Talking General Practice

This week the team discusses the current furore around face-to-face appointments and how national media campaigns and comments from MPs about access to general practice is affecting GPs and their teams.

They also look at the COVID-19 booster campaign and what this means for general practice this autumn. And discuss the additional roles reimbursement scheme – the initiative that is aiming to bring an additional 26,000 full-time equivalent staff into primary care in England by 2024 – and ask: is it making a difference?

In our interview this week Emma speaks to GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson about improving menopause care and education for doctors and other health professionals. We discuss how her career led her to becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable experts on the menopause and the new charity - The Menopause Charity - which she launched earlier this year.

And finally our regular good news spot highlights a primary care network in Cornwall that is taking an innovative step to help tackle climate change.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Confidence in the Menopause (free training for healthcare professionals)

The Menopause Charity

MIMS Learning webinar on the menopause presented by Dr Louise Newson

NICE guidelines on the menopause - a learning module on MIMS Learning written by Dr Louise Newson and Dr Rebecca Lewis

Millions of pounds lost to general practice as flagship recruitment scheme falls short

BMA demands emergency meeting with government over GP abuse

'Out of touch' Javid deepens rift with GPs over face-to-face appointments

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This week the team talks about supply problems affecting GP practices - namely delays to flu vaccine deliveries and the NHS-wide blood test tube shortage. They look at what these problems mean for practices and the knock on impact on patients.

They also look at the state of the BMA and NHS England’s relationship now that the BMA has agreed to restart formal talks after a five-month break.

In our interview this week Luke speaks with Dr Ellie Reed, an F1 junior doctor in south west London, who is one of the doctors behind the Just a GP campaign that is aiming to tackle the stigma and prejudice in medical schools towards general practice.

And finally we highlight some (sort of) good news on PCNs. We discuss NHS England’s decision to defer much of the work that was due to begin in October, an increase in funding for network management and a possible change to the way funding for the Investment and Impact Fund works.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Watch the Just a GP video on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp0TzHIKFUo

Government must take responsibility for blood tube shortage chaos, BMA warns

https://www.gponline.com/government-responsibility-blood-tube-shortage-chaos-bma-warns/article/1726340

GPs scramble to cancel clinics as flu vaccine deliveries delayed by 'up to two weeks'

https://www.gponline.com/gps-scramble-cancel-clinics-flu-vaccine-deliveries-delayed-up-two-weeks/article/1726349

‘Too early’ to talk about flu vaccine shortage, says minister https://www.gponline.com/too-early-talk-flu-vaccine-shortages-says-minister/article/1726656

Senior BMA GPs resign as talks with NHS England resume

https://www.gponline.com/senior-bma-gps-resign-talks-nhs-england-resume/article/1726644

Nonsensical to make GPs collect patient ethnicity data twice, warns top doctor

https://www.gponline.com/nonsensical-gps-collect-patient-ethnicity-data-twice-warns-top-doctor/article/1726535

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This week the team discusses rising levels of abuse faced by doctors and staff working in general practice and some of the reasons behind this. They also talk about the latest official GP workforce figures, what they tell us about the state of the profession and why the BMA said the statistics were ‘gaslighting’ doctors.

In our interview Emma speaks with Dr Carey Lunan, a GP in Edinburgh and chair of the Deep End GP Group in Scotland, and Dr David Blane a GP in Glasgow and Clinical Research Fellow in General Practice, University of Glasgow, who is the academic lead of the Deep End GP Group. The Deep End Group covers the 100 most deprived practices in Scotland and the discussion highlights what the group is doing to tackle health inequalities, the impact of COVID-19 and what other practices can learn from their work.

And finally our regular good news spot looks at the role of women in general practice over the years.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

MIMS Learning free health inequalities webinar https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/courses/health-inequalities-in-primary-care

The Deep End Project https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/healthwellbeing/research/generalpractice/deepend/

Fair Health https://fairhealth.org.uk/

Half of GPs verbally abused in past month alone as BMA highlights burnout fears https://www.gponline.com/half-gps-verbally-abused-past-month-alone-bma-highlights-burnout-fears/article/1724327

General practice lost 1 in 30 partners last year, official data show https://www.gponline.com/general-practice-lost-one-30-partners-last-year-official-data-show/article/1724274

RCGP online exhibition celebrates women in general practice https://www.gponline.com/rcgp-online-exhibition-celebrates-women-general-practice/article/1723168

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This week the team discusses COVID-19 booster and flu jabs, what the plans will mean for general practice this autumn and why running the campaigns will be a huge challenge for practices.

We also look at what the changes to COVID restrictions on 19 July means for primary care, including new rules around self isolation, what’s what with face masks and NHS England withdrawing its standard operating procedure for primary care.

In our interview Emma speaks with Royal College of GPs clinical lead for clinical policy Dr Gail Allsopp, who has been leading the college’s work around long COVID. They discuss how the condition presents, its impact on patients, how it is affecting general practice and the support and services available for patients.

And finally in our good news section this week we look at the government’s decision to further delay its plans for a mass extraction of patient data from GP practices, something many GPs have been calling for.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

RCGP education module on long COVID https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=492

RCGP webinar on long COVID https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=12249

Public Health England promotional material about wearing masks https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/nhs-resources-facilities/resources/nhs-IPC-resources/

Primary care standard operating procedure scrapped as COVID-19 rules relaxed https://www.gponline.com/primary-care-standard-operating-procedure-scrapped-covid-19-rules-relaxed/article/1722767

GPs under rising pressure as COVID cases climb in fully vaccinated people https://www.gponline.com/gps-rising-pressure-covid-cases-climb-fully-vaccinated-people/article/1722399

Fully vaccinated GP practice staff can avoid self-isolation and continue in work https://www.gponline.com/fully-vaccinated-gp-practice-staff-avoid-self-isolation-continue-work/article/1722500

GP data extraction programme postponed again with 'no specific start date' https://www.gponline.com/gp-data-extraction-programme-postponed-again-no-specific-start-date/article/1722627

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This week we discuss the government’s plans to relax almost all of the current COVID-19 restrictions when it moves to step 4 of its roadmap, currently scheduled for 19 July, and find out what the NHS thinks about it. 

We also look at what the COVID-19 booster campaign this autumn could mean for general practice and discuss the latest GP trainee recruitment figures.

Our interview this week is with Dr Pauline Foreman, who is a GP in Hertfordshire and clinical director of the Personalised Care Institute, and we talk about why NHS England made personalised care a key part of its long-term plan and how we can embed it across the NHS in the coming years. 

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Personalised Care Institute - https://www.personalisedcareinstitute.org.uk/

COVID-19 vaccine gap threatens rise in inequality and GP workload as restrictions ease - https://www.gponline.com/covid-19-vaccine-gap-threatens-rise-inequality-gp-workload-restrictions-ease/article/1721548

General practice set for record trainee recruitment for fourth year running https://www.gponline.com/general-practice-set-record-trainee-recruitment-fourth-year-running/article/1721367

'Incoherent' decision to relax COVID rules puts patients and NHS at risk, say doctors https://www.gponline.com/incoherent-decision-relax-covid-rules-puts-patients-nhs-risk-say-doctors/article/1721407

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This week we’re talking about the ongoing fall out from the now infamous NHS England letter about face to face appointments, including the current state of relations between NHS England and the BMA and what health secretary Matt Hancock has to say about it all. 

We take a look at the latest problems with Primary Care Support England that has left practices missing payments and caused problems with pensions. And we discuss claims that bullying and sexism are still a problem in some local medical committees.

Our interview this week is with Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, the RCGP and Marie Curie national end of life care champion, who talks about better end of life care and how the pandemic has impacted on services.

Finally, our good news section highlights GPs recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Bullying has continued in LMCs post-Romney review, GP whistleblower warns https://www.gponline.com/bullying-continued-lmcs-post-romney-review-gp-whistleblower-warns/article/1719441

No plans to impose face-to-face appointment targets, Hancock tells the BMA https://www.gponline.com/no-plans-impose-face-to-face-gp-appointment-targets-hancock-tells-bma/article/1719769

GPs yet to receive thousands of pounds in QOF pay amid PCSE problems, says BMA https://www.gponline.com/gps-yet-receive-thousands-pounds-qof-pay-amid-pcse-problems-says-bma/article/1720037

The Daffodil standards https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/working-in-partnership/royal-college-of-gps/daffodil-standards

UK Commission on Bereavement https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/uk-commission-bereavement

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This week we take a look at the government and NHS Digital’s plans for a mass data extraction of all GP patient records in England, highlighting some of the concerns and why it has been put on hold for two months.

We also look at the additional roles reimbursement scheme, a major plank of funding in the five-year GP contract that promises extra staff for primary care in England, and ask will it help alleviate workload pressures?

Our interview features Dr Tamsin Ellis, a GP in London and chair of the London branch of the Greener Practice group, who talks about greener general practice and why GPs should take steps to help tackle the climate crisis.

Finally our regular good news section highlights some positive comments we’ve had from GPs about life in general practice during the past 15 months.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Greener Practice - https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk/

Latest on the ARRS - https://www.gponline.com/gps-demand-flexibility-support-430m-additional-roles-cash-drives-pcn-recruitment/article/1718195

Details of the health and social care committee’s report on workforce and burnout, which Nick mentions - https://www.gponline.com/nhs-workforce-plans-need-total-overhaul-tackle-burnout-crisis-mps-warn/article/1718365

Sign up to our email alerts here - https://www.gponline.com/email-bulletins

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This week we’re talking about face-to-face appointments in primary care and the fallout from NHS England’s standard operating procedure for general practice that demanded practice provide in-person appointments for all patients if they wanted them.

We also speak to Dr Sophie Lumley and Dr Adam Thomas, the national co-chairs of the RCGP’s associates in training committee, about GP training in the pandemic and the possible long-term implications of changes that have been introduced during the past 15 months.

Finally, in our Good News slot we look at the latest statistics which suggest that vaccine hesitancy is falling in black and ethnic minority communities.

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower who is joined by our news editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Luke Haynes. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

GPonline resources for GP trainees: https://www.gponline.com/education/training

A ten-point plan to stabilise general practice by Dr Simon Hodes:  https://www.gponline.com/viewpoint-10-point-plan-stabilise-bedrock-nhs/article/1717205

The letter NHS England should have sent to GPs by Dr Louise Hyde:  https://www.gponline.com/viewpoint-letter-nhs-england-sent-gps/article/1716376

London GP leads COVID-19 jab uptake campaign as vaccine hesitancy drops:  https://www.gponline.com/london-gp-leads-covid-19-jab-uptake-campaign-vaccine-hesitancy-drops/article/1717023

GPs use bus as mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic to boost uptake:  https://www.gponline.com/gps-use-bus-mobile-covid-19-vaccine-clinic-boost-uptake/article/1705924

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This week we’re talking about the workload crisis in general practice, looking at the reasons behind it and what could be done to address some of the problems.

We also speak to wellbeing expert GP Dr Helen Garr, deputy director of NHS Practitioner Health, about the impact heavy workload and the pandemic has had on GPs’ and other staff members’ mental health. Helen also provides some practical advice on what to do if you, or someone you know, is struggling to cope.

Finally, we take a look at the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The next phase of lockdown easing is just around the corner - and the hard work of primary care teams, vaccinating tens of millions of people, has been key to helping the UK get there.

Useful links:

There are resources and advice on wellbeing on GPonline at https://www.gponline.com/wellbeing 

Details on how to access NHS Practitioner Health are here https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/accessing-the-service

NHS Practitioner Health has a range of free webinars on its website covering everything from mindfulness, to managing stress and dealing with insomnia. You can find these here: https:///www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/webinars-and-podcast

You can find GPonline’s COVID-19 vaccination tracker here: https://www.gponline.com/uk-covid-19-vaccination-programme-tracker/article/1704726 and we have details on progress on vaccinations by age and CCG here: https://www.gponline.com/map-ccgs-highest-covid-19-vaccine-coverage/article/1711567

Sign up to GPonline’s email alerts: https://www.gponline.com/email-bulletins

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