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: [email protected] and / or [email protected]