account of her reasons for stepping away from Clinical Directorship, where she feels the challenges have been and where they lie ahead, what she has enjoyed most during the last three years, her hopes for the future on a personal level and for general practice, and what new (and seasoned) clinical leaders may need to be mindful of as we step into the brave new world of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).
Introduction (9 secs)
Farzana’s decision to step down (32 secs)
Moving away from PCNs? (2 mins 15 secs)
Where does the problem lie with PCNs? (2 mins 39 secs)
The tension between central expectation and priorities on the ground (4 mins 21 secs)
What needs to change to enable PCNs to thrive, particularly within the ICS context? (6 mins 32 secs)
Getting the most from PCN investment (8 mins 51 secs)
Adoption of a place-based approach (10 mins 23 secs)
Is a change in mindset needed, where PCNs are concerned? (12 mins 2 secs)
Partnering with local agencies and an increased community-based focus (14 mins 19 secs)
Concern for the future (15 mins 34 secs)
Advice for new PCN Clinical Directors starting out now (16 mins 42 secs)
Farzana’s top three lessons learned (19 mins 8 secs)
What’s next? (20 mins 50 secs)
Our PCN Plus online programme is now open for registrations! Aimed at new PCN Clinical Directors, our team of experts will deliver training on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to sign up, please see our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
The announcement of the changes in GP contract heralds a fresh set of challenges for already stretched PCN Clinical leaders, and the need for a bonus edition of our (usually weekly) podcast alongside the introduction of a targeted programme of training. Today’s episode features a seasoned panel of experts; PCN and management guru Tara Humphrey of THC Primary Care, Dr Hussain Gandhi, Clinical Leader, and co-presenter of the eGPlearning Podblast, Dr Andrew Foster, Gandhi’s eGPlearning counterpart, and fellow Nottinghamshire-based Clinical Director, and finally, our very own Ben Gowland. Together, the quartet dissect the announcement, reflect on the changes (and the change in the way the contract has been negotiated), how primary care could and should respond, and why Clinical Directors might feel that now is the right time to upskill further, ahead of the new integrated world and the additional pressures that this may present.
Introduction & Overview (30 secs)
Ben’s immediate reactions to the new GP contract (1 min 19 secs)
Initial thoughts from Tara (3 mins 27 secs)
Andy’s perceptions (5 mins 13 secs)
….and Gandhi’s views (8 mins 49 secs)
Tensions between NHS England and the General Practice Committee (10 mins 45 secs)
Ben discusses the shift in management of contract negotiations (and the fallout) (11 mins 29 secs)
Funding general practice recovery and the response (13 mins)
Tara: why we should focus on building stronger networks and take a more strategic view (14 mins 32 secs)
How the PCN Plus programme can help (15 mins 38 secs)
What might happen next (16 mins 35 secs)
Responding versus reacting (17 mins 42 secs)
A test of diplomacy and resilience in our Clinical Directors (18 mins 20 secs)
How to sign up for PCN Plus (19 mins 45 secs)
The PCN Plus online programme is now open for registrations! Aimed at new PCN Clinical Directors, the team of experts featured in today’s podcast will deliver training on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to sign up now, please visit our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
We are shaping up for the new world of integrated care systems (ICSs) and as part of this, the Fuller national stocktake is a live initiative which has been commissioned to appraise how well existing systems work with primary care (and others) to improve integration of patient care. As a senior GP who is leading on the data, population health management, risk stratification and health inequalities workstream, Dr Neil Modha talks to Ben about the scope of the review, how it is being conducted in practice, the influence of the review outcomes on general practice’s place in the new world, and how others can also get involved.
Introduction (41 secs)
How Neil became involved in the review (47 secs)
The purpose of the review (1 min 21 secs)
Is the review focused on PCNs, or is it a more holistic appraisal of primary care as a whole? (2 mins 11 secs)
How is the review being undertaken? (3 mins 15 secs)
Organisation of workstreams and input (3 mins 44 secs)
What are the likely outcomes and how are these measured? (5 mins)
Examples of best practice (6 mins 8 secs)
A focus on improving the interaction between the wider system and primary care (7 mins 18 secs)
PCN & ICS; getting off to the right start (8 mins 5 secs)
Report timeline (8 mins 56 secs)
What happens when the report it released? (9 mins 44 secs)
Maintaining the voice of general practice within a larger healthcare ecosystem (10 mins 25 secs)
The role of PCNs in the new world (11 mins 52 secs)
Shaping the future GP contract (13 mins 38 secs)
Talking sustainability (14 mins 24 secs)
A wider ownership of PCNs? (16 mins 40 secs)
Commissioning and funding deployment going forwards (17 mins 23 secs)
Advice for general practice staff on the PCN effort in light of the upcoming changes (18 mins 18 secs)
Finding out more (20 mins 10 secs)
Responses and input (21 mins 8 secs)
Deadline for feedback (22 mins 18 secs)
If you are interested in getting involved, would like to learn more and / or participate in providing input into The Fuller Review, please email here.
The Fuller Review engagement platform is additionally accessible here.
Our PCN Plus online programme is now open for registrations! Aimed at new PCN Clinical Directors, our team of experts will deliver training on all the need to knows, including (and not limited to); establishment of a PCN vision, communications, managing finances and workforce, and preparations for integrated care systems. If you are interested in learning more, or you’re keen to sign up, please see our dedicated webpage or you can contact Ben for further information.
NHS real estate is a complex business, particularly when you’re dealing with a sharp increase and influx of new staff, alongside a mass return to on-site working. In the next instalment of our monthly Practice Index / Ockham Healthcare series, residents Nicola Davies and Dr Hussain Gandhi, offer their thoughts on all things estates; from session planning, to support and management of the newly formed Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) teams, creation of hybrid working spaces, the benefits to both clinical and non-clinical staff of remote working. We try to pick apart the challenges and look at ways to maximise square footage, and maintain efficiency, whilst space is at a premium.
Introduction (40 secs)
The current situation in Nicola’s practice (1 min)
…and in Gandhi’s (1 min 36 secs)
Covid, the shift towards remote working, and the resulting impact on space (2 mins 17 secs)
The new version of remote working in a ‘post Covid’ era (2 mins 57 secs)
Nicola’s own experiences of remote working (3 mins 49 secs)
Have attitudes changed where remote working is concerned? (4 mins 53 secs)
Gandhi’s thoughts (6 mins 39 secs)
Remote session planning (7 mins 46 secs)
The resulting benefits in creating a more flexible working space (8 mins 22 secs)
Clinical working patterns within Nicola’s surgery (9 mins 10 secs)
Maintaining team spirit where multi-site working exists (10 mins 8 secs)
Considering the ARRS staff setup (11 mins 32 secs)
A sense of belonging and management of wellbeing needs (13 mins 32 secs)
Challenges for leaders (14 mins 59 secs)
Identifying with practice or PCN (16 mins 28 secs)
Meeting the estates needs of both clinical and non-clinical staff (17 mins 54 secs)
Hybrid working, digitisation of medical records and an IGPM update (20 mins 44 secs)
The Practice Index website is here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
Many in general practice may be unaware of the existence of the General Practice Committee, a recognised body which exists to represent all GPs in the UK, regardless of whether they are BMA members or not, and which is split into national groups of elected members who attend and speak on behalf their local constituent GPs. This week GP, mediator and former GPC member Clare Sieber returns to the podcast to fill us in on the work of the GPC, its role and objectives, and details her experiences of the committee and why she believes radical change within primary care and how the workforce are represented is required.
Introduction (9 secs)
Getting involved with the GPC (27 secs)
How does the GPC work? (1 min 49 secs)
Links to the LMCs (3 mins 14 secs)
The role of the GPC and their main objectives (3 mins 50 secs)
The mandate for industrial action (4 mins 45 secs)
What happened after the motion for strike action was passed? (5 mins 39 secs)
Contractual negotiations with NHS England (6 mins 54 secs)
Resignation from the committee (7 mins 55 secs)
The negotiation process (8 mins 27 secs)
Attempting to bring about change (9 mins 53 secs)
Issues with maintaining open communication and transparency (11 mins 42 secs)
What’s Clare’s sense of where General Practice is right now? (12 mins 25 secs)
Moving forwards from here (13 mins 57 secs)
Ensuring effective communication within the ICS new world (14 mins 49 secs)
How does general practice come together, and stand together? (15 mins 35 secs)
To learn more about what Clare can offer as a mediator, check out her LinkedIn profile here
The General Practice Mediation website is also here
To get in touch, Clare is contactable here
To find out more information about our PCN Plus training programme, focused on supporting and skilling PCN Clinical Directors to be successful in their roles, check out our dedicated webpage or get in touch with Ben here
With stress levels continuing to soar within all areas of the healthcare system, we felt it was time to tackle things head on and really get to grips with how conflict occurs specifically within primary care, what options are available to those involved in a breakdown in relations and why a mediator can be instrumental in moving things forward. This week, Ben talks to experienced GP and mediator Dr Clare Sieber about some of the situations she has been involved with, how mediation works in practice, when it is most likely to achieve success and why communication is again so crucial to avoiding the culture of a stressful and unhealthy workplace.
Introducing Clare (56 secs)
Becoming an accredited mediator (1 min 42 secs)
The most common types of disputes (3 mins 12 secs)
The principles of mediation and the legal parameters (3 mins 54 secs)
A mediation agreement (5 mins 53 secs)
How does the process work? (6 mins 28 secs)
Reaching an agreement (8 mins 6 secs)
What does a good outcome look like? (10 mins 10 secs)
What factors determine whether a mediation is likely to be successful (or unsuccessful)? (11 mins 27 secs)
Within a situation of conflict, what other options are available, as well as mediation? (13 mins 52 secs)
Avoiding conflict in the first place (15 mins 52 secs)
Managing PCN disputes (19 mins 12 secs)
Changes to PCN leadership (21 mins 55 secs)
Finding out more / getting in touch (23 mins)
To learn more about what Clare can offer as a mediator, check out her LinkedIn profile here
The General Practice Mediation website is also here
To get in touch, Clare is contactable here
To find out more information about our PCN Plus training programme, focused on supporting and skilling PCN Clinical Directors to be successful in their roles, check out our dedicated webpage or get in touch with Ben here
In what is a dose of pure positivity for a Monday, Alvanley Family Practice’s award-winning Nursing Director and Practice Nurse Katherine Parker joins Ben on this week’s Ockham podcast to give us an insight into the work of Primary Care nurses and how they can make a difference when stepping into leadership roles. Katherine details her own journey; where she sits within the wider practice team, the empowerment she has been given oversee the clinical workload and the innovation that she and her team continue to champion in their area. She also reflects on the impact of PCNs, the pandemic and how other practices and networks can better attract, retain, recognise, and champion their own nursing workforce, so that there is greater confidence in promoting general practice nursing across the board.
Introduction (10 secs)
Katherine’s role within the practice (24 secs)
The remit of a Nursing Director (1 min 10 secs)
Alignment with Practice Manager, Kay (1 min 56 secs)
Celebrating and championing innovation (2 mins 42 secs)
Group Consultations (3 mins 33 secs)
Why group consultations work (5 mins 5 secs)
A more efficient use of time? (5 mins 53 secs)
Social prescribing and the Alvanley Health Champions (6 mins 47 secs)
What are Alvanley’s key objectives when it comes to social presciribing? (8 mins 19 secs)
Wellness Navigators (9 mins 4 secs)
The benefits of a non-medical approach (11 mins 5 secs)
Katherine’s view of PCNs, from a nursing perspective (11 mins 37 secs)
Valuing Primary Care nurses (12 mins 33 secs)
Recruitment and retention (13 mins 25 secs)
Advocacy and empowerment of nurses (14 mins 54 secs)
The impact of Covid (16 mins 28 secs)
Ninja nursing! (18 mins 38 secs)
Advice for GPs and practices (19 mins 19 secs)
Finding out more & getting in touch (20 mins 34 secs)
The Alvanley Family Practice Facebook page can be found here
A wealth of resources can be found when searching for Katherine Parker and / or Kay Keane online (other search engines are available!)
More about Katherine the Ninja Nurse here
Finally, you can make direct contact with Katherine here
In the first of our new podcast series focused on the introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and the transition to yet wider scale working, we speak to distinguished GP Dr Jaweeda Idoo based at Alvanley Family Practice in Stockport. As Chair of her local GP federation, Jaweeda has played an active part in preparing for this brave new world and knows first-hand of the challenges which lie ahead. Here, she fills Ben in on the Greater Manchester journey so far, navigating the system and ensuring each element can move at the same pace, the continuing importance of the CCGs, maintaining the voices of individual practices in strengthening primary care’s wider influence, managing relationships and why continuous communication is, as always, key at this pivotal moment for general practice.
Introduction (33 secs)
Jaweeda’s role and remit (39 secs)
The relationship between federation, PCN and practices (1 mins 39 secs)
Managing tensions and maintaining authority (4 mins 44 secs)
The transition from Viaduct Federation Board to Stockport GP Board (7 mins 50 secs)
CCG involvement (10 mins 8 secs)
Building relationships across provider organisations whilst sustaining locality expertise (11 mins 25 secs)
The interface between Stockport and the Greater Manchester ICS (12 mins 32 secs)
How does an individual practice maintain a voice within a much wider system? (15 mins 26 secs)
Driving forward the general practice agenda (17 mins 4 secs)
Jaweeda’s advice for other areas when preparing for ICS go-live (18 mins 29 secs)
Finding out more (20 mins 10 secs)
Further information can be found via the medium of Twitter!
Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
Viaduct Care
Or you can make contact directly with Jaweeda here
Our Practice Index panel return and this week, podcast regulars Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies reflect on the workforce challenges in the year ahead (and beyond) both in their own, immediate areas of influence and across primary care in general. From assessing the situation right now, to recruitment and retention planning for the future, getting the best out of staff and supporting others in the networks – and the effect of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), our pro Practice Managers share their experiences (and their expertise) and tell us why their aim is to focus on the positive in 2022.
Introductions (40 secs)
Staffing levels right now (46 secs)
The challenges ahead (1 min 16 secs)
Robyn’s strategy for 2022 (2 mins 43 secs)
Has Covid had an impact on the expectations of existing and prospective staff? (4 mins 15 secs)
Reflecting on the positive effects of the pandemic (6 mins 30 secs)
Attracting new staff (7 mins 8 secs)
A focus on the rewarding aspects of general practice employment (8 mins 59 secs)
Do workforce pressures = poor network relations? (11 mins 14 secs)
What happens when another practice is struggling? (13 mins 52 secs)
Turning the “PCN problem” on its head (16 mins 22 secs)
Workforce planning in the time of ARRS (17 mins 28 secs)
Building resilience for the future (20 mins 17 secs)
The Practice Index website is here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
After a short hiatus for the festive break, the Ockham podcast is back, and kicking off 2022 with a focus on those considering and/ or beginning life as a new GP Partner. Ben, along with senior GP and podcast veteran Dr Naj Seedat, discuss the key factors when considering signing up to GP partnership, what you can expect from partnership (and dealing with the unexpected), the demands and the rewards - and what Naj has learned in his own 21-year journey. And for those feeling that they may need more formal learning, and the option to tap into a peer network of support? Ben and Naj also share their insights into our very own New to General Practice Partnership training programme which is open for enquiries and sign up now.
Introduction – and all about Naj (9 secs)
Making the decision to move into partnership (45 secs)
Early experiences (2 mins 17 secs)
The pressure of responsibility (3 mins 13 secs)
Lessons learned so far (3 mins 59 secs)
Building relationships (4 mins 55 secs)
Reflections on what might have been helpful to a new GP Partner when starting out (5 mins 30 secs)
What are the essential components for a successful partnership team? (6 mins 56 secs)
Maintaining successful communication within a practice (7 mins 44 secs)
The role of the Practice Manager in relation to the Partnership (9 mins 56 secs)
Then and now (11 mins 31 secs)
Where do new GP Partners feel support is most needed? (12 mins 29 secs)
The New to General Practice Partnership training programme; how we can help (14 mins 38 secs)
The challenges faced in both smaller and larger partnership teams (15 mins 48 secs)
Balancing leadership and management (17 mins 3 secs)
Naj’s top tips (18 mins 3 secs)
The importance of doing your due diligence (19 mins 9 secs)
To find out more about the New to General Practice Partnership training programme, our dedicated webpage is here. Alternatively, both Ben and Naj are happy to receive email queries directly.
Frailty and the introduction of a targeted service to better meet the needs of those living locally with frailty issues was high on the agenda of Townships 1 PCN Clinical Director and GP Dr Tom Holdsworth. Once CCG funding had been successfully secured, the challenge to recruit a clinical project lead was proving tricky and Tom was eventually convinced by a colleague that an Occupational Therapist, in the form of Julia Clifford, might be the answer. One year on from Julia’s appointment and following a formal evaluation of the service, both Tom and Julia join Ben to discuss all aspects of the transformative approach they are taking in Sheffield to support their frail populations. From Tom’s initial concerns about whether an OT could provide what was needed, to the service specification and what Julia can offer, working collaboratively with the other additional roles team, and the service evaluation findings, this week’s episode is another truly inspirational offering to round off the 2021 podcast series.
Introductions (26 secs)
The origins of ‘Townships 1’ PCN (38 secs)
How was the service first introduced? (58 secs)
Why a project focused on supporting frailty? (2 mins 57 secs)
The story behind recruiting an Occupational Therapist (OT) for the project role (3 mins 59 secs)
Preconceptions of what an OT could offer (4 mins 43 secs)
What attracted Julia to the role? (5 mins 8 secs)
Evaluating progress to date (5 mins 57 secs)
What are the most common scenarios and interventions? Where is Julia able to make the biggest impact? (8 mins 8 secs)
Alignment with the PCN’s ARRS strategy (9 mins 58 secs)
Making the most of the ARRS funding pot (10 mins 52 secs)
Formal service evaluation findings (12 mins 3 secs)
Are the practices feeling the impact? (13 mins 45 secs)
The risk of uncovering unmet need (14 mins 25 secs)
Continuing to progress amongst competing demands (14 mins 54 secs)
Working towards the anticipatory care specification (16 mins 46 secs)
Lessons learned from Julia’s perspective (18 mins 29 secs)
The full, published evaluation of the frailty project can be found here.
If you are interested in learning more, Tom and Julia are very happy to be contacted via their respective emails.
April 2022 marks a significant turning point in terms of finances for both employers and employees within primary care, as changes to the National Living Wage are made, the new Health and Social Care Levy comes into force and there are additional implications for those paying into the NHS Pensions Scheme. Regular podcast guest and primary care accountancy guru James Gransby returns to walk us through all the updates and what these could mean in real terms for practices and staff as individuals. James is joined by Practice Index panel members Nicola Davies and Claire Houston who reflect on the significance of the changes, how they can best prepare themselves (and their staff) as Practice Managers, and how they might mitigate the risks, and the knock on effect, on the ground.
Introductions (30 secs)
Changes to the National Living Wage (1 mins)
The Health and Social Care Levy (1 min 38 secs)
The knock-on effect on employers and employees (2 mins 32 secs)
Impact from a practice perspective (3 mins 7 secs)
Nicola’s reaction / pressure on staff (4 mins 12 secs)
Claire’s views / benchmarking performance in line with finance (6 mins 9 secs)
Implications for recruitment (7 mins 41 secs)
How can we make our vacancies more attractive to potential applicants? (8 mins 49 secs)
Pitting practice against practice (9 mins 41 secs)
Pensions changes in summary (10 mins 53 secs)
The effect of the McCloud Judgement (11 mins 40 secs)
Reviewing personal pensions choices (12 mins 13 secs)
How can we ensure everyone is aware of what’s coming? (16 mins 12 secs)
Where accountancy firms can help (18 mins 5 secs)
Will the additional costs be considered centrally? (19 mins 17 secs)
Contractual pressures (20 mins 21 secs)
Communication is key (21 mins 43 secs)
What else do we need to be aware of right now? (23 mins 17 secs)
The Practice Index benchmarking tool Claire mentioned can be found here
The Practice Index website is here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
There have been some notable developments in the NHS pensions world since we last caught up with expert Paul Gordon in the spring of 2020. Luckily, Paul is back to bring us up to speed and to explain in simple terms where things have changed, the impact of a highly publicised age discrimination case, what the changes mean in practice for GPs and primary care staff on the ground, the key considerations for individuals based on their circumstances and most importantly, making sure those eligible are able to access the annual allowance related government endorsed compensation scheme, the deadline for this and how to determine eligibility. Listen now for a full overview of all the crucial pensions need to knows, and where to go to find out more.
Introduction (9 secs)
The main developments and changes, in summary (40 secs)
The McCloud judgement (1 min 46 secs)
Th resulting impact of the age discrimination case findings (2 mins 8 secs)
A choice of two sets of benefits (3 mins 46 secs)
Why would I opt into the newer scheme? (5 mins 30 secs)
Remaining in the ‘original’ scheme (6 mins 39 secs)
Determining retirement age and associated options at that time (9 mins 8 secs)
Retirement age and the McCloud judgement (10 mins 42 secs)
Transition to the new scheme and what this means in real terms (13 mins)
Being mindful of the annual allowance… (14 mins 28 secs)
Annual allowance tax charges (16 mins 6 secs)
Claiming compensation for annual allowance excess tax charges (17 mins 22 secs)
Who is eligible for compensation? (18 mins 31 secs)
‘The remedy period’ and what this means for individual contributions, allowances & benefits (19 mins 19 secs)
Outlining the key differences between old and new pension schemes (20 mins 16 secs)
What employers should be aware of (21 mins 18 secs)
Finding out more (22 mins 54 secs)
To request the last 7 years’ worth of annual allowance growth figures, please ring NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBA) on 0300 330 1346.
The deadline for compensation claims relating to the 19/20 tax year and the annual allowance tax charge growth and excess payments is 11 February 2022. Claimants will need to complete a Scheme Pays Election form (available via Primary Care Support England) and a compensation form. Further information can be found here.
The times they are a-changin’ and as we enter the third year since the formation of primary care networks (PCNs), Ben is joined by podcast regular and primary care management guru Tara Humphrey to take stock of the current situation in general practice. Are we still surviving, rather than thriving? What gains have been made over the last 28 months? Where do the pressures lie and where are the incumbent Clinical Directors up to in their thinking of where to go next in taking their networks forward and/or handing on responsibility to a new leader? Have we made any progress in making sure the work of individual practices intertwines with network goals and our overall vision? Do we still have an overall vision? All this and more in this week’s fascinating episode…
Introduction (9 secs)
An update from Tara (26 secs)
What are the key challenges in the PCN world currently? (1 min 23 secs)
The pressure of the new delivery requirements (1 min 58 secs)
How a PCN Manager can help (4 mins)
The link between PCN Manager and ARRS staff (5 mins 3 secs)
Managing capacity and keeping up (5 mins 44 secs)
Recent BMA reaction and the impact of this on the ground (6 mins 51 secs)
Bridging the gap between practices and PCN (7 mins 43 secs)
Taking stock at this point in the PCN journey (9 mins 55 secs)
Face to face versus virtual working (11 mins 10 secs)
Next steps into the future (11 mins 49 secs)
Passing on the baton of Clinical Directorship (13 mins 4 secs)
Balancing hierarchical structure (13 mins 57 secs)
Re-establishment of the PCN purpose and why this is so important (15 mins 43 secs)
Getting in touch (17 mins 37 secs)
To connect with Tara and to access all the available resources on offer from THC Primary Care, do check out:
The THC Primary Care website
The Business of Healthcare Podcast to get the latest insights into business and management behind the scenes in primary care.
Tara’s Twitter and LinkedIn accounts
Applications for the second round of the incredibly popular New to General Practice Partnership training programme are open! If you are considering stepping into partnership, or are a newly appointed GP partner, the Ockham Health / THC Primary Care / McCartney Health Associates training course is scheduled to begin again in February 2022. If you would like to know more, or you would like to sign up, please get in touch with Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare
On her almost first anniversary of working in primary care, Nusrat Kausar joins Ben on the podcast this week to discuss the parameters of her role as a dietitian specialising in supporting pre-diabetic patients and those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within primary care. Based in a West Yorkshire PCN, Nusrat fills us in on her experiences so far; how her previous roles have influenced her journey into general practice, the value that dietitians can add in terms of supporting the PCN and her patients, her top tips for attracting, keeping and getting the most from a good dietitian, how dietitians can blend in seamlessly with existing staff (and the more newly established additional roles teams) and turning to the future, how she foresees the role developing even further.
Introduction (1 min 10 secs)
Designing a job description (1 min 56 secs)
Nusrat’s background as a dietitian (2 mins 40 secs)
Making the move into primary care (3 mins 29 secs)
What does a day in the life of a dietitian look like? (4 mins 6 secs)
The referral process and caseload (4 mins 37 secs)
PCN demographic and how each practice works within the system (5 mins 47 secs)
Maximising service engagement (6 mins 17 secs)
Monitoring the impact so far (7 mins 28 secs)
How is the service making a difference to patients? (8 mins 26 secs)
Working alongside other ARRS team members (9 mins 24 secs)
Encouraging a sense of belonging (10 mins 12 secs)
Line management and clinical supervision (11 mins 21 secs)
How can PCNs make the best use of their dietitian? (12 mins 3 secs)
Is a more flexible approach to role design better? (13 mins 28 secs)
Nusrat’s top tips for recruiting and retaining a dietitian (15 mins 9 secs)
Advice for dietitians who are considering working in general practice (16 mins 18 secs)
Looking ahead: How will the role develop going forwards? (17 mins 44 secs)
Recommended resources (19 mins 11 secs)
Applications for the second round of the incredibly popular New to General Practice Partnership training programme are now open! If you are considering stepping into partnership, or are a newly appointed GP partner, our training course scheduled to begin again in February 2022, in collaboration with McCartney Health Associates and THC Primary Care, might just be for you. If you’d like to know more, or if you’re already sold and keen to sign up, please get in touch with Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare
This week heralds the return of inspirational GP Dr Farzana Hussain, who runs The Project Surgery in Plaistow, east London, is Clinical Director of her local PCN and 2019’s GP of the Year, amongst other key roles where she champions innovation and quality improvement in primary care. Farzana is back to share her thoughts on the last year in her role as Clinical Director and what comes next for her Newham PCN. From the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) rollout, to going back to basics and defining local objectives, readying teams, and staff, for the move towards integrated care and the associated shift in her priorities, leading on an emotive and truly rewarding local project and attempting to redress the health inequalities balance, the pace of work continues to be unrelenting and 2022 looks set to be equally challenging. Listen here as Ben takes time to explore Farzana’s hopes, frustrations, achievements and aims in our latest podcast episode.
Introduction (10 secs)
An overview of the last year (30 secs)
The challenges of the ARRS (1 min 47 secs)
Why shared purpose is so important (2 mins 53 secs)
Preparing for integrated care systems (4 mins 24 secs)
Farzana’s view on the change in PCN deliverables (5 mins 19 secs)
Identifying priority areas (7 mins 12 secs)
Juggling practice and PCN priorities (8 mins 26 secs)
The Newham knife crime project (11 mins 24 secs)
The role of the Youth Link Worker and partnering with local community groups (13 mins 36 secs)
Levelling up the health inequalities imbalance (14 mins 54 secs)
What’s next for Farzana? (15 mins 40 secs)
Feeling the benefit of the additional roles (17 mins 3 secs)
Can we take control of the ICS agenda? (19 mins 8 secs)
“Dr Gandalf”, GP, eGPlearning podblast founder, and Ockham podcast favourite, is back with another fascinating insight into his most recent year as Clinical Director for Nottingham City East PCN. In this third instalment of his journey, Gandhi and Ben discuss the highlights of recent times, including the recruitment and expansion of a safeguarding care coordination service, how Nottingham East have embedded wider ARRS staff, the impact of the updated GP contracts within the network and on the patient population, preparations for the new world of integrated care in 2022 and what’s next on the agenda for Gandhi as he reflects on his achievements to date and why he remains as passionate as ever about his role.
Introduction (10 secs)
On how life is, right now (37 secs)
Practice vs PCN priorities (1 min 4 secs)
Maintaining individual identities within a wider network (2 mins 11 secs)
The Safeguarding Care Coordinator (3 mins 20 secs)
Recruitment of other additional roles (4 mins 23 secs)
Exploring the relationship between additional roles staff and the wider workforce (5 mins 39 secs)
Accommodating and integrating the ARRS teams (7 mins 16 secs)
The challenges presented by the new primary care contracts (7 mins 58 secs)
Gandhi’s view of the health inequalities risk presented by existing contractual targets (9 mins 38 secs)
How can we respond to contractual targets in practice? (10 mins 46 secs)
Reaction to the recent NHSE publication (12 mins)
Preparations for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) (14 mins 52 secs)
Where does the Clinical Director post sit in context with the LMCs and the development of the ICSs? (16 mins 43 secs)
Looking ahead… (17 mins 49 secs)
The best bits of clinical directorship (19 mins 25 secs)
The link to the eGPlearning YouTube channel is here
The dust has certainly not settled on the very recent NHS England publication on improving access for patients and supporting general practice and in the latest of our joint Practice Index / Ockham Healthcare podcast series, our ‘fab four’ react. Our now infamous panel of Practice Management extraordinaires and Institute of General Practice Management founders and directors, Nicola Davies, Robyn Clark, Kay Keane and Jo Wadey, talk to Ben about what’s been set out within the document and how they feel about it, following an outcry from IGPM members and primary care colleagues alike. From the risks posed by the way the funding has been set out, to an apparent lack of understanding about the reality on the ground right now, where this leaves the sector and how general practice could be better supported, the quartet tell us why the latest guidance falls so far short and share their concerns about what the future holds for a primary care which is already at crisis level.
Introduction (25 secs)
Initial reactions (46 secs)
Key concerns (1 min 14 secs)
Performance based funding (1 min 40 secs)
A lack of understanding about what’s happening on the ground (2 mins 52 secs)
The contradiction of improved access and promotion of remote consultations (4 mins 13 secs)
How should practices respond? (6 mins 28 secs)
Are there any useful takeaways from the publication? (8 mins 17 secs)
Onus on commissioners (9 mins 42 secs)
The risk of perverse incentivisation (10 mins 15 secs)
How can general practice be better supported right now? (11 mins)
IGPM response (11 mins 27 secs)
Feedback from individual practice managers (12 mins 52 secs)
An undeliverable expectation? (13 mins 21 secs)
A sign of things to come? (15 mins 33 secs)
The IGPM one year on and what is happening next (17 mins 19 secs)
Practice Index’s website can be found here
For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
With almost twelve months experience of delivering a first contact physiotherapy (FCP) service across three PCNs in South Tyneside, Connect Health can attest to their worth. In fact, the service has been so well received that the PCN are on a mission to double the numbers of physios across their area, going forwards. In this week’s episode we meet South Tyneside Clinical Director, Federation lead and GP Dr Anji Curry and Connect Health’s MSK Clinical Service Manager and Physiotherapy Advanced Practitioner Hal Brace, who talk to Ben about their journey so far; what first contact practitioners can bring to a PCN in terms of easing the workload burden and early intervention, the different models for recruitment, the importance of care navigation in supporting and complementing the FCP service, and why every team should consider inclusion of these vital roles within the context of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding available.
Introducing Anji (22 secs)
All about Hal (40 secs)
The South Tyneside PCN area (54 secs)
Adopting an innovative approach to the ARRS funding (1 min 20 secs)
PCN demographic (2 mins 30 secs)
A background to the FCP service and how the service has grown over time (2 mins 44 secs)
Partnering with Connect Health and the recruitment process for the FCPs (4 mins 58 secs)
How does the FCP service work in practice? (6 mins 5 secs)
The FCP spread across the PCN areas (8 mins 15 secs)
What have been the biggest challenges so far? (10 mins 38 secs)
Managing waiting times and clinic schedules (13 mins 12 secs)
Winning over more reluctant colleagues (14 mins 6 secs)
The relationship between the PCNs and Connect Health (15 mins 32 secs)
Why data measures and audits are key (17 mins 10 secs)
Planning for the future (18 mins 1 sec)
Advice and top tips from Hal and from Anji (19 mins 3 secs)
If you would like further information and / or would like to get in touch with the team at Connect Health, please visit their website here
Picking back up on our series of podcasts about making the best use of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, this week Ben meets a multi-skilled, multidisciplinary team of professionals who are all working towards achieving better mental health outcomes for the students, staff and young people based in and around the University of Nottingham campus. The wellbeing team, led by GP DR Matt Litchfield, consists of Stuart Keeling, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Amy Smith, Occupational Therapist and Emma Swearman, Health and Wellbeing Coach. Based at Cripps Health Centre, the four each give us an insight into their backgrounds and their current roles, what they can offer to better the lives of their patients, both individually and as a collective, the enormous growth of the service over a relatively short time span and the wider impact they are having at practice level and to the benefit of the local healthcare sector, more widely.
Introducing Matt, Stuart, Amy & Emma (9 secs)
The practice, PCN and local population (29 secs)
Where the wellbeing team began (1 min 16 secs)
Stuart’s background and the growth of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner role within the wellbeing team (2 mins 17 secs)
Appointment structure (5 mins 31 secs)
Amy’s input as an Occupational Therapist (OT) and what OTs can bring to a mental health service (6 mins 39 secs)
The transition of OTs into primary care (8 mins 32 secs)
Emma as a Health and Wellbeing Coach (10 mins 6 secs)
How does Emma’s role work in practice? (11 mins 26 secs)
Community health and wellbeing groups (12 mins 18 secs)
Measuring success (13 mins)
Team management structure and supervision (15 mins 11 secs)
The impact of the team on the wider practice and patients (16 mins 25 secs)
Meeting patient needs (17 mins 59 secs)
The importance of early intervention and the benefit to the wider healthcare partners (18 mins 22 secs)
Employment of the mental health practitioner in partnership with local providers (19 mins 31 secs)
Planning for the future (20 mins 54 secs)
Getting in touch (22 mins 37 secs)
If you have any specific questions, or you’d like to learn more about the inspiring work of the University of Nottingham wellbeing team, please contact Matthew or Stuart.
The struggle for leaders across primary care has never been more real. The ability to influence others and enact change whilst the sector is under such tremendous pressure has never been more difficult. So, what can we do to move our teams both at practice level, and when it comes to navigating and negotiating new ways of working across a network of people who have only very recently been thrown together? How do we manage tricky relationships and partners who don’t want to engage? How do ensure we are still able to prioritise and practice self-care at the same time? Thankfully, Dr Rachel Morris, GP and thought leader on resilience in the workplace, returns to the podcast to discuss all of the above (and more), and how both she and Ben can help those at the top to access further support, beyond this week’s episode.
National recognition (14 secs)
The ‘You Are Not A Frog’ podcast (31 secs)
Making friends and influencing people (48 secs)
The challenges of network working (2 mins 4 secs)
Starting with the problem, instead of the change (3 mins 9 secs)
The way you market your solutions matters (4 mins 24 secs)
Supporting GP leaders to improve collaborative working (5 mins 27 secs)
Recognising and addressing other people’s concerns (6 mins 49 secs)
The power of a network vision (8 mins 35 secs)
Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme: Reducing short-term pain to realise the long-term gain (10 mins 39 secs)
Linking specific goals to overall vision (12 mins 20 secs)
Starting with the “why?” (14 mins)
Executing new ideas (15 mins 12 secs)
Being realistic (16 mins 39 secs)
The importance of debate and being able to conflict well (17 mins 57 secs)
The Resilient Team Academy (19 mins 11 secs)
How can leaders support their teams without burning out? Training opportunity! (20 mins 4 secs)
For more information about the free online training session this coming Monday 11th October at 7.30pm ‘How to support your team through the new ways of working in primary care without burning out yourself’, please click here. The webinar will cover key topics such as how to support others more effectively, tackling the moaners and complainers; and how to empower your team and get them unstuck.
The links to all the reading material Rachel has referenced in this week’s episode are listed below:
'Influence Without Authority’ by Allan R. Cohen and David L. Bradford
‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek
‘Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less’ by Greg McKeown
‘Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions’ by John Kotter
‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable’ by Patrick Lencioni
In the latest episode of our monthly Practice Index podcast series, regular panel members Practice Managers Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies are joined by Ilford-based GP Principal and Partner Dr Naj Seedat. The trio, alongside our very own Ben Gowland, discuss the increasingly negative PR campaign which general practice has fallen victim to within the press, social media outlets and amongst frustrated patient communities. Can the tide be turned and if so, how? Do extraordinary measures need to be put in place to protect practice staff from the very real threats of harm and in some cases, almost daily incidences of verbal abuse? Can we really find a way to tackle the surge in demand for face-to-face appointments whilst Covid is of continuing concern, and whilst we are dealing with the biggest staffing crisis we may have ever known? With winter approaching, the future certainly looks bleak in primary care, but the panel have their own ideas about how we might be able to face down the criticism, win hearts and minds and most importantly, ensure we are looking after ourselves in the process.
Introductions (30 secs)
All about Naj (50 secs)
How is life on the general practice front line right now? (1 min 16 secs)
Robyn’s perspective (2 mins 19 secs)
Naj’s experiences of the current situation (3 mins 42 secs)
The access conundrum (4 mins 13 secs)
Meeting the demand for face-to-face consultations in the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic (5 mins 57 secs)
The workforce crisis (7 mins 25 secs)
Celebrating success (8 mins 43 secs)
Discussing the lack of support centrally – and from the top (10 mins 31 secs)
Media, public opinion, and the voices of negativity (11 mins 45 secs)
Safeguarding general practice staff from the threat of abuse (13 mins 17 secs)
Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy (16 mins 11 secs)
What can be done to turn the tide? (17 mins 35 secs)
Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) stance (19 mins 30 secs)
Practice Index’s website can be found here
For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
Dr Dustyn Saint is a GP with a special interest in informatics, data analytics and in making life a little easier for those working under tremendous pressure in primary care. Following the fallout from the worldwide pandemic, he and his team at Primary Care IT, the organisation Dustyn and his colleague founded to share, evolve, and grow the tools and resources already embedded within their own, respective practices, jumped into action, to see what they could refine and improve – and what might be needed to support primary care staff before, during and beyond the Covid outbreak. Amongst the multitude of Covid templates and tools, the introduction of a Covid ‘hub’ space and the development of some high spec remote consultation tech, they have also introduced a data analytics tool, to assist general practice leaders in not only staying on top of their financial targets and income streams, but enabling more proactive and strategic decision-making, as a result of presenting a more detailed insight into their income patterns, and those of others. Here, Dustyn touches on the Primary Care IT journey since Covid hit, and why he believes the OneAnalytics tool can really make a difference.
Introduction (19 secs)
Primary Care IT (26 secs)
Dustyn’s journey (the link to his first Ockham podcast episode) (1 min 8 secs)
The impact of Covid on the primary care digital agenda (1 min 19 secs)
Covid templates and tools on offer (1 min 51 secs)
The Covid Hub (2 mins 25 secs)
Remote consultations and long-term condition reviews (3 mins 33 secs)
The practice income data analytics tool (4 mins 41 secs)
Where does the income data originate from, and can we access this too? (6 mins 30 secs)
How up to date is this data? (7 mins 5 secs)
A how-to of using the tool (7 mins 48 secs)
Initial conclusions and findings (8 mins 36 secs)
Preparing for integrated care (11 mins)
Early indicators and planning ahead (12 mins 9 secs)
Feedback from those on the ground (13 mins 4 secs)
Which users should have access to the tool? (14 mins 2 secs)
What’s the impact of the tool on overall financial management? (15 mins 8 secs)
Webinar guidance (17 mins 50 secs)
What’s next? (18 mins 10 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 37 secs)
More information can be found on the Primary Care IT website
If you’d like to get in touch with Dustyn and his team at Primary Care IT, all the available contact points can be found here
GP Dr Neil Modha returns to the Ockham sofa this week to discuss the topic of health inequalities, something which is particularly close to his heart on account of the vulnerable communities which make up the majority of his Thistlemoor practice in Peterborough’s patient population. From QOF measures to Covid vaccination numbers, Neil explains why the current funding model and the systems in place are not always supportive of those working their hardest to meet the needs of those most in need but also, with the introduction of integrated care systems and some close liaison with NHS England, why there is reason to be optimistic going forwards.
Introduction (36 secs)
The population served by Neil’s practice (50 secs)
How the Thistlemoor team are meeting the needs of vulnerable patient groups (1 min 24 secs)
Covid vaccinations and why measured targets are not always representative of efforts on the ground (2 mins 23 secs)
Weighted populations (5 mins 5 secs)
The Carr-Hill formula and how it works in practice (6 mins 1 sec)
Other GP contract pressures (7 mins 2 secs)
Challenges of QOF and ‘absolute’ target setting (8 mins 49 secs)
Increasing the inequality gap (9 mins 40 secs)
The digital impact (11 mins 25 secs)
Barriers to tech (12 mins 42 secs)
What is the best way forward? (14 mins 5 secs)
Can change happen with the introduction of integrated care systems? (16 mins 44 secs)
The appetite for change within the centralised bodies (18 mins 41 secs)
Optimism for the future (20 mins 25 secs)
Funding analysis– can you help?! (21 mins 19 secs)
The episode Ben refers to, where Neil introduces us to Thistlemoor’s innovative open access model, can be found here
If you can assist with some funding analysis, Ben can put you in touch with Neil
For too long general practice nursing has been in crisis with high rates of staff turnover, a lack of opportunity to progress - or to seek training and development to progress, coupled with nursing confidence in the system at an all time low and stress levels at an all-time high. As a result, the ten-point action plan for general practice nursing was implemented with the aim of developing confidence, capability, and capacity across primary care nursing. As Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership’s training hub lead, Mel Lamb has been instrumental in embedding the ten-point plan principles in her area; supporting, and promoting the work of her fellow nurses, and providing encouragement to develop their skills further and ultimately, to progress with confidence. In this week’s episode, she talks Ben through her role, the legacy she hopes that the ten-point plan can leave for both newly qualified nurses and those already in post and most importantly, if the work Mel and her colleagues are doing can enable a brighter future for general practice nursing, going forwards.
Introduction (37 secs)
Mel’s role as a training hub lead (56 secs)
Implementation of the 10-point action plan for general practice nursing (1 min 48 secs)
Mel’s first impressions (2 mins 31 secs)
Is there a crisis in general practice nursing and can this be overcome? (4 mins 5 secs)
Training and development opportunities on offer to nurses right now (5 mins 11 secs)
Impact on morale and improving recruitment and retention (7 mins 54 secs)
Establishing a support network (9 mins 4 secs)
The ‘threat’ of the additional roles (11 mins 2 secs)
Are nurses’ skills and experiences appropriately utilised when planning for the new roles? (12 mins 48 secs)
Training hubs and what they can offer (13 mins 52 secs)
Accessing and locating local training hubs (15 mins 7 secs)
Breaking down the barriers to nurse leadership opportunities (15 mins 45 secs)
Is the 10-point plan working? (17 mins 46 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 52 secs)
If you’re interested in learning more about the 10-point action plan, further information can be found here
Mid and South Essex Training Hub’s Twitter contact
To get in touch via email
Episode 271 - Podcast – Taurus Healthcare – Inspiring great leadership in the dawn of Integrated Care Systems
The healthcare landscape is once again changing, and it is expanding rapidly. The age of integrated care systems (ICSs) is almost upon us and with it heralds a new set of challenges for general practice, particularly when it comes to establishing and maintaining effective leadership and enabling sound and unified decision making (which truly represents all local parties). This week, we introduce Dr Mike Hearne and Nisha Sankey, Managing Director and Director of Strategy and PCNs respectively, from the GP federation Taurus Healthcare based in Herefordshire. Both Mike and Nisha have been instrumental in setting up and running the Herefordshire General Practice Leadership Team; a single, decision-making body incorporating Herefordshire’s PCNs, federation, LMCs and CCG teams. Our podcast this week explores their journey; their infrastructure and resources, the decision-making processes in place, the obstacles and challenges they have faced along the way and how and why a single, unified leadership team will be instrumental in the new, integrated world.
Introductions (45 secs)
Taurus Healthcare background and achievements to date (52 secs)
Nisha’s role (2 mins 7 secs)
Relationships between PCNs and federation (2 mins 52 secs)
Taurus infrastructure (3 mins 55 secs)
The General Practice Leadership Team (4 mins 58 secs)
Establishing a recognised decision-making forum (6 mins 56 secs)
Managing pushback and obstacles (7 mins 41 secs)
Non-clinical chairmanship (9 mins 10 secs)
Nisha’s view on impartiality (10 mins 14 secs)
Manging tensions when it comes to decision making (10 mins 47 secs)
Facing future challenges (12 mins 5 secs)
Preserving the views of the group within individual representation (12 mins 54 secs)
Maintaining proactivity in the new world (15 mins 23 secs)
Resourcing and representation within the ICS environment (17 mins 16 secs)
Financial considerations (19 mins 41 secs)
Funding channels (20 mins 24 secs)
Getting in touch / finding out more (21 mins 40 secs)
The team at Taurus Healthcare are more than happy to talk and to share their experiences with others. All their main contact points are shown below:
Taurus Healthcare website
LAST CALL FOR REMAINING PLACES! Information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme, for those new to partnership or considering going into partnership, can be found here.
The introduction of new roles is not new to general practice, particularly right now, but with the relatively short timeframe that practices have had to adjust to the changes and the challenges following the introduction of the PCNs, it is not surprising that those working in the PCN Manager roles can find it difficult to integrate and engage with local staff. For Practice Managers who have long been used to the autonomy of leading their individual areas and juggling competing demands, the arrival of another manager and entrusting that they can prioritise their practice’s needs can be of concern. In our latest Practice Index / Ockham podcast series, we explore this theme with our resident Practice Management leads, Nicola Davies, and Robyn Clark, and with two experienced PCN Managers, Julie Damon and Tara Humphrey who share their experiences to date. The panel are all in agreement that the Practice Manager / PCN Manager relationship can and should work in harmony, but how can this happen and what can those who are struggling on both sides right now do to improve confidence and maximise the ability to deliver?
Introductions (39 secs)
Julie says hello (1 min 2 secs)
Reintroducing Tara (1 min 31 secs)
Robyn’s relationship with her PCN Manager (2 mins 9 secs)
Nicola’s network (2 mins 43 secs)
Julie’s experiences of working alongside the Practice Managers in her area (3 mins 23 secs)
Building trust with existing practice staff (4 mins 8 secs)
Why keeping in touch is so important (5 mins 13 secs)
The challenges Tara has faced in the past (5 mins 44 secs)
What made things tough? (6 mins 46 secs)
Finding a way through (7 mins 43 secs)
What does the role of the PCN Manager mean for Practice Managers? (8 mins 43 secs)
Nicola’s view (9 mins 34 secs)
Confidence and communication (10 mins 42 secs)
Learning to let go (11 mins 44 secs)
PCN v Practice (12 mins 49 secs)
The challenges of meeting workload demand (15 mins 4 secs)
Advice from Robyn and Nicola for PCN Managers who may be struggling to engage with practice staff (16 mins 55 secs)
Julie and Tara share their wisdom (19 ins 18 secs)
Recommended resources (21 mins 6 secs)
Support from the Institute of General Practice Management (22 mins 18 secs)
Practice Index’s website can be found here
For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here
THC Primary Care’s website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here
This week’s episode of our additional roles focused series of podcasts features Alliance for Better Care’s multi-talented Chantelle Martin, an Occupational Therapist by background, who made the jump into social prescribing – and back again! Chantelle’s talks to Ben about her experiences of both worlds, her personal journey within general practice, and why she is now a passionate advocate and supporter of a hybrid approach to embedding the additional roles. So much so, that she has is pioneering and leading a joint social prescribing and occupational therapy service in her local area to enhance and complement what is already on offer to practices and patients.
Introduction (46 secs)
All about Chantelle (59 secs)
Jumping from occupational therapy into social prescribing (1 min 47 secs)
Haywards Heath PCN (2 mins 55 secs)
Starting out as the PCN’s first social prescribing link worker (3 mins 31 secs)
Network versus practice (4 mins 11 secs)
The social prescribing role (4 mins 29 secs)
Referral criteria and pathways (5 mins 45 secs)
Moving back to occupational therapy and the birth of a joint service (6 mins 25 secs)
How can social prescribing link workers and OTs work in partnership? (7 mins 36 secs)
Support, supervision, and caseload management (9 mins 4 secs)
A sense of belonging and influence (10 mins 10 secs)
Chantelle’s support network (12 mins 25 secs)
The occupational therapy service (13 mins 8 secs)
Expanding the social prescribing team (14 mins 21 secs)
Are the additional roles attractive enough for potential applicants? (15 mins 15 secs)
Meeting social prescribing referral targets (16 mins 13 secs)
Lessons learned (17 mins 46 secs)
Working as holistic teams, rather than as separate services (19 mins 12 secs)
Recommended resources (20 mins 17 secs)
There are still a couple of places up for grabs on each of the courses Ben is jointly running in September:
For clinical directors looking for some ongoing, structured support, the PCN Clinical Director Mastermind Programme is still open for applications. Click here if you’d like to find out more.
Information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme, for those new to partnership or considering going into partnership, can be found here.
If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the courses which are currently on offer further, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare
Our Additional Roles podcast series continues and this week we focus on Streatham PCN’s innovative approach to the introduction of Care Coordinators into their network. Streatham PCN Clinical Director Emma Rowley-Conwy joins Ben to give us an insight into their journey; from their initial considerations of how to use the funding once they knew it would be made available, the roles they decided to start with, why they felt the development and promotion of existing practice support staff was the way to go when establishing a care coordination team and crucially, the positive impact they are seeing on patients, practices and network staff across the board.
Introduction (44 secs)
Streatham PCN setup (55 secs)
Streatham’s initial approach to the additional roles scheme (1 min 10 secs)
Practice involvement in development of the Pharmacy roles (2 mins 18 secs)
Expansion from Pharmacists to Care Coordinators (3 mins 9 secs)
Early considerations of how best to use the Care Coordinators (4 mins 41 secs)
Numbers of Care Coordinators in post right now (5 mins 59 secs)
Development of the Care Coordinator roles across the network (6 mins 7 secs)
How are caseloads and referrals managed in practice? (9 mins 13 secs)
Tackling the problem of variation across practices (10 mins 29 secs)
Recruitment process (11 mins 35 secs)
Building the roles and the confidence of the team and establishing consistency (11 mins 50 secs)
Monitoring the impact (13 mins 3 secs)
How are the practices feeling the benefits? (13 mins 30 secs)
Taking the next step (14 mins 58 secs)
Where the additional roles may fit when the new PCN specs are published (16 mins 24 secs)
Lessons learned (16 mins 46 secs)
Support networks (17 mins 59 secs)
There are still a couple of places up for grabs on each of the courses Ben is jointly running in September:
For clinical directors looking for some ongoing, structured support, the PCN Clinical Director Mastermind Programme is still open for applications. Click here if you’d like to find out more.
Information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme, for those new to partnership or considering going into partnership, can be found here.
If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the courses which are currently on offer further, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare
When you are thinking of entering into general practice partnership, there is a very definite dearth of information and insider knowledge available to potential new partners. There are a number of really crucial factors to consider and some specific information you may require access to, in order to really understand what the expectations are of you and most importantly, whether the partnership is worthy of your investment and how likely you are to succeed in it. Fortunately, Robert McCartney, solicitor, and general practice business consultant, returns to the Ockham sofa this week to cut through the confusion and to give us some clear advice on navigating and negotiating what can be an incredibly tricky path. From property, people and finances to the business, the vision and the culture, this week’s episode gives a much-needed overview and insight into practice partnership for beginners.
Introduction (45 secs)
Primary considerations for those thinking of entering into GP partnership (1 min 14 secs)
Assessing leadership, management, and the level of team engagement within a network (1 min 56 secs)
How important are clearly defined roles within a partnership? (2 mins 51 secs)
The business and the vision (3 mins 44 secs)
Partnership commitment (5 mins 36 secs)
Guidance on governance (6 mins 25 secs)
Recognising red flags where finance is concerned (7 mins 29 secs)
Investment in general practice property (8 mins 59 secs)
What potential GP partners should be mindful of when it comes to property (10 mins 11 secs)
Other property related considerations (11 mins 38 secs)
People and HR (11 mins 59 secs)
Recognising good practices from not so good practices in the current climate (13 mins 13 secs)
Why Practice Management is key (15 mins 38 secs)
The journey to parity (16 mins 33 secs)
Where does the power lie right now? (19 mins 19 secs)
New to Partnership Payment Scheme; negotiating terms and what to expect (20 mins 23 secs)
How the New to General Practice Partnership course can help (21 mins 52 secs)
If this episode has whet your appetite and you’re keen to know more, information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme (and how to sign up) can be found here
If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the course on offer further, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare or Robert at rm@mccartneyhealth.co.uk
Podcast regulars and Practice Manager extraordinaires Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies return for the next instalment of our joint Practice Index / Ockham Healthcare podcast series. This week, the panel reflect on what the world of general practice might look like after the so-called ‘freedom day’ on 19th July. What will the initial changes be to their practices and practice locally (if any)? What are the longer-term impacts likely to be on staff, workload and on patients? What have we learned as a result of the pandemic that we can carry forward to the next, critical phase of working in primary care? And importantly, how can the IGPM support the practice management community with the demands of the upcoming winter months ahead?
Introductions (32 secs)
Robyn and Nicola’s initial thoughts about the change in Covid guidelines (38 secs)
Face mask policy approach (1 min 40 secs)
The call from the new Health Secretary to “embrace risk” (2 mins 17 secs)
Current level of demand in general practice (3 mins 43 secs)
Preparing for the winter months (5 mins 23 secs)
Looking ahead to the next phase of the enhanced service (6 mins 37 secs)
Is it possible for general practice to deliver the Covid vaccination boosters and meet the QOF targets? (9 mins 41 secs)
Does meeting the additional workload come at a cost to core general practice output? (11 mins 36 secs)
Enhanced service impact on flu vaccinations (13 mins 15 secs)
What are the barriers to network working? (15 mins 51 secs)
Are GP practices increasingly collaborative and less competitive as a result of the pandemic? (17 mins 5 secs)
IGPM update and how the IGPM will be supporting general practice through the next critical phase (17 mins 56 secs)
For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here
Practice Index’s website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
Following on from our recent episode about the difference Health and Wellbeing Coaches can make in supporting patients with a non-medical approach (and continuing with our podcast series following the progression of those working within the additional roles), we introduce you to Newcastle GP Services’ and the north east’s original Health and Wellbeing Coach Frazer Solomon. With a long history of related care within the private sector, Frazer explains why his services are the perfect fit in primary care and how, despite his newness to public health, he has already been able to transform the lives of the patients he treats.
Introduction (46 secs)
What is a Health and Wellbeing Coach? (57 secs)
Linking with the wider team (1 min 58 secs)
Shaping the role (2 mins 24 secs)
Patient support groups (3 mins 52 secs)
Expansion of Frazer’s remit (4 mins 47 secs)
Team working (6 mins 5 secs)
Referral pathway (6 mins 45 secs)
PCN construct (7 mins 48 secs)
A disparity in practice referral numbers (8 mins 6 secs)
The importance of promotion and exposure of the role (9 mins 17 secs)
Work base (10 mins 19 secs)
Positive feedback and results (11 mins 2 secs)
What’s the most rewarding part of the job? (12 mins 8 secs)
Caseload numbers and patient management (12 mins 57 secs)
Support networks (13 mins 33 secs)
Establishment of a health and wellbeing team (14 mins 16 secs)
Service development (15 mins 17 secs)
The key components of a Health and Wellbeing person spec. (16 mins 30 secs)
Supporting Health and Wellbeing Coaches to succeed (17 mins 30 secs)
Another reminder that If you are interested in joining the PCN Clinical Director mastermind group programme which Rachel Morris and Ben have setup, or have any questions, please email ben@ockham.healthcare or rachel@shapestoolkit.com – or please check out our dedicated page here.
Social prescribing is already proving its worth in many practices up and down the country. It is traditionally embedded and under the control of the PCN or health authority but what about when provision of the service is by way of a third-party organisation? Edberts House is a charitable, community-based project in Gateshead who have long been involved in supporting the health and well-being needs of their local populations. It is a testament to their success that they are now responsible for the provision of social prescribing link workers to the health authorities in their area and it is a model that they believe is undoubtedly the most effective in giving the most vulnerable access to fully holistic care. Jackie Jamieson is the Community Linking Project Manager at Edberts House and speaks to Ben about how the third-party model works in practice, the benefits of the model and the impact they are making on the practices they work with - and their patients.
Introductions (33 secs)
What is Edberts House? (43 secs)
How social prescribing at Edberts House was born (1 min 24 secs)
The population and PCNs Edberts House cover (2 mins 41 secs)
How the service works in practice (3 mins 19 secs)
Staffing bases (4 mins 24 secs)
Referral process (5 mins 6 secs)
The role of the social prescriber (5 mins 42 secs)
Caseload numbers (7 mins 7 secs)
Relationships with the PCNs (7 mins 46 secs)
Funding and finance structure (9 mins 17 secs)
Partnership recruitment (9 mins 17 secs)
Meeting referral benchmarks (10 mins 31 secs)
Referral numbers (11 mins 40 secs)
How are the team at Edberts House making a difference? (12 mins 59 secs)
Feedback from practices (14 mins 39 secs)
Linking with other additional roles (15 mins 27 secs)
Planning for the future (16 mins 38 secs)
Are partnership models more likely to succeed? (18 mins 30 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 6 secs)
For more information, the Edberts House website is here
Another reminder that If you are interested in joining the PCN Clinical Director mastermind group programme which Rachel Morris and Ben have setup, or have any questions, please email ben@ockham.healthcare or rachel@shapestoolkit.com – or please check out our dedicated page here.
It’s the next episode in our series of podcasts dedicated to the new roles in primary care. This week, our spotlight is on the relatively newly formed Selby Town PCN care coordination team. Ben is joined by Clinical Director Dr Nick Jackson, Fiona Bell-Morritt, Lead Officer at NHS Vale of York CCG, Dementia Care Coordinator Helen Brazil and Frailty Care Coordinator Alice Houlden to explore the overwhelmingly positive impact the care coordinators are making on the wider team and in particular on the vulnerable members of their patient community. From the beginning of their journey, and the adoption of a population health management strategy, to recruitment and development of the care coordination team, an overview of the role itself and the work that’s encompassed, the benefits on offer to both the internal teams and externally, and the lessons learned; our episode today is testament to the powerful influence that the new roles can make.
Introductions (29 secs)
Selby Town PCN (49 secs)
Why did the PCN team decide to recruit their care coordinators? (1 min 29 secs)
First impressions (1 min 54 secs)
Introducing Fiona (2 mins 15 secs)
Fiona’s role in supporting the introduction of the care coordinators (3 mins 1 sec)
Identifying vulnerable patient groups (3 mins 32 secs)
Hearing from Helen (3 mins 54 secs)
Helen’s previous work experience and why the care coordination role was so appealing (4 mins 14 secs)
The evolution of Helen’s role (4 mins 59 secs)
What is care coordination? From Helen’s point of view (7 mins 56 secs)
Alice’s perspective (9 mins 27 secs)
Alice’s background and why she was attracted to the care coordination role (9 mins 45 secs)
The reality of being a care coordinator (10 mins 15 secs)
Responsibility for Selby Town’s frail population (11 mins 29 secs)
Describing the nature of Alice’s work (12 mins 5 secs)
Practice versus PCN? (12 mins 59 secs)
Measuring success (13 mins 44 secs)
Internal and external benefits (14 mins 47 secs)
The difference that can be made to patients’ lives (15 mins 53 secs)
Impact on other practice staff (19 mins 10 secs)
Developing the service (20 mins 10 secs)
Reflections and lessons learned…starting with Fiona (20 mins 53 secs)
Advice from Nick (22 mins 19 secs)
Helen’s top tips (22 mins 48 secs)
A final word from Alice (24 mins 24 secs)
Another reminder that If you are interested in joining the PCN Clinical Director mastermind group programme which Rachel Morris and Ben have setup, or have any questions, please email ben@ockham.healthcare or rachel@shapestoolkit.com – or please check out our dedicated page here.
Life as a PCN leader can be a little lonely at the top. When you’re in charge of your organisation, who do you turn to when you need to download, offload, get a general sense of perspective and / or perhaps just some good old-fashioned advice? This is increasingly becoming an issue for many of our most senior staff in general practice and with demand and stress levels at an all-time high, access to great peer support has never been more important. So, enter GP and executive coach Dr Rachel Morris and our very own General Practice Podcast host Ben. With a wealth of hands-on experience as both clinical and executive leaders, they discuss what great peer support looks like, the ingredients required for successful mentorship and coaching, who you should approach and most importantly, what’s on offer with the all-new mastermind group programme they have recently set up.
Introduction (33 secs)
Rachel’s thoughts on peer support and why it is so important (52 secs)
How do you identify the best sources of support? (2 mins 13 secs)
Can talking to peers outside of your PCN really help? (4 mins 26 secs)
Different methods of peer support (6 mins 45 secs)
Optimising a mastermind experience (9 mins 54 secs)
Why accountability matters (11 mins 38 secs)
The ideal demographic of a mastermind group (13 mins 14 secs)
How Rachel and Ben can help with peer support (14 mins 53 secs)
What’s on offer when you join Rachel and Ben’s mastermind programme and who should apply (16 mins 40 secs)
Group rules (17 mins 9 secs)
Finding out more and signup (17 mins 48 secs)
Establishing a mastermind group of your own (!8 mins 12 secs)
If you’re interested in joining the PCN Clinical Director mastermind group programme which Rachel and Ben have setup, or have any questions, please email ben@ockham.healthcare or rachel@shapestoolkit.com
For more information, please check out our dedicated page here
Just six short months ago, a super group of determined Practice Managers set out on a mission to ensure those in management roles within general practice would have their voices heard – and to recognise the invaluable contribution these roles make in keeping practices and networks running every day. Borne out of collective frustration and dismay at the lack of support and the numbers of highly experienced managers leaving the sector, a not for profit, professional body representing practice managers and those in management roles, the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM), was founded. In this month’s joint Practice Index and Ockham podcast, we pick up the conversation where we left off November 2020, and hear from the four, formidable founders of the institute about the great strides (and indeed, waves) they have been making since joining forces; from hard-hitting campaigns, recruitment of regional IGPM champions, a proposed accreditation process and the impact they are already making.
Introductions (36 secs)
How has the IGPM taken off? (1 min 2 secs)
Who is on board? (2 mins 57 secs)
Finding the time to nurture and grow the IGPM (4 mins 46 secs)
Professional recognition (5 mins 16 secs)
Support from the LMCs (6 mins 30 secs)
IGPM membership (8 mind 34 secs)
Is the formation of an accreditation process the main goal of the IGPM? (9 mins 31 secs)
Does professional accreditation confine practice management to a particular role? (10 mins 40 secs)
New to partnership scheme (12 mins 38 secs)
‘If I die, it’ll be your fault” (13 mins 5 secs)
Campaign launch (15 mins 15 secs)
Kay gives a key example of why the campaign is much needed (16 mins 10 secs)
What next for the IGPM? (17 mins 14 secs)
Finding out more (18 mins 43 secs)
For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here
Practice Index’s website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
It’s the third in our series of podcasts covering the experiences of those working in the new Primary Care additional roles. This week’s episode features Lisa Barnes, a Health and Wellbeing Coach based within SEOxHA PCN, Oxfordshire. Appointed in September 2020, Lisa is very possibly one of the most experienced health coaches in Primary Care so we invited her to the Ockham couch to talk us through her experiences so far; what exactly a health coach can offer in terms of services, who is most likely to benefit, why linking with community support hubs is key, how health and wellbeing coaches can relieve some of the burden on the medical teams and most importantly, how they can have a positive impact on their patients both directly and indirectly.
Introduction (29 secs)
Lisa’s journey to becoming a health and wellbeing coach (42 secs)
PCN makeup (1 min 33 secs)
What is a health coach? (1 min 57 secs)
Patient demographic (3 mins 11 secs)
Appointment structure (4 mins 27 secs)
The impact a health and wellbeing coach can make (6 mins 22 secs)
Support for GPs (8 mins 17 secs)
Developing the service (9 mins 34 secs)
Where does Lisa’s role fit within the network team? (11 mins 4 secs)
Population health management programme (13 mins 6 secs)
Has there been any internal resistance to Lisa’s appointment? (14 mins 9 secs)
Advice for others thinking of applying to be or starting out as a health and wellbeing coach (15 mins 8 secs)
Advice for GPs, practices and networks considering the appointment of a health and wellbeing coach (16 mins 26 secs)
Why community resources and support matter (17 mins 44 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 45 secs)
If you’re inspired to appoint or be appointed as a Health and Wellbeing Coach, you can reach Lisa here
If you have an ARRS success story and / or you are working within one of the additional roles and have a story to share, we would love to feature you on the podcast! Do email Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare or get in touch via Twitter
In the second of our series of podcasts covering the experiences of those working in the new Primary Care additional roles, we meet the team from East Merton PCN. GPs Dr Annie Murphy and Dr Mohan Sekeram, talk to Ben about their approach to the employment of the new roles and how they have empowered and enabled their new team members to better support the needs of the patient population, whilst relieving pressure on existing practice staff. They are also joined by Health and Wellbeing Coach Caroline Haines and Paramedic Patricia Murphy who share their experiences of their respective roles so far. How they fit in alongside existing staff across practices and the wider network, how easily they have found the transition into primary care and most importantly, the impact and where they are seeing benefits when it comes to improving health outcomes for their patients.
Introductions (35 secs)
East Merton PCN demographic and their approach to the recruitment of new roles (57 secs)
Why population health management is key (3 mins 12 secs)
Integrating the roles at practice level (4 mins 46 secs)
Caroline tells us what attracted her to health and wellbeing coaching (6 mins 34 secs)
Caroline’s previous experiences and coming into Primary Care as a ‘newbie’ (7 mins 13 secs)
Where does Caroline feel she fits (practice versus PCN)? (8 mins 3 secs)
How the health and wellbeing coaching referral pathway works in practice (8 mins 18 secs)
Positive patient feedback (9 mins 14 secs)
Educating existing staff on health and wellbeing coaching (10 mins 58 secs)
Introducing Patricia, East Merton PCN paramedic (12 mins 5 secs)
Paramedic referral management (12 mins 53 secs)
Linking with other new roles (13 mins 17 secs)
Impact of additional roles on practice, network, and patients (13 mins 55 secs)
Support with overall workload (15 mins 25 secs)
Relieving pressure on GPs (16 mins 23 secs)
Planning for the future (18 mins 15 secs)
Measuring outcomes and patient outreach work (19 mins 22 secs)
Advice to others on embedding additional roles and getting the best from your new workforce (20 mins 46 secs)
If you have an ARRS success story and / or you are working within one of the additional roles and have a story to share, we’d love to feature you on the podcast! Do email Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare or get in touch via Twitter
It’s a podcast with a difference this week! Ben joins forces with Tara Humphrey of THC Primary Care to share the highlights of their recent webinar focusing on the Impact and Investment Fund, introduced very recently as part of the GP and Primary Care Network Contract Settlement. Within the session, Ben and Tara attempt to unpick what the funding means in practice, what value it can add and where the pitfalls may lie alongside how to incorporate the funding into existing financial models and PCN plans, and where the IIF fits within the wider primary care framework. Are the additional monies going to be of benefit or is it simply another burden to manage at a time when general practice is already stretched to the limit?
Welcome and intro from Tara (27 secs)
Why a webinar on the impact and investment fund? (48 secs)
Hello from Ben (1 min 55 secs)
Lessons learned from round 1 (1 min 37 secs)
Network versus practice approach (3 mins 59 secs)
Leveraging social prescribing referrals and the contribution of the ARRS teams (5 mins 52 secs)
Advice to managers and clinical leaders on leading the IIF approach (6 mins 55 secs)
Can the IIF play a useful part in realising the network vision? (9 mins 37 secs)
Ben’s initial thoughts on the updated guidance (10 mins 28 secs)
Opting out (11 mins 14 secs)
Summing up the session so far (12 mins 54 secs)
How might ICSs influence the IIF? (13 mins 54 secs)
The importance of robust financial planning (15 mins 43 secs)
What can the IIF achieve within the 5-year GP contract settlement period? (16 mins 34 secs)
Balancing workforce issues alongside workload pressures (18 mins)
Budgeting for moving QOF targets (19 mins 8 secs)
Good, better, and best financial modelling (20 mins 18 secs)
Conclusions (21 mins 46 secs)
To connect with Tara and to access all the resources available on offer from THC Primary Care check out:
THC Primary Care’s wealth of information on PCN Managers starts here
Listen to The Business of Healthcare Podcast to get the latest insights into business and management behind the scenes in primary care.
Follow Tara on Twitter and on Linkedin
After the accompaniment of “that” letter from NHS England alongside the most recent Standard Operating Procedure, general practice has reacted. Anger, frustration, sadness, shock, and depression are all words permeating through the primary care world at the moment. With workload and demand at an all-time high and staffing numbers stagnating or in decline across many areas, and a (so far, highly successful) vaccination programme to deliver, the general feeling is that this is a slap in the face from central government and the mainstream media alike. There has also been a direct (and much darker) impact on the ground with cases of abuse from patients directed at staff on the rise. Against this depressing backdrop, our joint Practice Index, Practice Manager panel return and are joined by GP and Clinical Director Dr Hussain Gandhi, to reflect on the detail of the letter, the implications of it, the impact on digital evolution in primary care, workload, capacity, patient education and most importantly, how we move forward from here.
Introductions (45 secs)
Nicola’s reaction the letter (1 min 19 secs)
From Robyn’s perspective (2 mins 2 secs)
Gandhi’s view (2 mins 46 secs)
Why was the letter issued? (3 mins 53 secs)
Long term issues with access (4 mins 59 secs)
Diverting attention from the bigger, more long-term challenges (5 mins 38 secs)
The impact on staffing capacity (and turnover) (5 mins 56 secs)
Crunching the staffing numbers (6 mins 36 secs)
Effect on Whole Time Equivalents (WTE) and clinical sessions (7 mins 29 secs)
Can the additional roles make a positive difference? (8 mins 36 secs)
Patient education is key (9 mins 29 secs)
Digital evolution (10 mins 13 secs)
Signposting patients to the most appropriate care provider (11 mins 20 secs)
What happens now re. remote consultations? (12 mins 35 secs)
Online consultations; help or hindrance when considering total demand (14 mins 29 secs)
Balancing telephone, online and face to face consults (16 mins 20 secs)
Why is demand at an all-time high? (17 mins 16 secs)
Patient appreciation and understanding (19 mins 19 secs)
The impact of the NHSE letter for practices on the ground (19 mins 57 secs)
How do we respond? (22 mins 12 secs)
The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) view (22 mins 45 secs)
Final thoughts from Gandhi (23 mins 26 secs)
The IGPM are currently running a campaign to raise awareness of the abuse suffered by general practice staff right now. View and promote here: (short clip) and (long clip)
In the first of a series of podcasts shining a spotlight on the ARRS new roles and those working in them, Ben is joined by Kosiwa Lokosu, an experienced Senior Occupational Therapist who has recently taken up her first post in primary care. Here, Kosiwa shares a fascinating and inspirational insight into her life as an OT before general practice, the recruitment process from her perspective, the integration of her team within the wider PCN, her work and her patients, and her advice for those considering setting up an OT service in their own areas (and the key considerations for this).
Introduction (43 secs)
What led Kosiwa towards becoming an OT? (53 secs)
Kosiwa’s experiences to date (1 min 38 secs)
Starting in general practice (3 mins 7 secs)
PCN demographic (4 mins 37 secs)
Team structure (5 mins 34 secs)
Base and space (6 mins 26 secs)
Working across practices and referrals in (7 mins 17 secs)
Creation of a referral criteria (8 mins 40 secs)
Conclusion of treatment (9 mins 14 secs)
Referral quality and appropriateness (10 mins 1 sec)
OT caseload and division of time (11 mins 18 secs)
Clinical supervision budget (13 mins 3 secs)
Progressing the service (13 mins 27 secs)
Patient feedback (15 mins 3 secs)
A positive impact on general practice (16 mins 9 secs)
Linking with community mental health services (17 mins)
Advice for those who are considering employing an OT (17 mins 18 secs)
The pros of a multi-disciplinary model (18 mins 41 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 37 secs)
To get in touch with Kosiwa, you can email her here or follow her on Twitter
Catch up with Kosiwa’s blog here
Episode 255 - Podcast – Tara Humphrey – What makes a perfect PCN Manager?
Although the role of PCN Manager is growing in importance, alongside the evolution of PCNs, there is still confusion and misconception about where a manager fits and what they can bring to the primary care table. Ben is joined this week by podcast veteran and management guru Tara Humphrey of THC Primary Care to dispel the myths and to explain precisely how and why a manager can be of benefit. What they can do to support the work of the Clinical Director and the wider management team in facing down some of the challenges, how they can remove pressure from existing staff, what makes a perfect PCN Manager, how to find them - and if you’re lucky enough to already have a manager in post, where resources and information can be found to support them in continuing to thrive.
Introduction (39 secs)
What first sparked Tara’s interest in PCN management? (55 secs)
What’s the general practice perception of PCN Managers right now? (1 min 49 secs)
Tackling the workload (3 mins 9 secs)
What should the person spec for a PCN Manager look like? (4 mins 6 secs)
Is an NHS background necessarily required? (4 mins 36 secs)
How about experience in primary care specifically? (5 mins 49 secs)
Practice Managers for PCN Manager (6 mins 39 secs)
Combining practice management with network management (7 mins 17 secs)
Where should we target recruitment of PCN Managers? (7 mins 41 secs)
The key challenges right now (8 mins 36 secs)
Learning the role and the remit it encompasses (9 mins 22 secs)
Understanding of PCN vision and objectives (10 mins 34 secs)
What’s on offer to a PCN Manager when the network is still developing? (11 mins 41 secs)
Dealing with disparate practices (12 mins 3 secs)
Why the Practice Manager and PCN Manager relationship is key (13 mins 53 secs)
Where a PCN Manager sits within the network hierarchy (14 mins 30 secs)
Supporting new ARRS team members (15 mins 24 secs)
A summary of the key challenges a PCN Manager might face when it comes to the ARRS (17 mins 8 secs)
How Tara and her team can help (18 mins 55 secs)
What’s available on THC Primary Care and signing up for the PCN Manager Masterclass (19 mins 57 secs)
To connect with Tara and to access all the resources available on offer from THC Primary Care check out:
THC Primary Care’s wealth of information on PCN Managers, starting here
Sign up to the THC Primary Care PCN Manager Masterclass here
Listen to The Business of Healthcare Podcast to get the latest insights into business and management behind the scenes in primary care.
Follow Tara on Twitter and on Linkedin
Dem Dx is a CE certified artificial intelligence clinical reasoning platform which has been designed and set up to support frontline healthcare professionals diagnose, investigate, and make care recommendations at the first point of contact. What makes it a little different though is that the aim is to provide an information resource which aids and empowers staff in supporting roles to triage and diagnose, relieving some of the burden on medics. How does it work in practice though? And can it really alleviate pressure on GPs, particularly when it comes to supporting the new, additional roles workforce? Today’s podcast features Dr Lorin Gresser, Dem Dx’s CEO and founder, who takes us on the Dem Dx journey from the beginning; from setup and capture of certified pathways (and approved guidance) to preserve safe clinical decision making, why it is a tool which focuses on diagnosis rather than ongoing management, where they have a presence currently (and where primary care comes in) - and how staff in primary care access and benefit from this multi-award-winning platform.
Introduction (40 secs)
All about Lorin (53 secs)
When was Dem Dx born? (1 min 54 secs)
Where is Dem Dx operational now? (3 mins 3 secs)
How the platform works in practice (4 mins 28 secs)
What are the challenges for Dem Dx? (5 mins 42 secs)
A tool with a focus on supporting staff, rather than patients, in the first instance (6 mins 14 secs)
Helping primary care staff in supporting roles to free up GP time (7 mins 40 secs)
The benefits when it comes to the additional roles (9 mins 1 sec)
Focusing on diagnosis, rather than ongoing management (9 mins 19 secs)
Remote working (10 mins 3 secs)
Ongoing decision support or simply upskilling staff as they go? (10 mins 56 secs)
Funding and procurement (12 mins 5 secs)
Dem Dx’s Rwanda project (14 mins 25 secs)
Finding out more and getting in touch (16 mins 13 secs)
The Dem Dx website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact Lorin Gresser via email or via LinkedIn
It’s also the last chance to sign up for The Resilient Team Academy offer! Head over to the Resilient Team Academy website which contains information on the current, discounted offer and how to apply.
A brand-new year for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) has already begun so what do practices, and networks, need to be aware of, to ensure they are informed and ahead of the game, almost one month in? Our monthly Practice Index Practice Manager panel return and Nicola, Robyn and Ben are this time joined by Claire Houston, Practice Index’s expert on all things QOF, to highlight where there are major changes, what the changes mean in real terms, what general practice should be on top of now, the impact on patients (and primary care teams) – and most importantly, how to ensure you stand the best chance of meeting the targets set for 2021 / 22.
Introductions (29 secs)
More about Claire (51 secs)
QOF for next year, the headlines (1 min 19 secs)
Moving flu vaccs from QOF into the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF), what does mean in real terms for practices? (1 min 50 secs)
Discussing the thresholds (3 mins 21 secs)
Network versus practice targets (3 mins 53 secs)
IIF funding distribution (4 mins 37 secs)
Significant changes to vaccs and imms more widely (5 mins 9 secs)
The effect on patient choice (6 mins 53 secs)
Clarity on vaccine targets (network and practice) (8 mins 38 secs)
What happens if you don’t meet your QOF target/s? (8 mins 59 secs)
Getting a head start (11 mins 29 secs)
The importance of coding correctly (12 mins 2 secs)
What else is new? (12 mins 41 secs)
The difficulty of onward referral/s (13 mins 52 secs)
Management of serious mental illness (15 mins 20 secs)
Patients in remission (15 mins 59 secs)
Nicola and Robyn reflect on the changes (16 mins 45 secs)
Core standards related to vaccs and imms (18 mins 10 secs)
Claire’s advice, in summary (18 mins 51 secs)
Final thoughts (20 mins 3 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 21 secs)
The Practice Index website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
Here is the link to the Resilient Team Academy website which contains information on the current, discounted offer and how to apply.
Up and coming, The Physician Associate Podcast, is a brand-new resource for Physician Associates both newly qualified and established, to access a wealth of information, opinion and all the latest news relevant to the PA world. Host James Catton is this week joined by our very own Ben Gowland, who has taken time out from recording The General Practice podcast, to give new listeners a much-needed overview of and insight into general practice right now. How general practice works within the wider healthcare ecosystem, when and why Primary Care Networks were born, the financial model, partnerships and the New to Partnership Scheme, and most importantly, all the need to knows for a PA considering a career in general practice.
Introduction (59 secs)
Setting the scene (1 min 15 secs)
Where general practice sits within the wider NHS (2 mins 9 secs)
Recent changes and the birth of PCNs (3 mins 1 sec)
The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (3 mins 58 secs)
Challenges facing PCNs (4 mins 50 secs)
James’ view of practice versus PCN placement (6 mins 26 secs)
The importance of knowing where you stand before applying for a role (6 mins 52 secs)
Getting the most out of having a PA and being a PA in a PCN (7 mins 34 secs)
What is GP partnership and the business model explained (10 mins 18 secs)
Financial challenges (11 mins 34 secs)
The New to Partnership Scheme (12 mins 26 secs)
Why have numbers of partnerships fallen in recent years? (13 mins 32 secs)
Out of hours services in general practice (15 mins 38 secs)
Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) explained (17 mins 58 secs)
Predicting the future (19 mins 6 secs)
Further information and getting in touch (23 mins 4 secs)
Staff across general practice are currently feeling the impact of the enormous increase in workload as a result of the pandemic and business as usual spectacularly colliding but what is life like at the top of a PCN right now? How are the Clinical Directors bearing the additional burden, managing the demands from their own workloads, and finding adequate time to support and grow new, integrated teams across their network? In this week’s podcast, we welcome back GP and executive coach Rachel Morris who offers her usual brand of practical, innovative, and accessible solutions for managing team stress and individual pressure. Rachel is joined by Dr Nicky Turner, Clinical Director for The Chalfont PCN in Buckinghamshire, who shares her experiences in the role and where her own support systems exist. Together, our panel explore where the challenges lie right now, what can be done to preserve and promote team and personal resilience – and finally how and why listeners to the podcast should access further support of their own and resources from Rachel’s Resilient Team Academy
Introductions (39 secs)
Nicky’s PCN demographic (55 secs)
What are the main challenges Nicky faces in her role right now? (1 min 16 secs)
Is the issue of workload the main factor or is it wider than that? (1 min 43 secs)
Working across practices within a PCN (2 mins 9 secs)
Managing people and change (3 mins 12 secs)
The impact of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) (4 mins 13 secs)
Rachel’s view on the pressure Clinical Directors are under (4 mins 42 secs)
What is helpful in terms of support? (5 mins 21 secs)
Nicky’s perspective on reducing stress and being more effective (6 mins 16 secs)
Actively seeking support (7 mins 1 sec)
The Drama Triangle (7 mins 43 secs)
Are softer skills really beneficial? (9 mins 36 secs)
Tailoring resilience training for different leaders (10 mins 19 secs)
Finding support in difference places (11 mins 41 secs)
The Resilient Team Academy (12 mins 5 secs)
Building a stronger team (13 mins 39 secs)
Planning for team engagement, post Covid (14 mins 30 secs)
Embedding ARRS staff (15 mins 29 secs)
Lessons learned from others’ experiences…what will get from joining The Resilient Team Academy? (17 mins 27 secs)
Constructive conflict (18 mins 53 secs)
The issues of virtual meetings and the impact on building great team relations (19 mins 48 secs)
Final words from Rachel (19 mins 59 secs)
Here is the link to the Resilient Team Academy website which contains information on the resources available, the current discounted offer– and how to join up.
As the new financial year and all its uncertainties looms, our joint Practice Index / Ockham Healthcare panel return to discuss their predictions and the preparations they have in place. Podcast regulars Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies are this week joined by RSM Partner and our resident finance expert James Gransby to talk all things QOF, enhanced services and the contractual requirements for 2021/22. Where are the pressure points? Can we continue to manage business as usual alongside the Covid vaccination drive? Will our core service once again expand to include the vaccinations year on year? How do we juggle this and what can we expect to receive by way of funding? Are we simply going to break even or can primary care profit from the increased workload? Life after Covid potentially starts here…
Introductions (33 secs)
How does life in general practice right now compare to that of a ‘normal’ March? (49 secs)
Planning for QOF next year (1 min 47 secs)
Is it possible for networks to manage business as usual alongside the enhanced service? (2 mins 59 secs)
What networks should be considering when it comes to finance in the new year (4 mins 44 secs)
Covid vaccinations to become core practice? (6 mins 8 secs)
The implications of a year-round vaccine drive (7 mins 42 secs)
Budget 2021 in summary and what it means for primary care (8 mins 38 secs)
Contract considerations, outside of QOF (10 mins 48 secs)
Implementing the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme in practice (11 mins 55 secs)
Mitigating the risk of high staff turnover (14 mins 43 secs)
Are PCN structures fit for future? (16 mins 35 secs)
Utilising the £1.50 (17 mins 33 secs)
An alternative way of thinking (18 mins 40 secs)
Embedding mental health workers (19 mins 39 secs)
James’s final thoughts (20 mins 53 secs)
The Practice Index website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
We are all aware of the pressure on general practice which has ramped up considerably since the vaccine drive began back in December but with no let up in sight and in fact, with pressure increasing across primary care going forwards, how do we maintain our current resilience and productivity levels whilst succumbing to the stress and even worse, the very real threat of burn out? Luckily GP and Executive Coach turned trainer Dr Rachel Morris is our featured guest this week and offers her thoughts, and some really practical advice, to ensure the burden of responsibility can be shared and managed more constructively, to preserve and promote the wellbeing of a team (and its individuals) during what many are finding to be the most stressful period of their working lives to date.
Introduction (29 secs)
Where are we at right now? (1 min 5 secs)
How do we maintain current momentum? (2 mins 19 secs)
Why you should be taking time off despite increasing pressure (4 mins 18 secs)
Taking a leap of faith (5 mins 54 secs)
Assuming the role of the rescuer (6 mins 46 secs)
Managing tensions and moving forwards (7 mins 45 secs)
Communication is key (9 mins 33 secs)
Building trust (10 mins 8 secs)
Where some PCNs have become disjointed (10 mins 54 secs)
Network challenges (11 mins 39 secs)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni (12 mins 17 secs)
The importance of constructive conflict (12 mins 50 secs)
The transition of good working relationships to business as usual (15 mins 21 secs)
Mining for conflict to enable teams to function well (16 mins 22 secs)
The impact of the virtual environment (17 mins 39 secs)
Finding out more (19 mins 9 secs)
The Resilient Team Academy (20 mins 24 secs)
A list of the resources Rachel has mentioned:
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle
- The Covid Team Wellbeing toolkit
- Rachel’s ‘You are not a frog’ podcast can be found here
- Links to Rachel’s website and her contact email
The evolution of technology in general practice has been accelerated over the last 12 months but how ready were we, and are we, for further digital transformation? What are the factors that influence our willingness to embrace new ways of working and what are the barriers to progression? This was the focus of GP and Digital Fellow Dr Matt Hammerton’s recent report on digital readiness within his local integrated health partnership, a report conducted in conjunction with Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), with the support of WAHSN’s Associate Director Rachel Dominey. This week’s podcast offers a fascinating overview of the report’s findings and outcomes and includes practical advice and recommendations on readying practices and networks for the next stage of the digital journey.
Introductions (45 secs)
The reasons for undertaking the study (57 secs)
The reality of the tech available versus what is being used (1 min 42 secs)
Defining digital readiness (2 mins 8 secs)
Which areas of general practice does the report cover? (3 mins 6 secs)
Rachel describes her role at the AHSN (3 mins 34 secs)
How did the study work in practice? (5 mins 3 secs)
Recording the acceleration of tech use during the pandemic (5 mins 45 secs)
The difference in results, pre and post Covid-19 (6 mins 48 secs)
Does digital readiness depend on the tech we are using? (7 mins 17 secs)
Is the ability to embrace new technology more important than how the tech itself works? (8 mins 33 secs)
The AccuRx effect (9 mins 17 secs)
Does a more bespoke technology increase our willingness to use it? (9 mins 57 secs)
Other key factors impacting digital readiness (12 mins 53 secs)
Some recommendations (14 mins 6 secs)
The non-clinical profile (16 mins)
Patient age impact and influence (16 mins 38 secs)
The risk of practices and networks falling behind (17 mins 28 secs)
Further outcomes, recommendations, and advice (18 mins 33 secs)
Taking forward the recommendations from the AHSN’s perspective (19 mins 58 secs)
The link to the digital readiness report is here
Telehealth is a tool which can be used in a variety of ways; to support and enhance existing systems or to introduce a completely new way of working. Whilst telehealth is a relatively new concept in many areas, in others it is a more long-term feature of the health ecosystem. In West Yorkshire, Immedicare offer a 24/7 digital care service to support primary care providers with the management of care home patients. Having been established for over 10 years, they know only too well what works, what does not and crucially how to realise the benefits of telehealth; enabling rapid triage and response around the clock, reducing secondary care admissions and relieving pressure on care home staff, local practices and PCNs. Rachel Binks, Nurse Practitioner for Digital and Acute Care at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, joins Ben this week to fill us in on the Immedicare journey and why they have been instrumental in improving health outcomes for their care home patients.
Introduction (34 secs)
How did the concept first come about? (46 secs)
The Immedicare journey (1 min 26 secs)
Enabling a 24/7 service (2 mins 11 secs)
800 care homes and counting (3 mins 43 secs)
How does the service work in practice? (4 mins 32 secs)
What is the contractual basis of the service and where does it fit with local providers? (5 mins 12 secs)
Managing a broad spectrum of conditions and health concerns (7 mins 13 secs)
The importance of building and maintaining relationships (7 mins 56 secs)
The Immedicare clinical workforce (9 mins 27 secs)
Making the service viable (10 mins 15 secs)
Balancing relationships with local PCNs and practices (11 mins 16 secs)
Multi-disciplinary team meetings (12 mins 59 secs)
What has been the impact of the service? (13 mins 36 secs)
Technical limitations? (14 mins 16 secs)
Reducing community care visits and admissions (14 mins 50 secs)
Aligning with new PCN services and staff teams (15 mins 51 secs)
Feedback from the care homes (16 mins 42 secs)
Financial and contractual setup (17 mins 14 secs)
What’s next as far as developing the service is concerned? (18 mins 23 secs)
Finding out more (19 mins 17 secs)
Immedicare website is here
Rachel is happy to discuss any aspect of the service on offer from Immedicare or telehealth more broadly. Her email address is here
It is undeniable that the success of the Covid vaccination programme so far is due to the efficiency and the herculean efforts of general practice staff across the board; from volunteers, to drivers, Practice Managers, doctors, nursing, and administration teams who all continue to go the extra mile to try to get the country back on its feet. On our dedicated monthly Practice Index / Ockham podcast, we have closely followed the progress of our Practice Managers (and their teams) from the beginning in December and January - and this week we revisit their journeys at a pivotal point as they smash their initial target of vaccinating the most vulnerable patient groups with their first doses. On this month’s panel, podcast regular Nicola Davies is joined by her colleagues Kay Keane of Alvanley Family Practice (and network manager for Werneth PCN) and Andrew Athale, Practice Manager for Eastmoor and Alverthorpe GP practices, to discuss their largely positive experiences so far but also the additional pressure they and their wider colleagues are feeling, their views on ensuring full and accurate financial reimbursement across their networks and what comes next as far as core general practice demand and delivery of second doses are concerned.
Introductions (34 secs)
Progress on the vaccination programme in each area; starting with Nicola’s (1 min 30 secs)
Kay tells us about her experiences in Stockport so far (2 mins 26 secs)
Kay’s role in the process (3 mins 1 secs)
Patient inspiration (3 mins 29 secs)
How has it gone so far in Andrew’s network? (4 mins 5 secs)
Meeting the challenge of vaccinating care home residents and house bound patients (5 mins 3 secs)
Processing payment (7 mins 51 secs)
The problem with Pinnacle (9 mins 20 secs)
Ensuring accurate and timely distribution of funds (10 mins 5 secs)
The pressure of working at scale when it comes to financial reimbursement (10 mins 58 secs)
Wider network impacts (12 mins 22 secs)
Could this be the making of PCNs? (13 mins 13 secs)
How has the set up of the mass vaccination sites affected local practices? (14 mins 14 secs)
Are PCNs really in competition with the mass vaccinations sites? (15 mins 55 secs)
Delivery of vaccines at a more local level (17 mins 30 secs)
Preparations for second doses (18 mins 56 secs)
Why delivery notifications need to be right (19 mins 30 secs)
Managing core general practice demand alongside the vaccine drive (20 mins 2 secs)
Pressure on Practice Managers (20 mins 49 secs)
Ben’s closing remarks (22 mins 25 secs)
The Practice Index website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
With demand on general practice already at an all-time high, many practices and networks require a smarter solution to manage staffing and rotas, to ensure the pressure of core primary care work, alongside the mass vaccination drive, can be effectively delivered. Dr Ishani Patel, GP and co-founder of the digital staff bank solution Lantum is back on the podcast and joined by colleague, Lantum account manager, Tom Herbert-Maynard, to update us on the progress that Lantum has made, how their solution is supporting ICSs up and down the country to create a fully flexible workforce across the NHS eco-system, their influence on staffing the vaccination sites and most importantly, to provide information on the NHSEI funding available now for ICSs to enable procurement of and access to a digital staff bank.
Introductions (38 secs)
Who are Lantum and what role are they playing in supporting the vaccination rollout? (51 secs)
How does a digital staff bank work where the vaccination programme is concerned? (1 min 39 secs)
Lessons learned from the programme so far (3 mins 28 secs)
What advantages does a digital system offer versus traditional methods of rota management? (5 mins 38 secs)
How would a rota manager organise staffing using an online portal, in practice? (6 mins 8 secs)
Governance considerations (8 mins 14 secs)
Maintaining a good rate of vaccinations and how the system could support this (8 mins 26 secs)
The key differences between smaller vaccination hubs and larger scale vaccination sites (9 mins 28 secs)
NHSEI funding availability (11 mins 5 secs)
Putting a flexible staffing pool in place across an ICS (12 mins 46 secs)
Which roles can be managed within a digital staff bank? (14 mins 34 secs)
Enabling delivery of truly integrated care (15 mins 22 secs)
Breaking down organisational boundaries (16 mins 29 secs)
How do I access the NHSEI funding offer? (17 mins 29 secs)
I am a Clinical Director, and I would like to find out more (18 mins 29 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 20 secs)
The Lantum website is here
Ishani is contactable here
This page explains a little more about how Lantum can provide 'connected scheduling' between staff banks.
What should be the key considerations when sourcing a digital staff bank provider? Lantum’s blog post is here
With the right training and support in place, Physician Associates can play an important part in relieving a proportion of the clinical burden on GPs and their wider staff. As the role is now included in those available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, we persuaded Ria Agarwal, herself an experienced Physician Associate (PA), to make a return to the podcast, to share her experiences and her tips for getting the best out of a newly recruited PA. Why she believes they can really make a difference to practice productivity, what PA preceptorships (such as the scheme currently on offer in Sheffield) can bring in the way of support and how to get the best out of your newest recruit.
Introduction (34 secs)
Four years in the life of a Physician Associate (PA) (48 secs)
Is the PA role now more widely accepted in general practice? (2 mins 5 secs)
The inclusion of PAs in the additional roles’ reimbursement scheme (2 mins 39 secs)
Preceptorship schemes (2 mins 58 secs)
What is involved in a preceptorship typically? (3 mins 46 secs)
Structuring PA consulting appointments in the first year (6 mins 24 secs)
Progression and training (7 mins 16 secs)
The influence of a practice in enhancing the potential of a PA (8 mins 26 secs)
Is there a benefit to newly qualified PAs having access to and mentorship from a more experienced PA? (11 mins 3 secs)
Tackling recruitment (12 mins 31 secs)
Expectation versus reality (15 mins 11 secs)
Why where you base your PA matters (16 mins 24 secs)
Preceptorship funding (17 mins 22 secs)
The key to success (18 mins 30 secs)
Final thoughts and advice (19 mins 44 secs)
A link to Ria’s paper on the preceptorship scheme available in Sheffield is here
When primary care networks were first launched, many believed this might spell the end for GP federations, but this is not necessarily the case. There are numerous examples of some innovative partnership models developing across the country to support PCNs in delivering the best quality care and whereby federations are providing the resources to absorb some of the key workstreams, thus removing the burden from practice and network staff. Alliance for Better Care, or ABC as they are commonly known, are a typical example of a GP federation who are achieving success by working collaboratively with their PCNs. This is due, in part, to the expertise of their two Network Development Managers, Caroline Upton and Lena Abdu, who join Ben on the podcast to give an insight into their roles, what they entail, where they have made a difference and why partnership working might be the way forward.
Introductions (38 secs)
ABC demographic and mission (57 secs)
Lena’s background (1 min 39 secs)
Caroline’s journey to becoming a Network Development Manager (2 mins 42 secs)
Sharing the management of networks from a federation perspective (3 mins 14 secs)
Ownership of dedicated work packages (4 mins 2 secs)
The importance of maintaining strong relationships with individual clinical directors (4 mins 48 secs)
Communication and engagement with wider teams (5 mins 34 secs)
Other available support for PCNs (6 mins 42 secs)
All about recruitment (7 mins 53 secs)
The additional roles scheme (10 mins 23 secs)
Managing workload and demand capacity (12 mins 4 secs)
Meeting the new general practice service specifications (13 mins 13 secs)
Meeting representation (15 mins 38 secs)
What are the main challenges? (17 mins 31 secs)
How are the Network Development Manager roles costed? (19 mins 43 secs)
Finding out more and getting in touch (21 mins 32 secs)
Alliance for Better Care’s website can be found here
Email: caroline.upton@nhs.net and / or lena.abdu@nhs.net
It has been arguably some of the toughest few weeks general practice has ever known. The pressure of the delivery of the vaccination programme has been felt by teams up and down the country and our joint Ockham / Practice Index podcast regulars are no different. In this sixth instalment of our hugely popular practice manager panel posts, Nicola Davies, Robyn Clark and Ben are joined by Business Manager Amita Gokani to discuss their experiences of working at the forefront of the vaccination programme, so far. Each have faced their own challenges locally and are at different stages in the immunisation campaign and we have been fortunate to get their insights on how the first six weeks have gone for each of them; the highs, the lows and then what comes next.
Introductions (35 secs)
Robyn in the headlines (1 min)
The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) update (2 mins 47 secs)
The last 6 weeks in Nicola’s patch (3 mins 1 sec)
Dealing with local frustrations (3 mins 57 secs)
Amita’s recent experiences in Redbridge (5 mins 9 secs)
The impact of short notice, unannounced and cancelled deliveries (6 mins 49 secs)
Working through the cohorts versus potential for wastage (7 mins 30 secs)
Progress in Robyn’s area (8 mins 15 secs)
The potential for increased flexibility and where this has been limited (9 mins 3 secs)
What happened when the guidelines for administering the second dosage changed? (10 mins 57 secs)
The challenges presented by continually changing guidance and regulation (11 mins 42 secs)
Nicola’s view on these continuous changes (12 mins)
Managing staffing and rotas (14 mins 19 secs)
The limitations of running services on staffing good will (15 mins 45 secs)
The approach to care homes and housebound patients in Robyn’s area (17 mins 15 secs)
Anticipating the weeks ahead: Robyn and Amita (18 mins 9 secs)
All systems go for Nicola (19 mins 31 secs)
The Practice Index website can be found here
For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here
Recruiting from the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) pot isn’t simply a case of picking out which services and posts you think would best suit your network or practice. As many are discovering, it requires a bit of a step back and some critical thinking as to what might work now versus in the future, what the needs of the local population are, how much capacity there might be to support new, additional team members and how they can best function across large networks and / or multiple practices. In this week’s podcast, we welcome back Dr Riaz Jetha, GP and Director of Health Integration Partners, whose team have adopted a novel approach to managing the process of applying for, funding and integrating new clinical posts into existing teams. Can there really be a magic formula which supports us in identifying the right roles, which can ensure we better meet the needs of the PCN and stay within the funding budget?
Introduction (40 secs)
How did the adoption of the process mapping methodology come about? (1 min)
How would we use a role instead of what role should we get (an alternative mindset) (3 mins 3 secs)
Where to begin (4 mins 26 secs)
Some surprising outcomes (7 mins 47 secs)
The value of the non-clinical functions (9 mins 33 secs)
Summing up a phased approach to the ARRS process (12 mins 28 secs)
Blending clinical and leadership skills (13 mins 30 secs)
Plugging the gaps in developmental and holistic support for newly recruited ARRS staff (13 mins 52 secs)
Alleviating the burden on PCNs and practices (15 mins 11 secs)
Riaz’s view on ARRS funding models (15 mins 51 secs)
Applying the funding more flexibly (17 mins 43 secs)
Being more creative when it comes to recruitment (18 mins 44 secs)
Key lessons learned (19 mins 45 secs)
Measuring the benefits of process mapping (20 mins 38 secs)
Getting in touch (21 mins 37 secs)
The link to the Health Integration Partners website can be found here
Contact email for Riaz here
A sample presentation showing the analysis of staffing a new service can be found here
With the recent inclusion of pharmacists within the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme offer, many practices and networks are seriously considering utilising the skills and services a pharmacist can bring to their table. However, many are equally uncertain as to what the pharmacists can cover, how to integrate them best within their teams and more practically, what the best model of employment might be to benefit both the new post holder and the PCN, amongst other things. Luckily, Mahmud Yusupov and Runa Salim, both Senior Clinical Pharmacists and joint founders of the innovative Clinical Pharmacist Solutions join Ben this week to talk us through all of the key practical aspects that PCNs must consider during the recruitment process and beyond – and from a third-party perspective, how they can support primary care in getting the best out of the new roles.
Introductions (36 secs)
Mahmud’s background and an introduction to Clinical Pharmacist Solutions’ mission (55 secs)
All about Runa (1 min 26 secs)
Attracting pharmacists to primary care and ensuring they can practice effectively (1 min 57 secs)
What are pharmacists looking for specifically when it comes to a career in general practice? (3 mins 23 secs)
The importance of the interview (5 mins 19 secs)
What support can Clinical Pharmacist Solutions for PCNs during the recruitment process? (6 mins 12 secs)
Matching the requirements of a practice to the skillset of a pharmacist (7 mins 44 secs)
Assessments of skills / training needs analysis (8 mins 14 secs)
How long does it take to upskill a pharmacist? (10 mins 15 secs)
Blending externally provided learning with CPPE training (11 mins 49 secs)
Reducing staff turnover (13 mins 1 sec)
Mahmud and Runa’s thoughts on potential employment models (14 mins 23 secs)
Funding challenges (16 mins 9 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 5 secs)
The link to the Clinical Pharmacist Solutions website can be found here
Their LinkedIn page is here
At the end of last year Ben recorded a review of 2020 with Dr Hussain Gandhi and Dr Andrew Foster from the eGPlearning podblast. We cover the impact of Covid on general practice, how that changed over the course of the year, and reflect on what the lasting implications of this might be for the service. It is a slightly longer listen than our normal podcast episodes at 45 minutes – primarily because there is so much to cover!
There are generally more failures than success stories when it comes to launching and maintaining community based urgent care services across the country so what have the team in Rochdale done differently? To kick off the new year, Ben is joined by GP Dr Zalan Alam, Clinical Director for the hugely successful and pioneering Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Urgent Community Care Team who gives an inspiring insight into their five-year journey to date; from establishing a business case, to taking a more flexible approach to their service specification, where they have grown and continually adapted, the lessons learned and their future aspirations.
Introduction (34 secs)
Zalan’s role and an overview of the service model (51 secs)
Establishment of the service and some key factors in its success to date (1 min 56 secs)
The business case (3 mins 7 secs)
A typical patient journey (4 mins 58 secs)
Capacity challenges? (6 mins 29 secs)
Impact of Covid (7 mins 11 secs)
Integrating social prescribers (8 mins 50 secs)
The five-year evolution of the service (9 mins 50 secs)
Lessons learned (11 mins 30 secs)
Zalan’s thoughts on integrated care (13 mins 4 secs)
Cultivating a shared vision (14 mins 57 secs)
An alternative approach to the service specification (15 mins 33 secs)
What’s next? (16 mins 36 secs)
Finding out more (18 mins 14 secs)
Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale’s Intermediate Care Team website
Contact points for the service as follows:
Dr Zalan Alam Clinical Director for Intermediate Tier Services
Wendy Antil Service Manager
Ruth Chamberlain Directorate Manager
The link to Zalan’s first podcast episode is here
The publication of the enhanced service landed at the beginning of December and with it comes further, additional challenges for general practice and places us firmly in the spotlight of the current healthcare agenda. Our ever-popular Practice Index panel return and as well as providing an update following their last episode, they are this week joined by podcast favourite Dr Hussain Gandhi (Dr Gandalf) to consider the implications of and considerations required for the delivery of the Covid vaccination programme locally and nationally. How do we engage with a partially sceptical public? How will we fare balancing immunisations alongside business as usual? How delivery will be managed in practice? Whilst also not forgetting the management of finances and workforce planning…
Introductions (35 secs)
An update on the establishment of a nationally recognised organisation for Practice Managers (46 secs)
The Institute of General Practice Management contact points (2 mins 22 secs)
The panel’s reaction to the Enhanced Service publication (2 mins 53 secs)
Moving from practice to network wide delivery (3 mins 56 secs)
Robyn’s perspective (5 mins 23 secs)
Identification of a designated site for Nicola’s network area (6 mins 31 secs)
The plans for Nottingham City East (7 mins 6 secs)
What differences are there between the Enhanced Service and the original, local plan in Gandhi’s area? (7 mins 55 secs)
The challenges in summary (8 mins 59 secs)
Workforce organisation (10 mins 28 secs)
Nicola’s thoughts on staffing the enhanced service (11 mins 59 secs)
Managing a vaccination programme alongside business as usual (13 mins 8 secs)
Financial reimbursement in South Gloucestershire (13 mins 46 secs)
How Gandhi is handling the financial flow in his network (14 mins 41 secs)
Comms / engagement with the public – and managing concerns (15 mins 47 secs)
Recording appointments and immunisation numbers (18 mins 10 secs)
The process for vaccination clinics in practice (20 mins 27 secs)
eGP Learning and Practice Index resources (21 mins 57 secs)
For more information on The Institute of General Practice Management:
Twitter Facebook Email
Practice Index
YouTube channel for Dr Gandalf’s eGP Learning podblast
Amongst the host of new roles available to PCNs are First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs); a service designed to signpost patients directly into a physiotherapy service and therefore saving valuable GP and GP referral to treatment times. As this is a relatively new concept for most, we speak this week to Larry Koyama, Head of FCP Implementation at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy to get the lowdown on what an FCP actually is, what the role can offer in terms of supporting practice efficiency, the suggested models for successfully embedding FCPs in both an employment sense and in terms of integration within the wider network, the lessons learned so far and more.
Introduction (35 secs)
The background to Larry’s role (46 secs)
Making the case for First Contact Physiotherapists (1 min 34 secs)
What is an FCP? (2 mins 34 secs)
What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and an FCP? (3 mins 38 secs)
Patient pathway and service access (4 mins 28 secs)
Crunching the numbers; caseload and appointment sizes (5 mins 11 secs)
FCPs per population size (5 mins 52 secs)
Lessons learned so far (6 mins 51 secs)
FCPs within the wider practice and network teams (8 mins 19 secs)
Optimising working experience within a network environment (10 mins 3 secs)
3 suggested employment models (12 mins 37 secs)
Exploring the implications of direct and indirect employment (14 mins 21 secs)
Current availability of FCPs (15 mins 45 secs)
Larry’s final thoughts on making the most of your FCP (16 mins 46 secs)
Finding out more (18 mins 27 secs)
Please visit the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s website for a range of resources from making the business case for employment of an FCP to supporting implementation and tools for evaluating the effectiveness of the role.
The link to the Phase 3 FCP evaluation data Larry refers to is here
Has there ever been a year which has been more tough in terms of demand and output in general practice? Covid landed and with it a whole host of immediate and long-term issues which have all had a direct impact on practice and network cashflow. Our resident finance guru James Gransby of RSM UK is back this week to give his thoughts and his advice on available funding now, what may be up for grabs in future, where savings could be identified, whether general practice overall is thriving in spite of the pressure and most importantly, what to do if your financial position is already precarious.
Introduction (33 secs)
Is it harder for practices to stay on top of finances now? (43 secs)
What support is available from NHS England? (1 min 12 secs)
The influence of individual CCGs (2 mins 18 secs)
Income protection (2 mins 47 secs)
Where is income being lost? (4 mins)
Has the £150m Covid expansion funding really made a difference? (4 mins 46 secs)
Practical and financial implications of taking on additional roles (6 mins 2 secs)
The pressure from two, large-scale immunisations programmes in one financial year (6 mins 53 secs)
Direct support from government (8 mins 21 secs)
James’s take on the overall financial impact of Covid (10 mins 8 secs)
What actions should we be taking right now? (11 mins 31 secs)
Advice for those who are struggling (12 mins 52 secs)
Utilising a PCN surplus (14 mins 3 secs)
How the additional roles can help from a network perspective (14 mins 34 secs)
Will there be any further opportunities to boost income at any point? (15 mins 8 secs)
Transformation of working process = savings? (16 mins 14 secs)
James’s final thoughts (17 mins 29 secs)
Further information, resources and getting in touch (17 mins 56 secs)
The COVID article can be found here and the Autumn version which also contains COVID tips (including Christmas gifts) can be requested from your local AISMA accountant or by emailing James at james.gransby@rsmuk.com
Following our recent podcast featuring Dr Farzana Hussain, we catch up this week with Dr Hussain Gandhi, aka Dr Gandalf to his own eGPlearning Podblast listeners, to hear about how his year in post as Clinical Director for Nottingham City East PCN has gone, in the backdrop of all the challenges presented by Covid, the flu vaccination programme and the new PCN DES specs (to name but a few). Gandhi talks to Ben about his own reflections within his role, how his teams have fared, how they are dealing with increased pressure and their plans for the future which include expansion of the team and the services they can offer.
Introduction (31 secs)
Sustaining the initial excitement of being Clinical Director despite a particularly gruelling year (45 secs)
Relationship development within the network area (1 min 23 secs)
Sink or swim? (2 mins 49 secs)
The explosion of tech in general practice (3 mins 31 secs)
Adoption of digital process and the impact on multi-disciplinary working and setting up new services (4 mins 36 secs)
How are Nottingham City East using the additional roles scheme? (6 mins 17 secs)
Gandhi’s thoughts on the network manager post and recognising the efforts of Practice Managers over the last 12 months (8 mins 16 secs)
The practicalities of employing a network manager / designing the role (9 mins 42 secs)
Progress on the additional clinical roles (10 mins 27 secs)
Time management (11 mins 56 secs)
Short and long-term strategies for employment of additional roles (12 mins 26 secs)
PCN DES specs (13 mins 42 secs)
Coping with an escalating workload (15 mins 12 secs)
The importance of saying “no” (16 mins 4 secs)
Main reflections and highlights from the last 12 months (16 mins 41 secs)
What happens next? (17 mins 45 secs)
The eGPlearning Podblast (19 mins 8 secs)
Finding out more (19 mins 57 secs)
The link to the eGPlearning YouTube channel is here
With a whopping 55% of Practice Managers intending to leave their posts in the next 12 months, this is a clear sign that there is growing discontent and therefore, a potentially huge problem for general practice that needs to be tackled sooner, rather than later. In the latest of our series of Practice Manager panels, Nicola Davies and Robyn Clark return and are this week joined by Jo Wadey, fellow Practice Manager and Chair of the West Sussex Practice Managers Association and by Carole Cusack, Director of Primary Care at Wessex LMCS to discuss the issue of continuing disregard and lack of recognition nationally for Practice Management as a profession. Where and how do Practice Managers get their concerns heard? How effective are LMCs in addressing their needs? Should there be national accreditation of Practice Managers? And the million-dollar question; is there a role for collectivism and the establishment of a union?
Introductions (28 secs)
What is the reason for low morale amongst Practice Managers right now? (1 min 5 secs)
Robyn’s views (2 mins 55 secs)
Jo shares her experiences (3 mins 45 secs)
Carole’s sense from an LMC perspective (4 mins 47 secs)
The exclusion of Practice Managers from the New to Partnership Payment Scheme (5 mins 57 secs)
Clinical versus non-clinical (6 mins 29 secs)
The Practice Management Network (7 mins 18 secs)
Percentages of Practice Managers leaving post in the next 12 months and the implications for general practice (7 mins 57 secs)
Why there is a need for a nationally recognised professional body for Practice Managers (9 mins 6 secs)
Membership and / or accreditation (10 mins 48 secs)
The complexities and variation in becoming a Practice Manager (13 mins 41 secs)
Which existing organisations could be a model for a national body of Practice Management? (16 mins 11 secs)
How it feels to be disregarded by existing, recognised bodies (18 mins 14 secs)
Where do we go from here? (19 mins 48 secs)
Ben’s closing remarks / summary (20mins 56 secs)
This time last year we caught up with Clinical Director and now GP of the Year Dr Farzana Hussain to get her early thoughts about her (then) new role as a PCN lead. Fast forward 12 months and Farzana is back to share an update on the challenges she and her network team have faced and where they have achieved success, in spite of the pressures of meeting the demands of the primary care contract and the small matter of a global pandemic. From developing and managing relationships, to understanding and embedding additional roles and identifying where further support is required across the board, this week’s podcast is a fascinating insight into the world of a Clinical Director during the early life of a PCN.
Introduction (33 secs)
Becoming GP of the Year (47 secs)
Stand out moments in the last year, in summary (1 min 34 secs)
Evolving relationships between practices and the network more broadly (2 mins 38 secs)
Working on shared purpose (4 mins 14 secs)
How has Covid impacted on PCN relationships and the development of the network itself (5 mins 45 secs)
Recruitment of additional roles (6 mins 52 secs)
Meeting the challenge of embedding new roles in practice (10 mins 7 secs)
When will the positive impact of the new roles be felt? (12 mins 33 secs)
Is there adequate support in place for managing the establishment of new teams? (14 mins 12 secs)
Managing the demands for time and meetings (15 mins 29 secs)
What support is available for clinical directors themselves? (16 mins 46 secs)
The £1.50 challenge (19 mins 7 secs)
What’s next for Farzana? (20 mins 44 secs)
The Primary Care Home programme is an innovative approach to strengthening and redesigning primary care, which was founded by the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) in 2017. Since that time, there has been the emergence of primary care networks so how have the radical differences which have swept across the general practice system affected the programme and its development? This week’s podcast features Dr Minesh Patel, current NAPC Chair, who talks to Ben about the progress of the Primary Care Home movement, the impact of PCNs and their influence broadly and what is next in terms of both models.
Introductions (10 secs)
The role of the NAPC (21 secs)
Primary Care Home (PCH) initiative and the relationship with PCNs (1 min 2 secs)
How is the work of the Primary Care Home being carried out now? (2 mins 2 secs)
Are PCNs a risk to the Primary Care Home movement? (3 mins 24 secs)
PCN new roles (5 mins 13 secs)
The key differences of Primary Care Home and PCN – and the resulting impacts (6 mins 40 secs)
Are networks operating differently in different areas when it comes to recruitment of the new roles? (8 mins 11 secs)
The timeline for embedding new staff (9 mins 34 secs)
Where PCNs fit as far as integrated care is concerned (10 mins 8 secs)
Lessons in engagement from the Primary Care Home programme (13 mins 4 secs)
Relationship development (14 mins 33 secs)
How has Covid affected the development of PCNs? (15 mins 32 secs)
NAPC forward view and how they can help practices and networks right now (16 mins 49 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 26 secs)
The NAPC website is here
To get in touch via Twitter
Or you can call: 020 7636 7228
There has been an explosion of digital innovation within primary care over recent months, particularly where maintaining contact between practices and their patient populations is concerned. But what about joining up practices with other practices, within Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP Federations, as well as other cross-sector organisations, to enable secure information sharing across care providers? This week’s podcast features GPs Dr Susannah Thompson and Dr Eleanor Holmes from TyneHealth GP Federation who, together with Nigel Walker, CDO and Co-Founder of leading data security provider CyVolve, share a fascinating insight into the transformative approach they are taking in North Tyneside to truly put patients at the heart of integrated care pathways; how they are able to safeguard security around the sharing of information and ultimately, finally, break down the barriers of silo working.
Introductions (44 secs)
All about TyneHealth GP Federation (1 min)
The extended access service (1 min 47 secs)
The birth of CyVolve and their mission (2 mins 22 secs)
CyVolve’s role in supporting safe information sharing (3 mins 7 secs)
Sharing the right information, at the right time, with the right people (6 mins 5 secs)
Motivating multiple practices to trust in the technology (7 mins 30 secs)
The challenges faced by CyVolve (8 mins 4 secs)
Bringing benefit to business continuity during the pandemic (8 mins 50 secs)
What are the key differences of the CyVolve technology? (9 mins 20 secs)
How is information stored? (10 mins 34 secs)
What types of data are being managed? (11 mins 20 secs)
Handling pushback (12 mins 12 secs)
The TyneHealth Covid-19 resource hub (14 mins 11 secs)
What has been the impact of the new system being in place? (15 mins 7 secs)
Lessons learned from CyVolve’s perspective (16 mins 3 secs)
Finding out more (17 mins 16 secs)
To find out more and to get in touch with Susannah and Eleanor at TyneHealth:
The TyneHealth website is here
Dr Susannah Thompson MD / GP
Dr Eleanor Holmes (GP / QI & Communications Manager)
A case study published by CyVolve on their work with TyneHealth (n.b. same title as the podcast: 'Patient Data: Who Holds The Key?')
The CyVolve website for more info about NHS secure collaboration can be found here
This time of year is ordinarily an extraordinarily busy period for practices with the onset of ‘business as usual’ winter pressures but what is the effect of the additional impact Covid presents, while business is not running as normal? In the third of our Practice Index Practice Manager panels, now seasoned podcast professional Nicola Davies joins Ben, along with fellow Practice Manager Michele Petrie and GP, executive coach and speaker, Dr Rachel Morris, to discuss the challenges leadership teams face right now, what low morale means in practice day to day and critically, what can be done to maintain staff resilience during this period of long term uncertainty.
Welcome to the panel (38 secs)
An introduction to Michele (49 secs)
All about Rachel (1 min 24 secs)
Morale right now in general practice (2 mins 10 secs)
Why is morale so low? (3 mins 24 secs)
Pressure from the top and the influence of the media (3 mins 46 secs)
Summarising the contributing factors (4 mins 18 secs)
What does a stressful working environment look and feel like in reality? (5 mins 20 secs)
The power of social media (7 mins 5 secs)
What can practices do to find a way through? (8 mins 21 secs)
The zone of power (10 mins 36 secs)
Recognition, reward, and the importance of saying “thank you” (11 mins 24 secs)
Long term impacts of low morale and maintaining wellbeing (13 mins 4 secs)
Pulling together as a team (14 mins 38 secs)
Standing in the shoes of a practice leadership team (15 mins 24 secs)
Coping strategies (17 mins 13 secs)
Rachel’s advice for self-care and sustaining resilience (19 mins 31 secs)
The link to Rachel’s I am not a frog podcast is here
The Covid-19 team wellbeing toolkit Rachel refers to can be found here
Episode 228 - Podcast – Jessica Hollingsworth & Nick Sharples – Digital group consultations
Group consultations are a relatively new concept in primary care, but one GP has taken this a step further and in the wake of the pandemic, has introduced digital group consultations at her practice. Dr Jess Hollingsworth of Linthorpe Surgery in Middlesbrough, in partnership with podcast favourite Nick Sharples of DNA Insight, saw that there was a need to better support patients recovering from Covid. Together, they decided that giving patients access to an online consultation, in the company of other individuals also struggling with the long term impact of the virus, might offer some much needed insight into its effects, whilst giving them a safe route of access to an individual consultation and to a potential network of support going forwards. Here, they talk to Ben about how the idea came about, the preparation that is required, how the consultation works in practice and what the impact has been overall on the patients that have taken part.
Introductions (34 secs)
Making the transition to virtual group consultations (55 secs)
The definition of a digital group consultation and its structure (1 min 29 secs)
Timings and patient consult allocation (2 mins 25 secs)
Which patient group/s were targeted and why? (2 mins 53 secs)
What preparation is required? (3 mins 21 secs)
The role of the facilitator (4 mins 7 secs)
Governance and consent (4 mins 46 secs)
Recommended group size and numbers (5 mins 56 secs)
A group consultation in practice (7 mins 21 secs)
After care (8 mins 26 secs)
How social prescribing link workers can help (9 mins 40 secs)
Patient feedback (10 mins 30 secs)
Reflections from a practice perspective (11 mins 40 secs)
Technical challenges (12 mins 34 secs)
Which online platform works best and why? (13 mins 19 secs)
Lessons learned (14 mins 36 secs)
Advice from Nick for practices who are in setting up a digital group consultation (15 mins 43 secs)
The Personalised Care Institute and the support and training on offer (17 mins 12 secs)
Where can I find out more about virtual group consultations? (18 mins 28 secs)
Further support for patients recovering from Covid-19 (19 mins 14 secs)
A link to the case study on Linthorpe Surgery’s digital group consultation pilot (which Nick references) can be found here
We are proud of the many inspirational stories that are shared and the fascinating people who feature on our podcast and none more so than this week’s guest, GP Rebecca Farrington. Rebecca works within an almost truly unique role as a GP with a special interest in asylum seeker mental health, within a specialist hub in Salford, Greater Manchester. The challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees within the UK cannot be underestimated and the impact on mental health and wellbeing is significant. Here, Rebecca talks to Ben about these challenges in more detail, the dynamics of her role, the difficulties Covid has presented and how other providers can ensure the best care for this particularly vulnerable population, in their own areas of the country.
Introduction (29 secs)
Rebecca’s journey (41 secs)
How ‘typical’ is Rebecca’s role (2 mins 25 secs)
Life as a GP with a special interest and the model of care (2 mins 41 secs)
Are there other support frameworks for refugees and asylum seekers? (4 mins 12 secs)
The challenges faced by those seeking asylum in the UK (6 mins 5 secs)
How can GPs provide a better service? (7 mins 1 sec)
Why specialist health services make such a big difference (7 mins 50 secs)
The impact of Covid (10 mins 7 secs)
Doing things differently post Covid (12 mins 16 secs)
Advice and support on reaching out to the vulnerable populations in your area (13 mins 8 secs)
The importance of high-quality interpretation (15 mins 35 secs)
More information on the vital work and the services offered by Rebecca and her team (and Rebecca as a practitioner) can be found as follows:
BMJ article/interview
HEE career story
BJGP article
University of Manchester blog
It’s an exciting week because we are so pleased to have our first PCN Manager to feature on the Ockham podcast! Tara Dawson, PCN Manager for the Lytham St Annes network, takes us through her journey to becoming PCN Manager, her experiences, her achievements, the key relationships she has formed and then, what she hopes to achieve going forwards and more broadly, why having a manager is instrumental in establishing the setup of the network, driving the key commitments and priorities - and managing the wellbeing of the relationships between practice and PCN.
Introduction (30 secs)
All about Tara and how she became a PCN Manager (47 secs)
Has Tara’s prior experience helped? (2 mins 7 secs)
Organisational setup (2 mins 58 secs)
Incorporated status and NHS pensions implications (3 mins 54 secs)
Managing the incorporation process (4 mins 56 secs)
What does a typical working week look like for Tara? (6 mins 21 secs)
Recruitment and staffing (7 mins 28 secs)
The relationship between PCN Manager and Clinical Director (8 mins 38 secs)
Has having a PCN Manager in post allowed the Clinical Directors to drive the clinical priorities? (9 mins 43 secs)
The PCN demographic and practice engagement (10 mins 57 secs)
PCN Managers and Practice Managers (13 mins 5 secs)
The best things about being a PCN Manager (14 mins 55 secs)
Support network (15 mins 53 secs)
The forward view (17 mins 5 secs)
Lessons learned so far (17 mins 53 secs)
Following up in a year (19 mins 52 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 24 secs)
Tara is contactable at: tara.dawson1@nhs.net
It’s all about profitability on this week’s podcast. In the second of our Practice Index panels, Practice Managers Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies return and are this time joined by financial expert James Gransby to talk through the current pressures on practice income, particularly during this period of uncertainty. However they have also shared with us their practical advice for managing finances at a local level; how to maximise income, how to avoid commonly made mistakes, where to access the most up to date toolkits and resources to support good financial management and why some practices may operate differently but can be equally profitable.
Introduction (43 secs)
Is GP income down overall? (1 min 6 secs)
How do some practices maintain profitability whilst others are experiencing a drop in their income? (2 mins 43 secs)
Maximising income (Nicola’s approach) (3 mins 40 secs)
Robyn outlines the factors influencing profitability at her practice (5 mins 27 secs)
The importance of claiming income and checking you have been paid (6 mins 39 secs)
Common mistakes that practices are making (7 mins 2 secs)
The disparity in claim eligibility and the benefit of experience (8 mins 18 secs)
PCSE portal (10 mins 38 secs)
Dealing with the fallout of PCSE issues (10 mins 55 secs)
What is the decision-making process when presented with the opportunity of a new enhanced service? (11 mins 34 secs)
Why could an enhanced service prove profitable for one practice and not for another? (12 mins 44 secs)
What opportunities might practices be missing out on? (14 mins 24 secs)
The reasons why practices operate differently but can be equally profitable (16 mins 43 secs)
Final pay controls, pensions, and tax implications (19 mins 14 secs)
Robyn, Nicola, and James’ closing words of wisdom (20 mins 25 secs)
This is the blog James mentioned
Information about Practice’s Index’s PPA Toolkit can be found here
Another resource which has been really popular from AISMA and PI is here
Contact details for the panel are as follows:
- james.gransby@rsmuk.com
- robyn.clark3@nhs.net
- nicola.davies14@nhs.net
So much has changed since the formation of PCNs at the beginning of last year in terms of availability of funding and staff and the governance of how we run our networks. As a result, many partnerships, practices, and networks are reconsidering their financial models and specifically, whether incorporation could prove more lucrative in the long run. This week’s podcast features our (almost) resident financial expert, James Gransby, Partner at RSM, who has waded through the reams of guidance and jargon to explain in simple terms what the pros and cons of PCN incorporation are likely to be; what are our options, what we need to watch out for and where the hidden benefits may be.
Introduction (36 secs)
What does incorporation mean and is this the direction of travel for PCNs? (55 secs)
Why PCNs may choose to change their financial model at this stage (1 min 38 secs)
VAT implications broadly (2 mins 11 secs)
Incorporation pros (3 mins 17 secs)
Setting up a PCN as a separate entity (4 mins 19 secs)
NHS pensions (5 mins 7 secs)
CQC registration (6 mins 38 secs)
What are the other governance obligations an incorporated body would have to meet? (7 mins 2 secs)
VAT and staffing setup (8 mins 11 secs)
Tax benefits? (9 mins 26 secs)
Impact and Investment Fund monies (10 mins 49 secs)
Should a PCN incorporate itself or use a local, already incorporated, federation? (11 mins 28 secs)
Will overall funding increases lead to a greater number of limited companies? (12 mins 33 secs)
A PCN in the open market… (14 mins 8 secs)
…versus as an NHS organisation (14 mins 55 secs)
GP practices and incorporation (15 mins 36 secs)
PMS agreements and GMS contracts (18 mins 12 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 58 secs)
James is contactable via email at: james.gransby@rsmuk.com
A patient’s wellbeing underpins their physical health so what can we do to complement our existing models of care and ensure their wellbeing needs are met? One of our most popular guests (and as it turns out, podcast regular) Dr Neil Modha of Thistlemoor Medical Centre in Peterborough, is back on our sofa this week and believes the key lies in the relatively new health and wellbeing coaching roles. What are they? How do they fit within existing staffing and service models? How can practices and PCNs take advantage of these roles, particularly in line with the reimbursement scheme? And most importantly, what value do they add to practices and their patient populations?
Introduction (53 secs)
How has Neil’s practice coped during the pandemic? (1 min 34 secs)
The triage model at Thistlemoor (2 mins 24 secs)
The impact of Covid on general practice locally – and more broadly (3 mins 7 secs)
Integrating health and wellbeing coaches within a practice structure (4 mins 53 secs)
What is a health and wellbeing coach? What can they bring to our table? (6 mins 23 secs)
Are new people required to take on this role or can we upskill existing staff? (7 mins 30 secs)
Where Neil’s PCN are up to in the training and recruitment process (8 mins 39 secs)
The patient journey (10 mins 23 secs)
Caseload (11 mins 43 secs)
What does success look like? (12 mins 20 secs)
Who is responsible for running the training? (13 mins 33 secs)
Proving the impact (14 mins 17 secs)
Utilising funding from the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) (15 mins 49 secs)
Breaking down the financial benefits of the ARRS (17 mins 2 secs)
Where do health and wellbeing coaches fit within the context of the PCN DES? (18 mins)
Lessons learned so far (19 mins 54 secs)
Following Thistlemoor’s journey and additional resources (20 mins 57 secs)
Further information regarding health coaching can be found on Thistlemoor’s website here
The WHO wellbeing as a measure for wellbeing is an additional tool Neil and his team are using which should be completed at the beginning and end of the patient journey, to measure the impact of their health and wellbeing intervention.
If you would like to join the discussion or get in touch, both Neil and Thistlemoor are active in all the usual places:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThistlemoorMC
https://twitter.com/neilmo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thistlemoorhealth/
Raw Horizons Academy are a recognised training provider for health and wellbeing coaches and their contact details are as follows:
Website: academy.rawhorizons.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RHA_Wellbeing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rawhorizons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawhorizons/
Finally, the link to Neil’s podcast on his practice’s triage model (which Ben refers to) can be found here
The ability to be resilient, as an individual and as a team, has never been more important, particularly over the last 6 months and it is particularly difficult to maintain resilience during a period of such intense change and unpredictability. Luckily for us, executive coach Janice Steed has agreed to return to the podcast to dissect how resilience applies to Covid, how the changes faced by general practice have truly tested our ability to be resilient and offers a wealth of advice and practical tips on supporting primary care staff through the impacts of Covid - and the positive steps that can be taken to move forward from here.
Introduction (31 secs)
Janice’s initial thoughts (48 secs)
The impact of Covid on healthcare more broadly (1 min 35 secs)
….and on primary care staff (2 mins 37 secs)
Different phases of stress throughout the pandemic (3 mins 9 secs)
The ‘prepare’ phase (3 mins 56 secs)
The ‘active’ phase (4 mins 34 secs)
The implications of having low levels of resilience (5 mins 20 secs)
The ‘recovery’ phase and adjusting to life after the acute period of Covid (6 mins)
How do we take forward the positive solutions we have embedded and avoid reverting to old, more comfortable behaviours? (6 mins 50 secs)
Focus on communication, support for others and recognising that we may go backwards before we go forwards again (8 mins 5 secs)
Practical advice on establishing a support forum locally (10 mins 6 secs)
Who should be involved in a support forum? (12 mins 46 secs)
Can a support forum work virtually? (13 mins 4 secs)
The role of facilitator (14 mins 38 secs)
Getting in touch (15 mins 17 secs)
For further support and advice, please visit Janice’s website here
Janice is also contactable via janice@steedconsulting.co.uk
With the publication of a new Asthma UK report about how the use of data and technology can shape and transform the management of asthma in primary care, a wider discussion has now been prompted about how the same principles and recommendations within the report could shape chronic disease management in general practice overall. Dr Minal Bakhai and Dr Andy Whittamore have returned to the podcast to break down the specifics of the report, to share their experiences of implementing some of the recommendations, to discuss how we can better use data and tech to support innovation, how the improvement measures employed now could serve as a springboard for further success and the instant and long term impact on patients with asthma.
Introduction (35 secs)
Why has the report been published? (1 min 7 secs)
The current picture of asthma management in the UK and some stats (1 min 22 secs)
What has Asthma UK done so far? (3 mins 6 secs)
Asthma as a gateway condition for trial of tech in chronic disease management (3 mins 58 secs)
Has Covid been a contributing factor? (4 mins 14 secs)
Minal’s view; does asthma hold the key for successful implementation of tech in managing long term conditions? (5 mins 27 secs)
Total digital triage (6 mins 59 secs)
Digital First Primary Care accelerators and the work towards integrated care pathways (8 mins 11 secs)
The Portsdown experience (9 mins 32 secs)
Employing better analytics; what data skills are required? Which data samples should we be focused on? Who is responsible? (10 mins 58 secs)
Other improvement measures that Andy and Portsdown have employed (12 mins 30 secs)
The results of the changes at Portsdown (14 mins 36 secs)
The role of PCNs (15 mins 22 secs)
Minal’s view on the potential for influence and outcomes at PCN level (16 mins 37 secs)
A permanent change in the future of general practice? (18 mins 14 secs)
Resources, guidance, capacity support, accelerated procurement pathways and training – all available from Digital First Primary Care (19 mins 40 secs)
Accessing the report and support from Asthma UK (22 mins 48 secs)
Here is the link to the report
Asthma UK: https://www.asthma.org.uk/
Digital First Primary Care home page: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/digital-first-primary-care/
Networks and practices are planning in earnest for a more complex flu vaccination season involving all the normal the challenges of ensuring adequate staffing numbers, facilities and PPE are in place – and the right levels of vaccine are in stock. This year’s campaign is additionally complicated by the confusion about how the immunisation programme can be delivered practically in the era of Covid and the near constant changes in national guidance. This week’s podcast features a panel of experts in Practice Managers Robyn Clark and Nicola Davies who, together with Ben, try to unpick some of the issues and give an insight into their own preparations in order to support others in their planning for winter 2020.
A panel of experts (9 secs)
Introductions (45 secs)
Robyn practice and professional background (1 min 11 secs)
Nicola’s PCN, practice and career history (1 min 54 secs)
Changes to the flu vaccination programme for 2020 (2 mins 52 secs)
Issues with supply (3 mins 51 secs)
Staff anxieties (4 mins 11 secs)
Flu targets and the eligibility criteria (4 mins 32 secs)
Current guidance (5 mins 49 secs)
Vaccine demand (6 mins 13 secs)
Is there anything we can be doing now to boost our supply? (9 mins 12 secs)
Vaccination storage (9 mins 31 secs)
Mutual aid (10 mins 9 secs)
PPE (11 mins 6 secs)
Debating the use of PPE and advice on maintaining stock (13 mins 24 secs)
How will administration of the vaccines work in practice? (14 mins 53 secs)
Are there benefits to non-clinical staff being trained in vaccine administration? (18 mins 1 sec)
Medico-legal implications (18 mins 45 secs)
Car park clinics and drive throughs (20 mins 20 secs)
Practice versus PCN delivery models (21 mins 44 secs)
Data collection and recording information (23 mins 12 secs)
Final thoughts (25 mins 27 secs)
This episode of the podcast is a joint collaboration between Ockham Healthcare and Practice Index and we’d love to get your thoughts and feedback! To get in touch you can email Ben via ben@ockham.healthcare or James Dillon via james.dillon@practiceindex.co.uk
It can be tough at the top for many clinical directors but does being in the role as a nurse offer an alternative perspective? Do the challenges differ or are there additional benefits to coming to the role from a slightly different background? Ben Scott is an ANP and Clinical Director for Doncaster South PCN and has taken time out of his busy schedule to speak to us about his experiences from starting life as a professional footballer, to health professional and leader - and his journey to becoming a clinical director.
Introductions (33 secs)
An unlikely route into general practice (50 secs)
Ben’s journey as a health service professional (1 min 39 secs)
The transition to general practice (2 mins)
A clinical directorship post beckons (2 mins 34 secs)
Doncaster South PCN: the stats (3 mins 10 secs)
….and the culture (3 mins 47 secs)
Working amongst GPs as a nurse clinical director (4 mins 41 secs)
Does Ben feel he’s had to work harder to establish himself in the leadership role? (5 mins 36 secs)
The experience of other CDs and their influence on Ben (6 mins 25 secs)
Developing as a leader (7 mins 12 secs)
Establishing a support network (7 mins 37 secs)
What are the benefits to being a nurse clinical director? (8 mins 38 secs)
The effect on recruiting additional roles (9 mins 39 secs)
The first year as a CD; focusing on the good and learning from the not so good (11 mins 13 secs)
Lessons learned (12 mins 19 secs)
Overcoming mistrust (12 mins 57 secs)
Words of wisdom for those considering a clinical leadership position (13 mins 41 secs)
Getting in touch (14 mins 38 secs)
Ben is contactable via @ScottyANP35
If you want to hear more from Ben, he will be speaking at the Best Practice Show which is taking place in October and is free for all healthcare professionals to attend. You can reserve your place here.
What is population health management, and can it really make a difference? Does it really offer a holistic solution to meeting health needs, supporting better integrated care and relieving day to day pressure on practices and networks? Dr Dan Alton is a GP at the Wargrave Surgery in Berkshire and the Population Health Management (PHM) clinical lead for West Berkshire CCG. In addition, he is an NHS England PHM Champion and has a wealth of experience in applying the PHM principles and is on our sofa this week to shine a light on all things PHM; what it is, how it can be applied at scale yet tailored locally, the lessons he has learned and most importantly, how to realise the benefits.
Introductions (32 secs)
What is Population Health Management (PHM)? (1 min 4 secs)
Joining up data with local knowledge (1 min 25 secs)
Embedding proactive integrated care which meets individual and whole community health needs (2 mins 53 secs)
Dan explains how he became involved in PHM (4 mins)
Finding from the national NHS England wave 1 PHM Development Programme in Berkshire West (5 mins 28 secs)
Resulting interventions (7 mins 16 secs)
The conclusions (8 mins 17 secs)
What were the datasets that led to those interventions and how were they identified? (8 mins 41 secs)
How data can be used effectively regardless of its complexity (9 mins 45 secs)
10% PHM data 90% cultural change (10 mins 21 secs)
How do you convert data into patient conversations? (11 mins 51 secs)
Positive, measurable outcomes as a result of a PHM approach (13 mins 32 secs)
Applying PHM principles in response to Covid (14 mins 38 secs)
Accelerating the process to identify areas of need during the pandemic (17 mins 4 secs)
Can PHM support the development of the PCN? (18 mins 49 secs)
Access to further information and PHM resources (20 mins 16 secs)
The NHSE/I PHM Academy website contains a wealth of resources, contacts and materials to support practices and PCNs in engaging with the PHM agenda
The NHS England Population Health Management Development website is here
If you want to hear more from Dan, he will be speaking at the Best Practice Show which is taking place in October and is free for all healthcare professionals to attend – you can reserve your place here.
accuRx have been on an interesting journey and one that they may not always be given credit for, given the overnight and overwhelming success of the simple, yet game changing software they have introduced to general practice over the last four months. From modest beginnings, working out of small numbers of practices on process improvement measures, to the inception of the messaging service and video consultations, super rapid rollouts, continuous reinvention and pioneering tech in scope for the future, co-founder Jacob Haddad takes Ben through, arguably, one of tech's biggest triumphs in healthcare and what accuRx means for primary care and beyond.
Introductions (45 secs)
Where accuRx began (1min 8 secs)
A turning point (1 min 36 secs)
The messaging service (2 mins 5 secs)
The cause for the change in direction (2 mins 45 secs)
Communication, communication, communication (4 mins 25 secs)
A new approach to rollout (5 mins 16 secs)
Video consultations and Covid triage (6 mins 15 secs)
Feature design with patients and practice in mind (8 mins 9 secs)
Rollout timeline (8 mins 24 secs)
Identifying the need for more effective patient communication tools (9 mins)
The surge in demand (9 mins 50 secs)
Filling a gap in the market (10 mins 17 secs)
Has the messaging service been the key enabler of change and improvement in healthcare? (11 mins 31 secs)
Security, governance and information sharing (12 mins 1 sec)
How long will the service continue to be free to use? (14 mins 17 secs)
The "plus" tier (15 mins 50 secs)
accuRx ethos (16 mins 6 secs)
Working alongside health to build great tech (17 mins 54 secs)
What's next for accuRx? (18 mins 55 secs)
Staying up to date / more information (21 mins 49 secs)
For updates on what's next on the accuRx horizon:
Twitter @accuRx
The accuRx Facebook user group is here
accuRx have been hailed as the overwhelming success story of the Covid crisis, with a rapid deployment of much needed virtual tech into practices up and down the country and enabling primary teams to maintain high quality care for their patients. Ben is joined on this week’s podcast by GP and IT champion Dustyn Saint of Primary Care Pathways, to discuss the accuRx journey, what their breakout success has meant for general practice and how their influence is likely to extend beyond the pandemic.
Introductions (35 secs)
Primary Care Pathways (44 secs)
When did Dustyn first hear about accuRx? (1 min 33 secs)
Text messaging (1 min 58 secs)
How does the accuRx messaging service work alongside existing clinical systems? (3 mins 28 secs)
What other features does the messaging tool offer? (4 mins 6 secs)
A “game changing” video consultation service and its effect on general practice during the pandemic (4 mins 49 secs)
A comparison with previous video consultation applications (5 mins 54 secs)
How easy was it for colleagues and staff to adapt to using the accuRx systems? (6 mins 56 secs)
Widespread adoption across general practice (7 mins 41 secs)
Working with other providers and additional functionality (8 mins 8 secs)
Are virtual consults here to stay? (8 mins 35 secs)
The effect of tech on managing care going forwards (9 mins 21 secs)
Remote monitoring (10 mins 38 secs)
A turning point for primary care? (11 mins 30 secs)
The accuRx journey (12 mins 10 secs)
accuRx financial model and the procurement process (12 mins 53 secs)
A comparison against other business models; past and present (14 mins 8 secs)
The impact on working practices and benefits to patients (14 mins 4 secs)
Security and governance (15 mins 37 secs)
GP testimonial (16 mins 38 secs)
What’s next for Primary Care Pathways? (16 mins 58 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 11 secs)
For more information on Primary Care Pathways and making direct contact with Dustyn:
Primary Care Pathways website here
Primary Care Pathways first Ockham podcast episode is available here
Contact @PrimaryCareIT / @DustynSaint
Resilience in primary care has been truly tested by recent events but we are going back to basics on this week’s podcast as we talk to former midwife turned executive coach Janice Steed about why the resilience of a practice and its people is key to its success overall. What are the indicators of a resilient practice, where are the red flags and what are the clear elements that we must consider if we are to make improvements? Janice offers advice, gives her thoughts and shines a light on the Beds and Herts journey, following the introduction of their resilience programme there.
Introductions (44 secs)
What inspired Janice to become involved in resilience improvement? (1 min 16 secs)
The general practice resilience programme in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (1 min 50 secs)
Why the programme was introduced (2 mins 21 secs)
How the programme began (2 mins 41 secs)
Resilience: key indicators that a practice may be struggling (4 mins 3 secs)
Practice versus personal resilience (5 mins 47 secs)
Engaging the whole practice through its individuals (7 mins 30 secs)
The LMC’s role in improving resilience (8 mins 29 secs)
Practical elements for consideration (9 mins 16 secs)
The Beds and Herts resilience programme outline (10 mins 32 secs)
An overview of the programme’s six modules (12 mins 5 secs_
The impact of Covid on general practice resilience (15 mins 28 secs)
PCNs and their influence (15 mins 41 secs)
Getting in touch / further information (17 mins 49 secs)
For more information about Janice, her website is here
Details on the Beds and Herts resilience journey can be found on their LMC website here
Covid-19 has presented many challenges for GPs, not least the changes they have had to enact to ensure they are able to continue safe and effective management of patients with long terms health conditions. This week’s podcast features GP Dr Andrew Whittamore, Clinical Lead at the Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership and fellow GP Dr Minal Bakhai, National Clinical Director for Digital First Primary Care, who discuss the impact that the rapid introduction of tech and a more tech based approach in primary care has meant overall but also more crucially, how the opportunities presented by Covid have enabled them to offer increased flexibility and adaptability to meet patients’ needs - and to reach previously untapped patient populations.
Introductions (35 secs)
Which of the changes has had the most beneficial effect? (1 min 1 sec)
A total triage model of care (1 min 31 secs)
Remote consultations in numbers (2 mins 12 secs)
Using the wider workforce and rapid progress in other areas (3 mins 17 secs)
Remote monitoring and the impact on management of long-term conditions (4 mins 10 secs)
Andy’s experience from Portsdown Group Practice
The opportunities presented by Covid (5 mins 54 secs)
Was Covid the enabler for change or was this already the direction of travel? (6 mins 37 secs)
The power of shared purpose and streamlining services (8 mins 24 secs)
How has the shift to digital changed the management of patients with long term conditions? (8 mins 41 secs)
The risks new ways of working may present to patients with asthma and other lung conditions (10 mins 32 secs)
Asthma: the facts (and the ways digital transformation can improve outcomes) (11 mina 44 secs)
What happens next? (14 mins 38 secs)
Continuing the momentum at PCN level (17 mins 45 secs)
The importance of being able to align primary care services to patient lifestyle and preference (18 mins 38 secs)
Getting in touch and further information (19 mins 18 secs)
Links for guidance and support in setting up a digital model:
Advice on how to establish a 'total triage' model in general practice using online consultations
Health Education England e-learning on remote total triage model in general practice
Principles for safe video consulting during Covid-19
Digital First Primary Care home page: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/digital-first-primary-care/
Contact Digital First Primary Care: england.digitalfirstprimarycare@nhs.net
Specific links related to management of asthma:
Here is the link to all of the asthma uk publications
Specifically digital asthma: reimagining primary care
Minal mentioned this report looking at data sharing and technology exploring the attitudes of people with asthma
asthma.org.uk
blf.org.uk
The landscape of primary care has altered significantly, and many of the changes practices have made to prioritise patients and protect their staff during the Covid crisis are here to stay. This week’s podcast features Practice Manager Kay Keane and QCS Head of Primary Care Tracy Green, who talk through their experiences of the pandemic, how they have worked together to support the implementation of Alvanley Family Practice’s new systems of working and their thoughts on where we go from here as life returns to the new normal.
Introductions (36 secs)
About Alvanley Family Practice and their practice manager, Kay (1 min 20 secs)
‘Feed the birds’ project (1 min 40 secs)
Further innovation: group consultations (2 mins 57 secs)
The advantages of Zoom (4 mins 2 secs)
Tracy’s background and experience (4 mins 15 secs)
What have been the biggest challenges for Alvanley? (5 mins 43 secs)
Increased volume of work versus the need to do things differently (6 mins 42 secs)
Changes to the operating model (7 mins 17 secs)
Which new processes would Kay keep? (8 mins 5 secs)
The effect of rapid changes on team dynamics (9 mins 22 secs)
The loss of in-person contact (9 mins 54 secs)
Has general practice changed for the long term? (10 mins 39 secs)
Partnership working with local providers (11 mins 4 secs)
Have we been boosted in some ways? (11 mins 37 secs)
Maintaining momentum during a crisis (12 mins 41 secs)
The QCS response to Covid (14 mins 5 secs)
Who are QCS and what do they do? (16 mins 4 secs)
Governance and general hints and tips (16 mins 59 secs)
The QCS impact on an individual practice (17 mins 33 secs)
Time for reflection (18 mins 6 secs)
Managing the after effects of such a rapid period of change (19 mins 28 secs)
Lessons learned from Tracy’s perspective (20 mins 34 secs)
Further information (21 mins 18 secs)
This week’s podcast has been sponsored by Quality Compliance Systems (QCS)
QCS are offering a free trial to help support practices in embedding their new procedures and processes following the Covid crisis. To find out more, you can visit their website here
Content can also be found via the QCS Facebook general practice discussion group:
www.facebook.com/Alvanleyfamilypractice
Additional support in relation to Covid-19 is here
With the focus shifting back towards the normality of day to day working, primary care now has scope to reconsider the opportunities presented by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme in building workforce capacity and to establish further transformative working practices. This week’s spotlight is on the role of the pharmacist and we are fortunate to be joined by the experienced and progressive Steve Williams, who is a Clinical Pharmacist and network lead in his area of expertise based at Westbourne Medical Centre in Dorset. Here, Steve explains how his role fits both at practice and at network level - and gives his advice on making the best use of pharmacy professionals, and the additional roles more broadly, in general practice.
Introductions (36 secs)
Steve’s journey to becoming a PCN pharmacist (1 min 3 secs)
Why a move into general practice? (2 mins 33 secs)
Steve describes the transition from secondary to primary care (3 mins 15 secs)
The key differences (3 mins 44 secs)
What was the practice’s initial reaction to taking on a pharmacist? (4 mins 53 secs)
Embedding new roles; advice on induction and adapting your structures (6 mins 23 secs)
Maximising the impact from a network perspective (7 mins 18 secs)
An opportunity for innovation (9 mins 59 secs)
The role of a pharmacy technician and the skills they can offer (10 mins 50 secs)
Future plans and further expansion (12 mins 17 secs)
The influence of the DES on utilising new roles (13 mins 50 secs)
How will the role of the pharmacist develop further? (15 mins 28 secs)
Getting in touch (16 mins 42 secs)
Steve is contactable via email, Twitter and through Westbourne Medical Centre:
stevethechemist@onelesspill.com
@stevechemist
https://www.westbournemedical.com/
@BayPcn
The links for the supporting documents Steve references:
Link re "Practice to PCN role – A Pharmacist’s journey" presentation for Dorset CCG PCN Development Event on Understanding and establishing Clinical Pharmacy in PCNs 15th January 2020
https://youtu.be/5O5WFcdZFDM
Structured medication reviews research at WMC
Steve Williams, Lawrence D Brad. Impact of practice based clinical pharmacist led medication reviews on ambulatory patients with hyper polypharmacy. Br J Gen Pract 2018; 68 (suppl 1) https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X697097
Viewpoints on pharmacists in primary care published with GP Prescribing lead Dr Lawrence Brad
Williams SD, Hayes JM, Brad LD. Clinical pharmacists in general practice: a necessity not a luxury? British Journal of General Practice. Br J Gen Pract 2018; 68 (667): 85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X694697
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/06/26/time-pharmacist-support-general-practice-improve-medicines-optimisation/
https://bjgplife.com/2020/06/17/clinical-pharmacists-within-primary-care-networks-another-driver-for-collaborative-general-practice/
Useful documents / websites re pharmacy professionals working in primary care RPS Wales Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) in General Practice
https://www.rpharms.com/Portals/0/RPS%20document%20library/Open%20access/Wales/00215%202001-Welsh-MDT-English-AWD.pdf?ver=2020-02-07-140429-840
PRESQIPP
NHS funded not-for-profit organisation that supports quality, optimized prescribing for patients Virtual Professional Network for pharmacy starting April 2020 (membership required)
https://www.prescqipp.info/news/prescqipp-practice-plus/
Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA)
https://www.pcpa.org.uk/ (membership required)
https://pcpa.org.uk/assets/documents/Guide-for-GPs-considering-employing-pharmacist.pdf
We have been fortunate to have been able to share a number of best practice stories throughout the Covid-19 crisis and this week’s podcast is no exception. Ben is joined by Dr Lorenz Kemper, a GP who co-founded MedLink Solutions, a unique online platform which allows practices to remotely manage reviews of patients with long term conditions and chronic disease. Lorenz explains how the system was launched, how it works, and the impact it is having - allowing clinical teams to reach previously inactive patients, creating greater flexibility in management of clinical time and crucially, enabling practices to continue vital routine care for their patients safely.
Introductions (36 secs)
The challenge of remotely monitoring primary care’s ‘routine’ workload (47 secs)
Who was involved in setting up MedLink? (1 min 27 secs)
How the MedLink solution was designed (1 min 55 secs)
The first patient cohort and system rollout (2 mins 35 secs)
Reaching previously inactive patients (3 mins 8 secs)
The mechanics of the solution and establishing patient contact (3 mins 47 secs)
What about the patients who can’t be reached via MedLink? (4 mins 48 secs)
Impact on practice workload and how the process is managed (5 min 30 secs)
Capacity creation (6 mins 58 secs)
What are the key benefits of MedLink? (7 mins 22 secs)
How has MedLink been grown and extended beyond Lorenz’s practice? (8 mins 17 secs)
The Covid effect (8 mins 55 secs)
How flexible is the system? (9 mins 15 secs)
The process for designing the review questionnaires (10 mins 5 secs)
Patient and practice feedback (11 mins 26 secs)
A gateway to safer and more flexible care in the current climate? (12 mins 25 secs)
Future plans and further development (13 mins 41 secs)
Getting in touch (15 mins)
This week’s podcast has been sponsored by MedLink Solutions
Medlink solutions are offering a 3-month free trial to help practices during COVID. To find out more simply visit their website or email Lorenz at info@medlinksolutions.co.uk
Covid has presented many challenges for practices and networks but many have risen to the challenge and found that, as a result, they have been able to accelerate many existing projects and are seeing hugely positive outcomes. Sovereign Health, made up of three practices based in Hampshire, are one example of a network who have enacted rapid change as a result of the crisis and are now at the point of considering what to keep, how to rebalance network versus local priorities and how to maintain momentum going forwards. Clinical Director Dr Tom Bertram, Network lead Amanda Gray and Nursing lead Laura Miller share their story of what they did, what they achieved and where they are now. .
Introductions (39 secs)
The first year as a primary care network (1 min 45 secs)
Creation of a same day service (2 mins 1 sec)
Amanda’s transition from practice manager to practice manager and network lead (3 mins 6 secs)
When Covid happened (4 mins 17 secs)
A ‘command and control’ approach (5 mins 1 sec)
Mixing up the workforce; working by risk profile (5 mins 35 secs)
The challenge of losing a practice’s identity (6 mins 53 secs)
Staff reaction (admin and management) (7 mins 59 secs)
Support for the wider teams, both clinical and non-clinical (8 mins 52 secs)
What was the impact on the nursing teams and how did Laura manage this? (9 mins 43 secs)
How do the nurses feel now? (11 mins 5 secs)
Results from the staff survey (11 mins 31 secs)
What other changes have been made? (12 mins 4 secs)
A shared pharmacy service (12 mins 31 secs)
The telephone hub (13 mins 25 secs)
Single route access to the network (13 mins 41 secs)
Patient feedback (14 mins 33 secs)
Rebalancing network and practice priorities post Covid (15 mins 5 secs)
Population health management (15 mins 54 secs)
Juggling practice and network priorities as a local manager and network lead (16 mins 58 secs)
Summarising the overall effect of Covid on the network (17 mins 54 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 9 secs)
Amanda Gray, Sovereign Health Network lead: amanda.gray2@nhs.net
Dr Tom Bertram, Clinical Director, Sovereign Health Network: tom.bertram@nhs.net
The challenges presented by the Covid crisis have seen an acceleration of many existing transformation projects in general practice, particularly where use of tech and a move to a digital infrastructure is concerned. This week’s podcast features a panel of experts from the London region who bring a clinical, project and programme perspective on the hugely successful transition to online and video consultations and an insight into the brand-new NHS app. From triage and the creation of a digital front door to managing an incredibly rapid deployment, the importance of effective communication and the public response, here is how, in a few short weeks, they have enabled 91% of London practices to offer online consultations and 100% who now have the ability to deliver video consultations to support their patients.
Introductions (36 secs)
The challenge presented by Covid (2 mins 11 secs)
How was the transition to online and video consultations enabled? (3 mins 17 secs)
The deployment from a clinical perspective (5 mins 8 secs)
Patient response (7 mins 30 secs)
The NHS app (9 mins 19 secs)
Rollout across the STP area (10 mins 57 secs)
Why each London borough was managed differently (13 mins 44 secs)
What has been the impact of both online and video consults? Has one proved more successful than the other? (14 mins 54 secs)
Was hardware a critical success factor? (16 mins 33 secs)
Future plans (18 mins 22 secs)
Life after Covid? (19 mins 55 secs)
What happens next from a practice point of view? (20 mins 48 secs)
Getting in touch (22 mins 51 secs)
If you would like to know more, you can contact the London Digital First Programme team and / or Emily, Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) project lead for North Central London:
Digital First Programme (London): england.londondtt@nhs.net
STP lead: Emily.mitchell9@nhs.net
Robert McCartney and Stephen Kemp specialise in supporting and developing innovative and sustainable primary care services. Here, they take us through their experiences of setting up Covid ‘hot’ sites in the south Kent area, in response to the global pandemic; how the projects were mobilised, what were the key consideration factors and what they learned along the way.
Introductions (9 secs)
The network set up (1 min 54 secs)
When did the planning for a ‘hot’ hub begin? (3 mins 1 sec)
Overcoming the logistical challenges (4 mins 56 secs)
From idea to go-live (6 mins 12 secs)
Staffing a ‘hot’ site (6 mins 42 secs)
The cost implications for a practice or network (8 mins 23 secs)
Activity levels so far (9 mins 6 secs)
Boosting the numbers (9 mins 54 secs)
Lessons learned (11 mins 24 secs)
Internal versus external spaces (12 mins 24 secs)
Can there be a centralised model? (14 mins 20 secs)
Planning for the future of Covid (15 mins 39 secs)
Getting in touch (17 mins 19 secs)
Robert’s email: rm@mccartneyhealth.co.uk
Stephen’s email: skemp@mccartneyhealth.co.uk
McCartney Healthcare Associates website here
Twitter: @McCartneyHealth
With PCNs and practices facing the impending deadline for their decision on the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) Contract Specification for2020/21, Ben talks to Justin Cumberlege, who specialises in providing legal advice to the primary care healthcare sector as a partner at Hempsons Solicitors. From the contract specifics, to the key considerations and the legal and practical implications in between, this week’s podcast offers a bitesize overview of what primary care should be mindful of before 31 May 2020.
Introductions (14 secs)
How is this year’s network DES different? (38 secs)
The challenges so far (1 min 41 secs)
Publication timing (2 mins 53 secs)
What does sign up mean for practices and networks? What are the timescales? (4 mins 26 secs)
What if a practice does not want to be part of their PCN going forwards? (5 mins 49 secs)
Can the PCN configuration be changed at this point? (7 mins 15 secs)
The thorny issue of ‘expelling’ a practice from a network (7 mins 46 secs)
Justin’s highlights the key considerations for practices and networks, ahead of the sign-up deadline (8 mins 15 secs)
Reviewing the network agreement (9 mins 35 secs)
Requirements of collaboration (11 mins 39 secs)
The repercussions of breaching the contract (14 mins 15 secs)
Defining the difference between the PCN DES and the PMS agreement and GMS contract (17 mins 23 secs)
Focusing on the small print and implications of worst-case scenarios (18 mins 18 secs)
If practices sign up this year, what are the implications for opt out next year? (19 mins 9 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 6 secs)
Hempsons website here
Justin is contactable via email: j.cumberlege@hempsons.co.uk
Tara Humphrey, our 'almost' resident Project Management expert supporting the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, returns for a third episode in a series of podcasts covering the pandemic from a management and support perspective. This week Tara and Ben reflect on where they are up to in their own roles, within their own areas, with their focus shifting towards life after Covid and more traditional priorities – but with the added benefit and experience of the best practice that has taken place during recent times.
Introductions (14 secs)
Drive through immunisations (1 min 14 secs)
What has been happening in Tara’s world? (2 mins 35 secs)
Planning for life after Covid? (3 mins 6 secs)
Considering new priorities in a GP Federation schedule (4 mins 6 secs)
The Care Home challenge (4 mins 56 secs)
Modelling a new Care Home scheme (5 mins 47 secs)
Ben’s experiences of aligning care homes to practices and PCNs (6 mins 46 secs)
The network mindset (8 mins 19 secs)
Tara and Ben discuss the PCN DES more broadly (9 mins 14 secs)
Positive impacts as a result of the pandemic? (9 mins 57 secs)
Building on the positives; opportunities for further partnership working (11 mins 1 sec)
The theory of change and maintaining momentum (13 mins 16 secs)
Th effect of crisis working (14 mins 43 secs)
Learning lessons (15 mins 27 secs)
What’s next for Tara? (16 mins 6 secs)
…and for Ben? (16 mins 58 secs)
Find out more about Tara Humphrey:
- THC Primary Care https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/
- Listen to The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey for a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of healthcare.
- Connect on Twitter and Linkedin
During a time when many GP surgeries across the nation are managing near total transformation of their working practices, James Davies, a Practice Manager at Amicus Health, features on this week’s podcast to tell their story. From the highs to the not so highs, to the tech they’ve employed, the valuable lessons they have learned and the bits of their new processes they would like to retain for the future, this week’s podcast is a one stop shop for all things remote working during the era of Covid-19.
Introductions (26 secs)
Amicus Health – the stats (41 secs)
The ‘GP heavy’ model (58 secs)
When did their transformation journey begin? (1 min 51 secs)
How to embed a system of remote working and enabling staff to work from home (2 mins 34 secs)
Away From My Desk (4 mins)
Access to full clinical software (4 mins 44 secs)
Explaining the ‘soft phones’ system (5 mins 18 secs)
What does a typical day look like in the new world? (6 mins 11 secs)
Staff reactions (7 mins 59 secs)
Striking the balance of staffing cover (9 mins 1 sec)
Which roles fit remote working best? (10 mins 7 secs)
Continuing effective staff management (11 mins)
Is dedicated IT support required? (12 mins 24 secs)
What happens next? (13 mins 8 secs)
Opportunities for further transformation and planning for the future (14 mins 47 secs)
What will Amicus Health retain going forwards? (15 mins 41 secs)
Lessons learned (16 mins 41 secs)
Getting in touch (18 mins 41 secs)
James is contactable at: jamesw.davies@nhs.net
https://www.amicushealth.nhs.uk/
Is now the right time to making the most of the funded social prescribing link worker roles? Christiana Melam, Chief Executive at the National Association of Link Workers and Nicola Gitsham, Head of Social Prescribing at NHS England think so. Here, they talk to Ben about the history of the role, how practices and PCNs can maximise holistic patient care through the employment of the link workers and why they are a crucial element in managing the impact and the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.
Introductions (14 secs)
The evolution of the link worker role (1 min 21 secs)
What has been the impact of the pandemic on social prescribing link workers? (2 mins 50 secs)
How has the role changed in recent weeks? (7 mins 56 secs)
Why the link workers are the key to maintaining joined up patient care during the pandemic (9 mins 16 secs)
Recruitment of a social prescribing link worker (11 mins 21 secs)
Maximising the effectiveness of a social prescribing link worker in practice (12 min 53 secs)
NHS England and NALW resources (14 mins 42 secs)
NHS England links, contacts and resources:
Guidance on the role social prescribing link workers in supporting the response to COVID 19
GP Preparedness Letter: 27 March and Covid/GP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updated 6 April set out the role of the SPLW in supporting the response to COVID19
“Social prescribing link workers form part of the multidisciplinary teams in primary care networks (PCNs) and are uniquely placed to work closely with GPs, local authorities, health and care professionals and voluntary sector partners to coordinate support for these people whilst they are self-isolating.”
Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) Specification 2020/21:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/network-contract-des-specification-pcn-requirements-entitlements-2020-21.pdf
Key sections for social prescribing link workers:
Learning and development (Annex B/B3.2)
Referrals to social prescribing link workers must be recorded using the SNOMED codes (Annex B/B3.6)
All the additional roles employed by a PCN or engaged via a sub-contract (including social prescribing link workers) must have access to other healthcare professionals, electronic ‘live’ and paper based record systems of the PCN’s Core Network Practices (section 6.4.1.)
Details on the NHSE delivery support offer
Social prescribing collaborative platform – with active discussion forum. To sign up to the collaborative platform, email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net
Weekly webinars for SP link workers specific to the COVID-19 response. More information is on the collaborative platform.
Regional learning coordinators facilitate virtual peer support for link workers and providing additional support and information. Contact details available from england.socialprescribing@nhs.net
Existing resources and support for social prescribing link workers (such as ) : https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/support-and-resources/
Regional facilitators and regional delivery teams available to support recruitment of link workers
Nicola has also included a blog she did for the National Academy of Social Prescribing: http://www.socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/time-to-come-together/
National Association of Link Workers resources and contacts:
Covid 19-Hub
Learning syllabus
Code of practice
Other resources
Ben is joined this week by Katherine Saunders, Chief Executive, and Pramit Patel, Medical Director, from Alliance for Better Care; a GP federation covering 49 practices, within 10 primary care networks, across East Surrey and West Sussex. Together, they explain how the federation is meeting the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis in their local area by setting up multi-disciplinary clinical decision units within the community, redesigning the home visiting process, identifying clear roles and responsibilities within their existing staffing models - and working to put general practice at the heart of their response.
Introductions (22 secs)
The role of Alliance for Better Care (ABC) and the Covid-19 response (1 min 18 secs)
The relationship with primary care (2 mins 6 secs)
Setting up a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) within a community setting (2 mins 45 secs)
Managing patient exposure within the CDU (4 mins 23 secs)
Multi-disciplinary team working during a pandemic (5 mins 18 secs)
Integrating primary care into the wider system (6 mins 29 secs)
Sharing learning, materials and experiences (8 mins 12 secs)
How are local practices coping? (9 mins 3 secs)
Home Visiting (10 mins 26 secs)
Access to data and its importance (12 mins 4 secs)
How to manage demand and agree priorities with local partners (12 mins 59 secs)
Procurement of new systems and software (14 mins 39 secs)
The capacity to cope: roles, responsibilities and managing staffing levels (15 mins 44 secs)
Communication and engagement (17 ins 45 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 2 secs)
Katherine is contactable via email: katherine.saunders2@nhs.net
The Alliance for Better Care website
Tara Humphrey, Project Management expert supporting the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, returns for the second in a series of podcasts focused on practical demands and planning in primary care, during the pandemic. This week, Tara and Ben discuss the differences and challenges in the approaches from practices, networks and federations, getting the staffing balance right and maintaining business continuity and personal resilience within a crisis.
Introductions (12 secs)
What's happening in Tara's world right now? (35 secs)
Financial management and planning (1 min 23 secs)
Redistribution of an underspend and the development fund (2 mins)
Supporting vulnerable patients (3 mins 7 secs)
Introduction of new roles / recruitment options within a network (3 mins 42 secs)
A federation's approach to incorporating new roles (5 mins 15 secs)
How does a practice buddy system work? (5 mins 48 secs)
Introducing and implementing new SOPs across networks and practices (6 mins 39 secs)
Joint working from a top down perspective... (8 mins 49 secs)
… versus expectation at practice level (9 mins 53 secs)
The pace of change and anticipating new demands (10 mins 30 secs)
How are practices coping overall? (11 mins 44 secs)
Putting emotional support in place for GPs (13 mins 14 secs)
The importance of practice managers and protecting the well-being of wider practice staff (14 mins)
Working from home and sustainability (14 mins 54 secs)
What's next for Tara? (15 mins 17 secs)
…and for Ben? (16 mins 10 secs)
Find out more about Tara Humphrey:
- THC Primary Care https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/
- Listen to The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey for a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of healthcare.
- Connect on Twitter and Linkedin
Specialist Medical Accountant James Gransby returns to the Ockham podcast to give his invaluable advice and assessment of the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on primary care finances. What is currently being offered by the government by way of support for individuals, practices and networks, where are the landmines and what should we be mindful of now and going forwards?
Introductions (9 secs)
What is in place to support practices right now? (19 secs)
The Coronavirus Act 2020: Implications for general practice explained (1 min 15 secs)
‘Furloughing’ of staff (3 mins 14 secs)
The overall picture for primary care in summary (5 mins 16 secs)
How are PCNs affected? (5 mins 56 secs)
How to reflect a pandemic within a balance sheet (8 mins)
The national return to work scheme (8 mins 51 secs)
Death in service (11 mins 50 secs)
How worried should we be about the financial impact? (12 mins 36 secs)
Relaxation of pension rules (13 mins 35 secs)
Getting in touch (15 min 35 secs)
James is contactable via email: James.Gransby@rsmuk.com
https://www.rsmuk.com/our-people/james-gransby
Cassandra Baiano and Ron McDonald are both medical students within the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme at the University of St Andrews. Inspired by the quality improvement and agents of change portion of their curriculum, they have created an innovative application, HealthSHIP, which can offer support to health and social care workers in balancing the practical aspects of their home lives alongside the demands of working on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis. Here, they talk to Ben about the inception of the app, the value of voluntary support during the pandemic and why healthcare students, in particular, can be a crucial source of assistance during these difficult times.
Introductions (10 secs)
The ScotGEM Programme update (23 secs)
How HealthSHIP began (1 min 30 secs)
Why healthcare students? (2 mins 25 secs)
Where did the idea come from? (3 mins 7 secs)
HealthSHIP right now (3 mins 33 secs)
How does it work in practice? (4 mins 49 secs)
What areas are covered and where does HealthSHIP fit alongside the national voluntary schemes? (5 mins 36 secs)
When was HealthSHIP launched and which tasks are being filled? (6 mins 44 secs)
Access and signup information (7 mins 45 secs)
Requesting support and types of support on offer for general practice (9 mins 29 secs)
Getting in touch and contact information (11 mins 42 secs)
Web: http://healthship.org
email: hello@healthship.org
Twitter: @HealthSHIP_UK
In the wake of the global coronavirus crisis, GP surgeries across the UK are facing the challenge of transforming working practice within a short space of time and reducing in-person consultations with their patients, whilst protecting their staff and maximising their capacity to deal with everyday demands alongside those presented by the pandemic. Dr Ravi Tomar was part of the transition at Portland Medical ahead of time and gives his advice for managing the changes and reflects on the key outcomes that they have experienced as a result.
Introductions (38 secs)
The move towards telephone and ‘virtual’ triage (48 secs)
Portland Medical: the stats (2 mins 32 secs)
Decreasing locum use (3 mins 3 secs)
Impact on face to face consultations (4 mins 23 secs)
Reducing face to face appointments as a result of Covid-19 (5 mins 5 secs)
Video consultation (6 mins 9 secs)
What tech is required? (6 mins 58 secs)
Telephone versus video consultations (7 mins 36 secs)
Video consults: lessons learned and practical advice (8 mins 18 secs)
Telephone to video consultation: managing an in-consult switch (10 mins 37 secs)
Covid-19 effect on day-to-day practice (11 mins 20 secs)
The system for managing Covid-19 at Portland Medical (12 mins 6 secs)
The ‘hot and cold’ model (13 mins 16 secs)
The role of other healthcare professionals and upskilling the workforce (14 mins 50 secs)
What are the significant outcomes as a result of the changes? (16 mins 47 secs)
Transition from old to new processes (18 mins 18 secs)
Patient feedback (19 mins 51 secs)
Final thoughts (20 mins 17 secs)
Getting in touch (20 mins 17 secs)
Preparedness update letter for general practice: 27 March 2020 here
Portland Medical website: https://www.portlandmedicalcentre.co.uk/
Dr Ravi Tomar is contactable via email: ravi.tomar@nhs.net
How do you prepare for an upcoming crisis which is anticipated, yet unpredictable? What steps should a practice and a network be taking to manage its response and resources whilst safeguarding its people? Which issues should be tackled now and what workstreams should be put in place? Project management expert, Tara Humphrey, who supports the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, chats to Ben Gowland about her experiences so far and offers practical advice for maximising efficiency ahead of time.
Introductions (22 secs)
The state of play locally (56 secs)
What support is available now for practices? (1 min 30 secs)
Practical considerations (2 mins 17 secs)
The importance of communication (3 mins 46 secs)
Site/s management (5 mins 8 secs)
What are the biggest challenges for practices and networks? (5 mins 53 secs)
Co-ordinating skills and expertise (8 mins 35 secs)
Managing communication effectively and supporting staff (8 mins 59 secs)
Crisis leadership (10 mins 59 secs)
The mood in general practice right now (14 mins 26 secs)
Next steps (16 mins 37 secs)
Supporting well-being (17 mins 50 secs)
NHS Confederation document (How CCGs can support PCNs and practices during the Covid-19 crisis) https://www.nhsconfed.org/-/media/Confederation/Files/Publications/Documents/How-CCGs-can-support-PCN_COVID_19.pdf
Find out more about Tara Humphrey:
- THC Primary Care https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/
- Listen to The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey for a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of healthcare.
- Connect on Twitter and Linkedin
Following the release of the budget statement and the global challenges faced by the coronavirus pandemic, Paul Gordon, MacArthur Gordon Medical Specialist Financial Planner, re-joins Ben to talk through the changes and implications for the GP pension pot.
Introductions (20 secs)
What has changed since January? (45 secs)
The details of the changes (1 min 25 secs)
The annual allowance issue (3 mins 57 secs)
Checking the status of the annual allowance (5 mins 17 secs)
Scheme Pays option (6 mins 38 secs)
Balancing pensions growth against workload demand (7 mins 56 secs)
If my income is unchanged am I exempt from tax penalties? (10 mins 2 secs)
The challenge of monitoring in-year growth (11 mins 41 secs)
Advice for those considering retirement (14 mins 8 secs)
Information for employers (16 mins 30 secs)
The Covid-19 effect (17 mins 28 secs)
NHS v private pensions schemes (18 mins 52 secs)
What else should I be aware of right now? (19 mins 45 secs)
For access to an up to date pension statement: https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/
To request annual allowance growth figures, call the Pensions Agency on 01253 774774
Scheme Pays Election form available here: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/Annual%20Allowance%20Scheme%20Pays-SPE%202-20181217-%28V11%29.pdf
This week’s podcast features Tim Sacks, Chief Operating Officer at East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG, who guides Ben through the prevalence-based contract they employ for funding general practice in his area. Does it work better than the more traditional, weighted capitation-based models, where are the challenges and can it be employed within a PCN?
Introductions (48 secs)
Delegated commissioning (1 min 33 secs)
GP contracts: weighted capitation versus prevalence (1 min 48 secs)
How do you implement a new type of contract? (3 mins 16 secs)
Measuring the impact on investment (4 mins 7 secs)
The response from general practice so far (5 mins 31 secs)
How effectively can general practice respond to financial risk? (6 mins 29 secs)
Practice involvement in shaping new contracts (8 mins 8 secs)
PCNs and funding distribution (9 mins 46 secs)
Identifying the fairest and most appropriate funding model (11 mins 38 secs)
‘Proportionate universalism’ (12 mins 38 secs)
Do hybrid models work? (13 mins 58 secs)
Plans for the future (15 mins 17 secs)
Opportunities within a PCN framework (16 mins 27 secs)
Primary care commissioning in the future? (17 mins 33 secs)
The potential for PCNs to own their funding (19 mins 36 secs)
Getting in touch & further information (22 mins 13 secs)
https://eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/
Tim is contactable via email: tim.sacks@eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk
The spotlight is on Practice Managers and their crucial role in shaping and influencing new ways of working in a network-based world. Gary Hughes has a wealth of experience in this area and here shares his insights on the impact of the PCNs on practice managers, where the role evolves and fits within a wider network community and how practice managers really feel about the changes.
Introductions (42 secs)
Gary’s own PCN and his involvement so far (54 secs)
Bracknell mental health project pilot (1 min 42 secs)
Embedding new processes; expectation versus reality (2 mins 27 secs)
What is the network impact on individual practices? (3 mins 8 secs)
Does the introduction of new roles herald a new era in general practice? (3 mins 50 secs)
Practice Managers and collaborative working (6 mins 6 secs)
Organisational leadership within a practice management role (7 mins 19 secs)
What do Practice Managers see that maybe GPs don’t? (9 mins 2 secs)
The Practice Management view of the PCNs (9 mins 52 secs)
The evolution of the Practice Manager role within networks (10 mins 41 secs)
What support might Practice Managers’ need to drive change? (11 mins 46 secs)
How does joint working really begin? (13 mins 7 secs)
The case for dedicated management support (14 mins 53 secs)
Advice on joined up working (15 mins 30 secs)
Keeping in touch (16 mins 51 secs)
You can contact Gary and keep up to date with his weekly blog via his LinkedIn profile here
How have PCNs impacted on local medical councils (LMCs)? What should the relationship be between LMCs and PCNs? Does the role of LMCs have to change following the introduction of PCNs? Listen as William Greenwood, Chief Executive of Cheshire LMC, shares his thoughts and experiences on this week’s podcast.
Introductions (45 secs)
PCNs: First impressions (1 min 40 secs)
Have LMCs been largely supportive of PCNs since their formation? (2 mins 40 secs)
The role of LMCs in relation to PCNs (3 mins 28 secs)
What have been the main concerns for Cheshire local members? (4 mins 37 secs)
Reaction to the original draft primary care specification (5 mins 51 secs)
…and the updated version? (6 mins 43 secs)
Are the LMCs generally happy with he updates & what are the chances of sign off? (8 mins 3 secs)
Are PCNs a “fad”? (8 mins 33 secs)
Practice based contracts versus a network specification (9 mins 32 secs)
Supporting the voice of a practice within a network (10 mins 49 secs)
The expectation of and from the LMC and its members (a two-way process) (14 mins 43 secs)
LMC skills and expertise and what they can offer as a result (15 mins 48 secs)
Are LMCs always constructive and helpful? (16 mins 29 secs)
LMC future role (18 mins 15 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 30 secs)
https://www.cheshirelmcs.org.uk/
Cheshire LMC office: 01244 313483
James Gransby, Partner at RSM UK and medical financial expert, summarises the key considerations and implications for practices and new networks of their financial arrangements, particularly within the context of the new - and the since updated - draft primary care contract service specification.
Introductions (48 secs)
James’ initial thoughts on the formation of PCNs and their impact (1 min 22 secs)
Workforce implications (2 mins 15 secs)
How is the PCN’s money best held? Is there an ‘ideal’ financial model? (3 mins 51 secs)
The lead practice model (5 mins 21 secs)
Lessons learned so far, advice on setting up a new financial model - and all things VAT (6 mins 27 secs)
Let’s talk about pensions (7 mins 41 secs)
Clinical Director pay (9 mins 18 secs)
Check employment status for tax / HMRC (10 mins 4 secs)
Year End accounts (13 mins)
Showing a ‘surplus’ and how to manage a PCN ‘surplus’ (14 mins 21 secs)
Impact on practice finances as a result of PCNs (16 mins 15 secs)
Reflecting on the draft service specifications (the December 2019 version) (17 mins 37 secs)
General Practice sustainability in today’s world? (20 mins 10 secs)
James’ top tips for practices and networks (21 mins 55 secs)
Getting in touch (23 mins 10 secs)
The draft GP contract update – new reflections (23 mins 31 secs)
What differences do the changes in the draft contract make? (24 mins 19 secs)
Tax implications for contract incentives? (24 mins 55 secs)
HMRC updates discussed (26 mins 25 secs)
James is contactable at: james.gransby@rsmuk.com
https://www.rsmuk.com/
Dr Riaz Jetha, GP Organisational and Leadership Development Consultant with Health Integration Partners, joins Ben on this week’s podcast to dissect and discuss the updates to the current GP contract agreement. Listen here for their analysis and interpretation of some of the key amendments and what they mean for primary care and primary care networks on a wider scale.
Introductions (9 seconds)
First impressions (57 secs)
PCN focus (1 min 29 secs)
Changes to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (1 min 50 secs)
Removal of employment liability within the roles reimbursement scheme (3 mins)
Which roles will have the most influence? (3 mins 21 secs)
Structuring new roles according to local need (4 mins 48 secs)
Support for PCNs in forming their structures and the funding timetable (5 mins 53 secs)
The impact of the draft service specification updates (7 mins 30 secs)
Changes in the ability to earn (8 mins 40 secs)
Renewing the burden + wider reaction to the service spec changes (9 mins 51 secs)
The Impact & Investment Fund (13 mins 12 secs)
Is the impact and investment funding more lucrative? Could this be a benchmark for the future? (14 mins 46 secs)
Breaking down the investment payments; cost per patient? (16 mins 9 secs)
Changes to imms and vaccs / QOF (16 mins 55 secs)
Increasing GP numbers (17 mins 55 secs)
Access improvement (19 mins 40 secs)
The Time to Care Programme and maintaining positive initiatives (20 mins 39 secs)
Current status of the contract update & draft service specification and Riaz’s final thoughts (21 mins 12 secs)
Riaz is contactable at: raiz.jetha@healthintegrationpartners.co.uk
Ben is joined by Wessex GP and Physical Activity Clinical Champion Dr Sarah Kay who outlines why physical activity is a key component in the health agenda of all providers, how to motivate patients and practices in enhancing their own health and wellbeing, why prevention is always better than cure and what support is available to enable everyone to feel the benefits.
Introductions (36 secs)
Physical Activity Clinical Champions: the facts (1 min 17 secs)
What are the aims of the role? (2 mins 9 secs)
The Moving Medicine website (2 mins 54 secs)
National guidelines on physical activity; where to find them and the information provided (3 mins 53 secs)
New areas of focus in management of physical activity (4 mins 59 secs)
Is general practice doing enough to promote physical wellbeing? (5 mins 42 secs)
Finding time to talk about physical activity during a restricted GP consult (7 mins 21 secs)
The potential for wider impact (8 mins 16 secs)
#parkrunPractice @parkrunUK and #GPparkrunPledge (9 mins 11 secs)
Wellbeing champions & best practice (11 mins 29 secs)
“Active Practice” resources (12 mins 5 secs)
PCNs and the health wellbeing agenda (13 mins 29 secs)
Support from the link workers (14 mins 31 secs)
How do I start the ball rolling in my area? What support is available? (15 mins 25 secs)
Where can I find my local clinical champion? (17 mins 21 secs)
Final word from Sarah (17 mins 42 secs)
Moving Medicine website
https://movingmedicine.ac.uk/
Public Health England: National guidelines on physical activity
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-applying-all-our-health/physical-activity-applying-all-our-health
RCGP Guidance
parkrunpractice
https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/49LX-52M/parkrunpractice
Physical Activity & Lifestyle Toolkit
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resources/toolkits/physical-activity-and-lifestyle.aspx
GP On-Call Bike
https://www.gponline.com/gps-offered-subsidised-bikes-home-visits-rcgp-scheme/article/1661079
https://www.wessexfaculty.co.uk/product-page/gp-on-call-bike
Where to find your local Physical Activity Clinical Champion
email: physicalactivity@phe.gov.uk