Talking General Practice

In our regular news review the GPonline team looks at what’s happened to the GP workforce over the course of the five year contract, in particular the number of GP partners. They also talk about the cost to the NHS of not retaining doctors following some BMA research and the government’s view of the workforce crisis. They discuss the issue of drug shortages and how it is affecting GPs and patients and look at the government’s plans to tackle the ‘sick note culture’ that could see GPs lose their role signing fit notes and big changes to benefits for those with disabilities and long-term illness. Our good news story this week is about a crowdfunder that’s raised money to support a popular local GP in her bid to keep her practice after it was put out to tender. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links Which ICB areas are losing GP partners fastest? General practice lost 2,900 partners as GP workforce shrank during five-year contract GPs condemn 'ridiculous' practice underfunding as registrars fear unemployment Leadsom claims there are '3,000 more GPs than in 2019' Patients left without medication as record drug shortages hit GP prescribing Constant NHS medicines shortages 'the new normal', report warns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma speaks to Jake Beech, a policy fellow from the think tank the Health Foundation, about why we need to change the way we think about access in general practice. Jake is involved with a research project that’s a partnership between the Health Foundation and THIS Institute looking at what access in general practice means. The project is developing a ‘candidacy framework’ that provides a series of interventions and ideas for improving access. Jake explains why access is much more complex and nuanced than just thinking about supply and demand and how practices could use the candidacy framework to help understand their patients and develop solutions to suit their needs. He also talks about the limitations with the national data on general practice appointments which are often used by policymakers to make decisions and why patient satisfaction with access is so low despite the fact that practices are delivering more appointments than ever before. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links Health Foundation report - Rethinking access to general practice: it’s not all about supply Get all the latest news affecting general practice from our website GPonline.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the GPonline team talks about how untapped capacity among GP locums could help deliver hundreds of thousands of extra GP appointments every week, and what this all means in light of the current challenges sessional GPs are facing finding work. They also discuss NHS England’s evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, which is due to make recommendations on whether GP funding should be increased further this year - as well as some of the steps practices are being forced to consider to cope with the tiny 1.9% funding increase they have currently been given. There’s also news about a contract deal for GPs in Northern Ireland that could be agreed by the time this episode comes out, and they discuss NHS England’s decision to U-turn on funding cuts it was planning to make to NHS Practitioner Health - the specialist mental health service for doctors and NHS staff. Our good news story this week is about a practice that has won a national small business award. You can listen to the podcast interview with NHS Practitioner Health’s medical director Helen Garr here. NHS Practitioner Health’s website is here. Other useful links Untapped locum capacity could deliver 250,000 extra GP appointments a week GP workforce, funding and continuity all linked to higher life expectancy Northern Ireland GPs near landmark deal to cover indemnity costs and abolish QOF NHS evidence on GP pay 'completely out of date' Practices weigh up cutting services, staff and partner drawings in coming year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma speaks to Jacob Lant, the chief executive of National Voices, a coalition of more than 200 health and social care charities in England about what patients want from general practice and the NHS more widely.. In this conversation Jacob talks about why patient satisfaction has reached an all time low and what needs to happen to improve things. He also explains how he would like to see the GP contract changed to give practices and PCNs more freedom to work in partnership with local communities to deliver the care people need, the importance of getting the basics right, in particular communication with patients, and how GPs and patients could make the case together for increased funding for general practice ahead of the general election. He has some really useful and practical advice on what practices can do to work effectively with their patients to ensure they are meeting their needs. And he explains how compassionate GPs can transform experiences for individual patients. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links National Voices website National Voices manifesto RCGP manifesto Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Nick and Emma explain the results of the BMA’s referendum on the GP contract for England in 2024/25 and what happens next. And they talk about whether GPs will be prepared to take industrial action this year – and the types of action they might back – based on results from our own polling. They also discuss whether general practice in England is shifting to a GP-lite model, as many GPs struggle to find work at the same time as £1.4bn of funding a year is pumped into the additional roles reimbursement scheme which provides funding for primary care networks to recruit other healthcare professionals. Nick talks through some of the data linked to this and what it all means. Meanwhile, Emma talks about the latest news on a possible change in the law on assisted dying in Scotland, and they look at the results of the latest British Social Attitudes survey on what the public thinks about the NHS. Our good news story this week is about the rollout of life-changing technology for patients with type 1 diabetes. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links Which forms of industrial action would GPs be prepared to take? Three quarters of GPs prepared to take industrial action, poll suggests Is general practice in England moving to a 'GP-lite' model? Bill that could legalise assisted dying in Scotland introduced Listen to our special episode on assisted dying and what’s being proposed about how the law should change in Scotland here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma talks to GP Dr Lucy Henshall and healthcare consultant and former practice manager Penny Flack about their initiative Welcome Back to Work, which helps support GPs back into the workplace if they’ve had less than two years away. In this conversation they explain how Welcome Back to Work helps GPs, the importance of tailoring support to individual doctors, and why we need a much more flexible approach to GP retention than is currently available. They also talk about what GP practices can do to support GPs returning to work and those who may need more flexibility in the way that they work - and the benefits for both employers and doctors of doing this. And how they hope their approach could be scaled up to work across local healthcare systems – or even nationally – to help ensure experienced GPs are not lost to the NHS. Lucy and Penny primarily work in Suffolk but they also work with GPs in other parts of the country as well. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen Useful links Welcome Back to Work website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma and Nick discuss the debate that’s raging about the use of physician associates in the NHS after the BMA issued new guidance on the tasks PAs should and shouldn’t be doing and the RCGP updated its red lines on the use of PAs in general practice. They also talk again about the struggles GPs are facing finding work as the financial pressures in general practice continue to bite, as well as the results of a new BMA survey of GP registrars about their future career intentions. And they look at what happened at the Welsh LMCs conference recently where GPs called for the BMA to move towards industrial action by GPs in Wales - and also what’s going on in England as we head towards the end of the referendum on the GP contract there. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links Physician associates must never see undifferentiated patients, BMA safety advice warns RCGP expands 'red lines' on use of physician associates in general practice NHS promises clear safety advice for GPs on physician associate role Qualified GP driving for Uber amid chronic shortage of jobs Just two in five GP registrars plan to work in UK general practice, devastating poll reveals Welsh LMCs push for industrial action as ministers warned not to 'devalue general practice' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma talks to BMA England GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer about the impact the GP contract for 2024/25 will have, the BMA’s referendum on the deal and what happens next. GPs in England are facing the third consecutive contract imposition and a deal that will deliver just a 1.9% uplift to funding in 2024/25. The BMA last week launched a referendum on the contract and we’re entering a crucial period for the profession that could see GPs head towards industrial action later this year. In this interview Dr Bramall-Stainer explains why she thinks the deal represents an ideological dismantling of NHS general practice, how it could harm practices and patients, and what happened during this year’s contract negotiations. She also talks about what she hopes the referendum will achieve and what happens next, how the BMA’s safe working guidance could help practices in the coming months and how working in partnership with patients could help convince ministers of the need for further investment in general practice ahead of the general election. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links GP concerns have been 'ignored' but referendum offers chance to speak up, says BMA BMA reveals forms of industrial action GPs could take this year What is in the GP contract for 2024/25? GP business model 'non-viable' under 2024/25 contract, warns BMA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the GPonline team discusses the GP contract for England for 2024/25. They look at how the contract deal will affect practice finances, as well as some of the other changes it will bring. They also talk about the human impact of underfunding in general practice, which has seen some unemployed locum GPs being forced to use food banks as well as and practices having to cut back services because of funding constraints. They also look at what happens next after the BMA launched its referendum on the deal this week and ask whether GPs in England are heading for industrial action and what that might look like. Our good news story is about plans for same-day access hubs in North West London being shelved. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostcock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links GPs asked to vote on 2024/25 contract as BMA launches yes/no referendum BMA reveals forms of industrial action GPs could take this year Unemployed locum GPs relying on food banks, BMA council member warns Outstanding practice forced to scale back services due to 'spiralling' costs What is in the GP contract for 2024/25? ICB backs down on same-day access plan after GP and patient outcry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma speaks to Beccy Baird, senior fellow at health think tank the King’s Fund. Beccy is the lead author of a report the King’s Fund published in Feburary called Making care closer to home a reality – refocusing the system to primary and community care. The report looks at what needs to happen to ensure a greater share of NHS funding goes to primary care and community services and we build an NHS that is focused on communities rather than hospitals. The report says that the government's failure to invest in primary care ranks as one of the most significant and long-running failures of NHS policy over the past 30 years. In this interview Beccy explains why we need an NHS that is focused around primary care and community services and why, despite so many policies advocating this shift over the years, this has not happened. She also explains how she thinks we can make that move in future and what needs to happen at a national and local level to make it a reality. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links You can find the full King’s Fund report here. Register for or subscribe to GPonline here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the GPonline team looks at the visa challenges facing international medical graduate (IMG) GPs in training and how this could drive them out of the NHS. They also talk about the difficulties locum GPs in England are facing finding work, why this is happening, and how it is affecting rates of pay following a recent survey carried out by GPonline and our sister site GP Business. And they discuss appointment data and patient data for the whole of 2023 and how general practice fared over those 12 months. This week’s good news story is about how a practice has used patient feedback and effective communication about the work they are doing to deliver a massive fall in complaints. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links NHS risks losing thousands of new GPs because of visa sponsor shortfall IMG doctors lift the lid on why a generation of GPs may slip away from the NHS How GP practices can become skilled worker visa sponsors More than half of locum GPs in England are struggling to find work GP locum rates fall slightly in England but rise in rest of UK Practices delivered 'an extra month and a half' of appointments last year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma speaks to GP and author Dr Ellen Welch about her latest book Why Can’t I See My GP? which was published this month. The book looks at the current state of general practice, why we have reached this point, and puts forward ideas on what needs to be done to address the problems. Along with her own views the book includes personal accounts from GPs and others about their experiences. In this interview Ellen discusses the process of writing the book and why she chose this topic, what she learned during the process of writing it and what she thinks needs to happen to address the current crisis facing general practice. The Doctors Association UK is sending a copy of the book to every MP to raise the alarm about the state of primary care and Ellen also talks about what she hopes this will achieve. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links ● Why Can’t I See My GP (Amazon link) ● Viewpoint: Patients and GPs are unhappy with access to general practice, what's the solution? (from GPonline) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the BMA rejected a contract offer for practices in England that would deliver a 1.9% uplift in funding. In this episode of Talking General Practice the GPonline team looks at what we know about the deal that’s currently on the table. They discuss what a 1.9% funding uplift would mean for practices, what the BMA, grassroots GPs and Labour think about the deal, and what happens next – including whether industrial action could be on the cards. In other news, they look at what’s going on with regulation of physician’s associates and the ongoing debate about their use in the NHS. And this week’s good news is about Northern Ireland. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links What do we know about the 2024/25 GP contract offer? 'Insulting' 1.9% uplift threatens £50,000 black hole per average practice Labour says 1.9% GP contract offer ‘devaluing general practice' Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer: It's time to stop ignoring reality - GPs need more funding Most doctors say working with physician associates has increased workload Lords set for full debate on physician associates after pressure from doctors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robyn Clark is a managing partner in a practice in Gloucestershire and a founder and director of the Institute of General Practice Management. On this episode of Talking General Practice she talks to Emma about the challenges facing practice managers in the current climate, what needs to be done to cut bureaucracy in general practice – including how the QOF needs to change – and what practice managers are hoping to see from the next GP contract. Robyn also explains the current financial pressures facing GP practices, and discusses what NHS England and GP partners should be doing to support managers and recognise the vital role they play. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links Institute of General Practice Management From GPonline Viewpoint: Investment in practice managers is a step towards saving general practice Accreditation for practice managers Find out more about our website GP Business and how to subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s podcast the team discusses GP funding after analysis by the Liberal Democrats showed a real-terms fall in practice funding during the past four years. Meanwhile, government figures have also shown that the share of NHS funding going to primary care has fallen to an eight-year low. They also talk about problems at the primary care interface - the interface between practices and other parts of the NHS, including hospitals, community services and mental health services – and how it is wasting millions of GP appointments every year. And they look at the latest on measles and MMR vaccine uptake after the UK Health Security Agency last week declared a national incident because of rising cases of measles. Our good news story this week is about the Friends and Family Test. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links ● Which ICB areas have seen the largest drops in real-terms GP funding? ● RCGP warning as primary care share of NHS funding hits eight-year low ● Solving NHS 'interface' chaos could save 6m GP appointments a year ● NHS England launches catch-up MMR campaign amid rising measles cases ● GPs told to wear PPE when seeing suspected measles cases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking General Practice speaks to former BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul about the extent of the problem of racism in the medical profession and what we can do to address this. Dr Nagpaul is a London GP, a former chair of the BMA GP committee, and in 2017 he became the first person from an ethnic minority to chair the British Medical Association - a post he held until 2022. While he was chair the BMA set up a national forum for racial and ethnic equality - the first time it had such a group. It also conducted a landmark survey in 2022 to establish the scale of the issue of racism across the medical profession and how it affects doctors’ wellbeing and their careers. In this conversation Dr Nagpaul explains some of the key findings from that survey and what he believes the NHS and the medical profession need to do to tackle racism. He also talks about the impact racism has on doctors and how it affects patient care, how we can address differential attainment in medical exams and disparities in GMC referrals, as well as the importance of having more leaders in medicine from different ethnic groups. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links BMA FREE (forum for racial and ethnic equality) BMA racism in medicine survey BMA - delivering racial equality in medicine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our regular news review Emma and Nick discuss a practice in Surrey that is set to make three salaried GPs redundant, and what this tells us about changes in primary care They also talk about the GP workforce, in particular the falling number of GP partners and the impact this might have, and NHS England’s decision to scrap two key GP retention schemes. Our good news story this week highlights those GPs and others from the world of primary care who received New Year Honours. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links ● Practice makes salaried GPs redundant as model shifts to additional roles ● GP partners' income down 20% in a year, BMA poll reveals ● Small increase in GP workforce during past year but partners still falling ● Which ICB areas have the biggest shortages of GP partners? ● RCGP condemns 'disappointing' decision to scrap GP retention schemes ● GPs recognised in New Year Honours Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode Talking General Practice speaks to Dr Helen Evans-Howells, about how GPs can manage infants presenting with the signs of cow’s milk allergy. Alongside working as a GP and an allergy specialist, Helen also runs the peanut immunotherapy clinic in Southampton Children’s Hospital and is chair of the charity Anaphylaxis UK’s Clinical and Scientific Panel. In this episode Helen explains the key symptoms of milk allergy, the different types of formula that can be used, and when infants may need a referral. She also talks about when to do a rechallenge and reintroduce cow’s milk and how to advise parents on weaning. Using insights from her own experience Helen has lots of practical advice for GPs and other healthcare professionals on managing the allergy and how they can best support parents. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. This podcast is sponsored by Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition. About Reckitt At Reckitt we exist to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. This purpose drives everything we do as a company – inspiring us to improve people’s lives, through better hygiene, health and nutrition. Every day we are fighting to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right and not a privilege. Useful links The MIMS Learning Cows Milk Allergy in Practice webinar series is here. The 2022 series provides 3 hours of CPD and covers: ● When is an allergy not an allergy? How to make the history matter - presented by GP and allergy specialist Dr Helen Evans-Howells ● Why is my baby still crying? A GP’s guide to common infant feeding conditions - presented by specialist paediatric dietitian Bianca Parau ● When, why, how? Demystifying hypoallergenic formulas, presented by specialist paediatric dietitian in allergy Andrea Moreno In addition the 2023 series of webinars is also available on demand via the link above. Helen mentioned the following guidance in this conversation: ● The Milk Allergy in Primary Care (MAP) Guideline 2019 ● BSACI cow’s milk allergy guidance RKT-M-44442, January 2024 RKT-M-44445, January 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy new year! This week Emma is talking to GP partner Dr Tommy Perkins and specialist medical accountant Andy Pow from Medics Money, about the financial year ahead for general practice. Tommy and Andy talk about the current financial pressures GP practices are under, how GP partner income has changed, and the sort of uplift practices might need from this year’s GP contract to help address the shortfalls they’ve experienced in recent years. They also offer lots of useful advice on how practices can start the new year on a sound financial footing, explain what upcoming tax changes will mean for all GPs, and the importance of better financial training for GPs as general practice becomes increasingly complex. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen. Useful links GP Business Our website GP Business provides practical advice for GP partners and practice managers to help them run their business more effectively. More details here. From Medics Money Medics Money GP partnership course Medics Money GP registrar Business for GPs course Medics Money podcast Find a good accountant for doctors (from Medics Money) Find a good independent financial adviser for doctors (from Medics Money) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re bringing you some highlights from our top interviews of 2023 - and we’ve had some really fantastic guests this year. In this episode you’ll hear from BMA GP committee for England chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne, NHS England director for health inequalities Professor Bola Owolabi, RCGP Wales chair Dr Rowena Christmas and all-round general practice expert and fellow podcast host Ben Gowland. And between them they’ll be talking about GP contract negotiations, continuity of care, what we can do to retain more GPs, influencing politicians in the run up to next year’s general election, the difference healthcare professionals can make on health inequalities, and the future of primary care networks. Thanks to everyone who’s taken part in Talking General Practice during 2023 - and happy new year to all of our listeners! Don’t forget you can listen to the full versions of all these interviews - and interviews with lots of other brilliant people from the world of primary care by searching in our podcast feed or on our website at GPonline.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.