Talking General Practice

Emma speaks to Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne ahead of the RCGP’s annual conference in Newport in Wales, which starts on Thursday this week.

GPonline is the media partner for the annual conference, and this is the first of two episodes that we’ll be producing from the event.

Kamila is nearing the end of her three years as RCGP chair and in this interview, she reflects on the highs and lows of her time in the post. She talks about the experiences of dealing with multiple health secretaries and navigating the contentious issue of physician assistants in general practice.

She also discusses the government's 10-year health plan and what it could mean for general practice, her fears about the future of the partnership model, and what the RCGP wants to see in the new NHS workforce plan. And she explains why she believes there is still a bright future for general practice despite the challenges.

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

Read all of GPonline’s coverage from the RCGP annual conference this week at https://www.gpponline.com/rcgp

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This week Emma and NIck talk about the BMA’s decision to re-enter dispute with the government in England, the online access plans that have led us to this point and what both the BMA and the government have to say about all of this. They also look at what re-entering dispute could mean for the profession.

They talk about the upcoming NHS workforce plan, which is due to be published before the end of the year after the government launched a call for evidence. And they discuss the BMA’s latest survey on the state of GP premises and what’s required to fix the crumbling primary care estate.

Our good news story this week is about a GP who has this week been attempting to break the record for running round the perimeter of Cornwall in an effort to raise money and awareness of early-onset dementia, which has affected her mum.

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

Complete our survey looking at online access and other issues affecting GPs here

Useful links

Dr Elsey Davis fundraising page

Track Dr Davis’s progress

GPs are standing up for patient safety by declaring dispute, says BMA

Streeting dismisses GP fears over online access as 'forces of conservatism'

Government 'mystified' over GP stance on online access

Mouldy, cracked and cramped: BMA poll exposes GP premises crisis

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This week Emma speaks to Professor Brendan Delaney, a GP in London and Professor of Medical Informatics and Decision Making at Imperial College London. Brendan’s research work covers artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis and learning health systems and he is a real expert in this field.

Artificial intelligence is likely to have a huge impact across society and its role in healthcare is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. But what will this mean in practice for GPs on the ground?

In this conversation, Brendan talks about the research he is involved with that is looking at how AI can be used to support diagnosis in primary care. We also discuss whether developments in AI in medicine could de-skill doctors, the vital importance of medical device regulation when using these new tools, and the key issues of clinical liability and data security.

Brendan also shares his thoughts on the government's vision for an AI-enabled NHS and how realistic this vision is as well as his hopes for how this new technology could shape general practice in the coming years. And he has advice for how GPs can prepare for a future where technology will play an even greater role in medicine.

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

Useful links

Transformer-based deep learning model for the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer in primary care based on electronic health record data - the study Brendan mentions in the interview

More of Brendan’s research work

IX - Imperial College London’s cross-department AI initiative

AI tools in general practice and liability - advice for GPs

Using AI transcribing software in general practice - medicolegal considerations

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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.

This week Emma and Nick talk about the BMA special representative meeting on the government’s 10-year plan, which happened last weekend. They look at what health and social care secretary Wes Streeting had to say, some of which enraged many of the GPs in attendance, as well as the key votes on motions about general practice and what BMA representatives had to say about the 10-year plan.

They also discuss the roll out of neighbourhood health in England as the government announced the 43 sites that will form the first wave of its national programme to shift the NHS to this new way of working.

And they look at a piece of work Nick has done over the past couple of weeks looking at the number of GPs the NHS in England needs over the coming years if it is to keep pace with the predicted population rise, including which parts of the country have the furthest to go to reach the levels required.

Meanwhile Kimberley explains our good news story, which this week is about an initiative in Wales that is aiming to support women GPs into senior leadership roles.

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

Useful links

●     Streeting dismisses GPs concerned over online access as 'laggards'

●     BMA rejects 10-year plan and demands protection of GP model

●     Can England double its GP workforce by 2040?

●     Map: Which areas face the steepest GP recruitment challenge?

●     Third of licensed GPs in England lost to NHS, study reveals

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This week Emma speaks to Dr Helen Thomas, a GP in Hampshire and a member of the group Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens.

Helen has been involved with developing screening tools and training resources to help clinicians identify problematic smartphone use in young people which might be affecting their mental health.

In this conversation Helen explains the evidence linking excessive screen time to worsening mental health outcomes, poor sleep, and developmental delays, and highlights the harmful content algorithms push to young users.

She explains why it's vital for GPs to ask about device use when consulting with young people presenting with mental health issues and the screening tools and resources that can help clinicians do this.

And she discusses the wider changes needed to tackle this issue, including what the government should be doing.

This conversation includes discussion of self harm and suicide.

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

Useful links

Health Professionals for Safer Screens

Health Professionals for Safer Screens resources - including screening tool, health intervention information and training worlds

How TikTok harms boys and girls differently - the Guardian video that Emma mentions in this conversation

Details of Esther Ghey’s campaign to ban smartphones in schools - from BBC

Jonathan Haidt’s Let Grow movement, which Helen mentions in this conversation

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The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice. This week Emma and Nick look at the latest GP earnings and expenses data and what it tells us about income for both partners and salaried GPs and regional variations across the UK.

There’s also a quick round up of some other data published last week on the GP workforce and practice workload.

They also discuss the BMA’s recent analysis of the 10-year health plan and look at some of the union’s concerns with the plan - and whether some of those issues could lead GPs back into industrial dispute with the government.

Our good news story this week is about the GP workforce in Scotland.

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

Useful links

GP income variation across England blamed on local funding gaps

Experts question data showing double-digit GP partner income rise

General practice facing 'busiest summer ever' as appointments spiral

Neighbourhood contracts must stop hospitals taking over GP patient lists, warns BMA

BMA preparing for return to GP industrial dispute as red lines ignored

Scottish GP workforce reaches six-year high

For GPonline, GP Business, MIMS and MIMS Pharma practice and corporate subscribers

Special report: The 10-year Health Plan

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This week Emma speaks to Adrian Down, who is the managing partner of a practice in Lincolnshire and a director of the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM).

Adrian discusses the vital role of the practice manager and the work the IGPM is doing to give managers a stronger voice and create clear standards through its accreditation scheme.

He talks about the challenges facing practice managers, including the risk of burnout, and what needs to happen to address these issues, as well as the government’s 10-year health plan and what the move towards neighbourhood working will mean for practices and the pivotal role managers will play in making it a success.

Adrian also explains what the IGPM wants to see from the new GP contract to ensure it provides realistic funding and recognises the contribution of the entire general practice team, including the growing number of non-GP partners.

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

Useful links

Institute of General Practice Management

GPonline’s coverage of the 10-year health plan

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This week the GPonline team discusses health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s letter to the profession and asks whether what he had to say addressed the BMA’s ‘red lines’ to avert further industrial action by the profession. They also look at the latest update to this year’s GP contract and what that means for staff and GP pay.

There’s an update on physician associate roles after their union - United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) launched a legal bid for an injunction to prevent changes to the role following the Leng review.

And they talk about the jobs crisis facing newly-qualified GPs as well as the stresses and pressures facing GPs further along in their career and what this all means for the future of the profession.

Our good news story this week is about patient satisfaction with GP access.

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

Useful links

Streeting sets date for talks to 'retain and reform' practice-based GP contract

PA union loses legal bid for injunction to prevent Leng reforms

GPs 'walking tightrope' as NHS issues advice on changing PA roles

Job crisis 'fragmenting' working lives of newly-qualified GPs

How do you fix general practice? It's the workforce, stupid

How has patients' experience of GP services changed over the past year?

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This week Emma speaks to Dr Richard West, a GP partner in a dispensing practice in Suffolk and chair of the Dispensing Doctors’ Association.

Dispensing practices are a vital lifeline for patients in rural areas, but they are facing a host of challenges that are threatening their viability. In this conversation, Richard explains the crucial role these practices play and the immense pressures they are under.

Richard talks through the complexities of dispensing practice funding, highlighting how out-of-date fee scales and unreimbursed drug costs are affecting practices and what the Dispensing Doctors’ Association is campaigning for to ensure these essential services survive.

He also discusses what needs to change in the GP contract to support dispensing practices, the impact drug shortages have on staff and patients and the need to ensure that ways of working envisaged in the 10 year plan are designed to work for rural populations.

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

Useful links

Dispensing Doctors’ Association

Dispensing Doctors’ Association RAMP UP campaign

MIMS - Drug shortages - live tracker

MPs demand major review as UK medicine shortages now 'daily reality'

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This week Emma and Nick talk about how adding GPs to the additional roles reimbursement scheme has impacted on the workforce in different parts of the country. They look at what the government has to say about the ARRS and asking whether it is painting an accurate picture of the current state of the GP workforce in England.

They also discuss what the BMA wants the government to do to avert a jobs crisis for newly qualified GPs this summer. This formed part of a series of red lines that it said the government had to deliver to avoid further industrial dispute by the profession, and Emma and Nick explain what these are and what has led the BMA to make these demands.

Our good news story this week is about some more data from an innovative fruit and veg prescription project that’s running in East London.

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

●     Is the ARRS widening GP workforce inequality?

●     Opaque GP workforce data spark call for 'honesty'

●     BMA sets red lines for government to avert industrial dispute with GPs

●     10-year plan could unlock more GP funding or lead to salaried service, says BMA

●     Karin Smyth: ARRS GPs can help turn the tide of pressure on practices

●     Alexandra Rose Charity

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