Talking General Practice

GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock discuss the review of the NHS by Lord Ara Darzi, the government’s response to the report and what happens next - including what might be in the new NHS long-term plan.

They also look at another report Lord Darzi was involved with - the IPPR think tank’s final report from its Commission on Health and Prosperity and what that could mean for general practice and the NHS.

And they’re talking about health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s war of words with the BMA over collective action.

Our good news story this week is also very good news for the government as junior doctors - who are now called resident doctors - voted to accept the new pay offer which brings to an end 18 months of industrial action.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Darzi report at a glance: read a summary of the key findings and advice

Hardwire NHS finances to 'lock in' expansion of GP services, says Darzi review

Streeting welcomes 'oven-ready' NHS reform plan that criticises GP model

Streeting hits out at GP 'sabre-rattling' and 'unnecessary threat of collective action'

Four in five GP practices already taking collective action, BMA says

Collective action sets up NHS winter plan clash as GPs told to 'avoid hospital admissions'

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Emma speaks to Alex Matheson from the LGBT Foundation about the charity’s Pride in Practice programme, which helps GP practices improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people accessing primary care services.

In this conversation Alex talks about the health inequalities experienced by LGBTQ+ people, in particular around access to services and the discrimination some people experience, and how that ultimately impacts on outcomes for this group of patients.

She also explains how the Pride in Practice programme can help GP practices to improve the care for their LGBTQ+ people, including the importance of training for staff and recording patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

The Pride in Practice programme

Hidden Figures: LGBT health inequalities in the UK - the LGBT Foundation’s report

Gender identity toolkit - developed by the Institute of General Practice Management in partnership with the LGBT Foundation

Monitoring sexual orientation and trans status

MIMS Learning's Tackling Health Inequalities campaign includes free CPD on transgender and LGBTQ+ healthcare

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Please note: In this episode, we mention that the RCGP allows four attempts at GP exams - but in fact the college allows five in exceptional cases.

The GPonline team looks at how much GPs are earning after figures for 2022/23 were published, as well as the uplift to this year’s GP contract and what that could mean for GP partner pay.

They also discuss a report from the Tony Blair Institute - a think tank set up by the former prime minister - about AI and the NHS and what that had to say about general practice.

And they talk about a legal ruling last week that could lead to a change in the rules for RCGP exam resists for GP registrars who are disabled.

Our good news story this week is about a group of practices who are downsizing their PCN.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

●     Real-terms GP partner income fell 17% in 2022/23, official data reveal

●     GP contract uplift detail confirmed in updated statement of financial entitlement

●     Bring in AI doctors and strip GP practices of sole data controller role, says Blair think tank

●     Landmark legal ruling overturns exam resits rule for disabled GP registrars

●     Practices downsize to smaller PCN to sharpen localised, preventative care

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This week Emma speaks to GP and co-chair of the Society of Academic Primary Care Dr Duncan Shrewsbuy about the role academia has to play in primary care – both in terms of teaching and research.

Duncan explains why we need more research in primary care, how practices can get more in research or start smaller-scale research projects in their own practice, as well as some of the issues around sharing data from the GP patient record for large-scale research projects.

They also explain how changes to the way undergraduates are taught is starting to shift the perception of general practice among medical students and other branches of medicine and offer advice to GPs on how to develop a career in research or teaching.

Useful links

Society for Academic Primary Care

RCGP Research Ready information

More information on CPRD - Clinical Practice Research Datalink

RCGP sets out steps to achieve 'parity of esteem' for general practice

More than half of GP practices in England took part in clinical research last year

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This week Emma and Nick discuss the additional uplift to the GP contract for 2024/25, how it is being applied and what it means for GP practices, GP pay and staff salaries.

They also talk about the government’s emergency intervention that will see £82m added to the additional roles reimbursement scheme this year so that primary care networks can employ newly qualified GPs and what we know about how that will work.

And they look at this year’s GMC State of Medical Education and Practice report and what it tells us about how GPs feel about their job and the number of hours they work, as well as a new study in the British Journal of General Practice that says we need to move away from using ‘sessions’ as a way to define how many hours GPs work.

Our good news story this week is about very low calorie diets and diabetes remission.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Global sum to rise 7.4% in 2024/25 as final detail of GP contract revealed

Contract uplift won't deliver promised 6% pay rise for GP partners, accountant warns

BMA warns GPs 'now is not the time to waver' over collective action

New GP model pilots could trap practices in PCN DES, says BMA

GP ARRS plan to start from October, NHS officials confirm

GP 'soup and shake' referrals put type 2 diabetes in remission for one in three patients

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This week Emma speaks to Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA England GP committee, about collective action by GPs, what it means for practices and what the BMA is hoping it will achieve.

In this conversation Katie explains why she believes collective action is necessary to achieve a better deal for general practice, what action will involve and how the profession can keep patients on side while it takes this step.

She also explains how the BMA’s safe working guidance can help practices and even improve things for patients, the key changes that she believes are necessary in both the shorter and longer term to ensure a sustainable future for general practice and her view on the new government’s approach.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

BMA advice on collective action

BMA GPs are on your side patient facing campaign

What does collective action mean for GP practices?

Why GPs are ready to press ahead with collective action

Contract uplift and £82m ARRS plan 'first steps' to sustainable general practice, Streeting tells GPs

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This week Emma speaks to Dr Adrian Hayter, the Royal College of GPs medical director of clinical policy and a GP in Windsor, about the college’s new clinical priority - preventive medicine.

In this conversation Adrian explains why the college has chosen to focus on prevention, some of the work it will be doing on this issue and the role general practice has to play in preventing ill health.

He also talks about how addressing health inequalities feeds into this work, the resources the college hopes to produce to support GPs in practice and his previous role as NHS England’s national clinical director for older people and personalised care - and what this involved during the pandemic.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

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This week the GPonline team discusses the BMA’s vision for how to rebuild general practice in England, what both the BMA and the RCGP want from the new government and how the BMA’s ballot on collective action – which closes on Monday – plays into all of this.

They also talk about what happens next for physician associates in general practice after a new poll shows public confusion of the role and the RCGP called for a halt to recruitment of PAs in general practice last month.

Our good news story this week is about a GP who was awarded the contract to run her practice after a three-and-a-half year battle.

This episode was presented by GPonlne editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

BMA vision to rebuild general practice

GP leaders unveil blueprint to 'fix general practice' and end unemployment crisis

ICBs told to prepare for knock-on impact of GP collective action

Only half of patients know the difference between doctors and physician associates

RCGP demands halt to recruitment of physician associates amid safety fears

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Dr Emma Ryan, a GP in South East London and the Royal College of GPs clinical champion for gambling harms, explains the role general practice can play in tackling problem gambling and gambling harms.

In this conversation Emma talks about the impact problem gambling can have on individuals and their families, recommendations from NICE’s new guidance on gambling harms and why GPs should ask patients about their gambling habits.

She also talks about the support available for patients, a new educational resource on gambling that she’s developed for the RCGP, and what support practices themselves can provide to patients.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

●     RCGP Gambling Harms Hub

●     Why GPs should be on the front line of the fight against gambling harm

●     GPs should routinely ask patients about gambling, says draft NICE guidance

●     NICE’s draft guidance on harmful gambling

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This week Emma talks to Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation think tank, about what a new Labour government could mean for general practice and the rest of the NHS.

They discuss Labour’s plans to shift a greater share of NHS funding to primary care and what that could mean for general practice, what the government needs to do to bring down the NHS waiting list, and whether it can do anything to avert collective action by GPs.

Tim also explains where the new government might look to for quick wins on the NHS to show progress in its first 100 days, what improvements could be delivered through reform alone and whether Labour’s spending plans during the election will add up to make the changes that are needed to the health service.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Streeting commits to increasing general practice share of NHS funding

BMA calls for GP funding to rise to 15% of NHS budget and new 'family doctor charter'

RCGP calls on government to overhaul NHS workforce plan to boost GP numbers

Most GPs in England back taking collective action, poll suggests

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