Is the Future of General Practice Finally Looking Brighter?

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston, Robyn Clark, and James Gransby to discuss the newly agreed contract for general practice. After three years of imposed terms, the promise of an additional £889 million in funding offers a glimmer of hope. However, the episode delves into the reality that much of this funding may simply offset rising staffing costs and increased national insurance contributions, providing little genuine financial relief for GP partners. We explore the complexities and uncertainties these changes bring, emphasising the importance of clear contract planning to secure financial stability and better outcomes for both practices and patients.

Introduction (00:08)

An agreed contract (01:22) 

Are practices feeling better? (02:28)

Is it helping the underlying profitability? (06:59)

The changes & impact for ARRS? (11:10) 

More money for ARRS? (12:17) 

What's your take on the impact? (12:35)

Keeping the online consultation tool on.. (15:56)

The GPC.. (18:40)

NHS England is going to be abolished (20:12)

Final thoughts.. (23:28) 

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

This week, we welcome Ashleigh Perryman and Michael Norris from Gosport PCN to discuss their pioneering work in team-based pharmacy services across five GP practices. Leading a team of 10 pharmacists, 10 technicians, and 4 admin staff, they share how their centralised approach fosters collaboration and innovation. Learn how strategic staff deployment ensures comprehensive care, while specialisation and ongoing training enhance service offerings. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in forward-thinking healthcare strategies, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving world of pharmacy services.

Introduction (00:08)

The team.. (01:42)

Developing the team (02:47)

Career progression within the team (03:31) 

Equal Pharmacy Techs and Pharmacists (05:40) 

Development for individuals (08:13)

Turnover of pharmacists (09:27)

The outcomes of the videos.. (13:35

Safety searches.. (13:59) 

Most at risk patients being prioritised.. (15:22)

How does it work across multiple practices? (15:34)

Taking this to PCN management (18:15)

Plans for the future.. (19:59) 

Getting in touch (22:36)

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston and Tara Humphrey, Founder and CEO of THC Primary Care, to explore the transformative potential of the new Neighbourhood Health Guidelines. Ben, Claire, and Tara examine how these guidelines could reshape healthcare delivery at the neighbourhood level, particularly their impact on general practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs). They discuss the intersection of PCNs and emerging neighbourhood structures, highlighting the potential shift toward integrated care that involves community and social services. The conversation underscores the ongoing importance of access to general practice in maintaining patient wellbeing, especially as life expectancy continues to rise. This episode also sets the stage for future discussions on NHS developments, including insights from upcoming announcements such as the 10-year plan and next year’s GP contract.

Introduction (00:08)

Neighbourhoods (00:44)

The impact on general practice & PCN’s.. (02:38) 

Six core components (04:01) 

Creating an infrastructure (06:46)

Will we see pressure from local areas for PCNs to change boundaries? (11:21)

Could local arguments start to emerge? (13:15)

Funding.. (17:40)

Freedom to local areas (21:20)

Can practices and PCNs influence development? (25:24) 

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Unlock the secrets to revolutionising general practice with Ruth Rankine from the NHS Confederation, as she guides us through the intricate web of healthcare innovation and policy shaping. Learn how Ruth's pivotal role empowers her to engage with key stakeholders to drive transformative changes across the healthcare landscape. Discover the unique position of the NHS Confederation compared to the General Practitioners Committee, with a focus that extends beyond individual practices to embrace a diverse array of primary care providers. Ruth offers a candid look at the current landscape of general practice, highlighting the dynamic challenges and opportunities healthcare providers face amidst evolving governmental policies. With a focus on strategic co-production, community infrastructure, and organisational development, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of primary care and the path towards creating a resilient healthcare system.

Introduction (00:09)

A day in Ruth's life.. (01:18) 

Influencing on behalf of members (02:37) 

The difference between you & the GPC? (03:53)

The current situation for General Practice (05:02) 

What does the government want from General Practice? (07:20)

General Practice & Neighbourhood teams.. (11:46)

Coordination of organisations.. (14:03)

How will collaborations work for local systems? (16:59)

Do collaborations exist everywhere? (21:08) 

Next steps.. (23:03) 

Getting in touch.. (25:13)

Visit the NHS Confederation website here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston, Kay Keane, and Hussain Gandhi. Together, they delve into the significant changes in advice and guidance funding for general practice, introduced as part of the government's new Elective Recovery Plan. With a focus on patient choice and the new £20 funding per advice and guidance request for GPs, they examine whether this fee truly reflects the work involved. They also discuss the potential shift in workload from secondary to primary care and what this means for practices. Additionally, the conversation touches on the evolving role of digital healthcare and its varied impact across regions, highlighting the importance of clear contractual details to ensure fair compensation for GPs. Tune in for an insightful discussion to help practices navigate these changes and prepare for the future of healthcare.

Introduction (00:08) 

The recovery plan (00:53)

Advice and guidance (02:15)

Existing funding (05:31)

How advice and guidance requests work.. (07:35) 

Additional money (11:36)

Other elements (13:13)

Patient-initiated follow-ups (14:10) 

Is advice and guidance coming off the ‘list’ (21:11)

The details.. (22:29) 

How to prepare.. (23:11)

Visit the Practice Index Hub directly, here.

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

We’re pleased to kick off the new year with a returning guest, Lorenz Kemper, Co-founder and Director of Medlink Solutions. Since his last appearance during the pandemic in 2020, Medlink has achieved remarkable growth and innovation in transforming general practice operations across the UK. In this episode, Lorenz discusses how Medlink has expanded its client base and unveiled an automated recall system integrated with EMIS Web. This breakthrough reduces administrative workloads, increases clinical capacity, and absorbs communication costs, resulting in significant savings and improved efficiency for practices.

Join us to explore how these advancements are reshaping the way practices manage enhanced services.

Introduction (00:08) 

Peak of the pandemic.. (01:38)

What’s happened since then? (02:05) 

How do you manage health checks remotely.. (02:47)

Is this practice focused? (03:41)

What does MedLink do? (05:30)

How have practices found this system? (10:02)

Providing patients with options.. (12:42)

What’s included for each practice? (13:26)

Future plans.. (14:27)

Development of neighbourhood teams (15:24)

Working with secondary care.. (18:01)

Finding out more.. (18:48) 

You can visit the MedLink website here.

You can listen back to Lorenz’ & Ben’s previous episode ‘Online long-term condition reviews using MedLink’ here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston & Kay Keane, they explore the financial challenges that general practices are facing in light of recent budget changes. Practices are grappling with significant costs, and the fear of potential staff reductions looms large. They highlight the ongoing financial strain on practices, emphasising the gap between headline funding figures and the real growth in income. They reflect on the emotional and practical struggles faced by healthcare workers amidst rising operational costs. The lack of clear communication from governing bodies only adds to the difficulty of managing budgets effectively. This episode paints a vivid picture of the challenging landscape that general practices navigate while striving to maintain service standards.

Introduction (00:09) 

The impact on practices (02:51) 

Finances for practices (04:22) 

Is there time? (07:41)

Is it going to get resolved.. (09:10)

IGPMs reaction (12:03)

Collective action (14:15)

A difficult period.. (16:43) 

How do you see it playing out? (22:02)

The salary calculator (23:32) 

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Join Ben in this solo episode as he explores the rapidly changing landscape of general practice and primary care networks. With the five year contract ending in March, is general practice facing significant financial challenges and an uncertain future? Ben explores the potential shift towards a neighbourhood based model of healthcare integration. As Primary Care Networks take a backseat, the focus shifts to integrated neighbourhood teams, designed to deliver seamless, holistic care. He also discusses the implications for Integrated Care Boards and the critical need for strong organisational infrastructure to support this transformation. Listen in as Ben navigates the challenges and opportunities, pondering what the future holds for general practice..

The changing landscape for primary care networks and for GP practices (0:09)

Contract limbo situation (0:22) 

The Fuller Report (02:08)

Integrated neighborhood teams (03:49)

The Darzi report.. (06:09)

GP contracts needs to have some major reform (07:14)

Think tank.. (08:00)

‘Working Better Together in Neighbourhoods’ Report (08:54)

The job of ICB’s (10:48)

PCNs.. (11:31)

Introduction of neighbourhoods (12:57)

What does all this mean? (14:20)

Relationships in your local area (17:14)

Taking on leadership roles for cross organisational working.. (18:11)

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

This week, Ben is joined by former colleague, Adrian McCourt, to explore groundbreaking innovations in general practice health services. Adrian shares his transformative work from the past three years, focusing on how addressing social determinants of health can enhance healthcare outcomes. He highlights the challenges and impacts of tackling issues like housing, finances, and social networks, particularly for frail patients who experience frequent hospital readmissions. The episode concludes with Adrian offering practical advice on implementing these innovations in various settings, providing a roadmap for those looking to pursue similar initiatives. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into driving innovation in general practice.

Introduction (00:09) 

How did the project come about? (00:46)

Social determinants.. (02:04)

Influences.. (02:21)

Population health management (03:41)

Making a difference.. (05:04)

Seeing a difference.. (08:57) 

Demonstrating the difference.. (10:34)

The costs involved (14:24)

The future.. (18:36) 

Getting in touch.. (22:02)

Visit Sodexo’s website here, or get in touch with Adrian via email here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Primary care leader Dr Tom Holdsworth returns to the podcast, bringing his wealth of experience from Sheffield's dynamic healthcare scene. This episode uncovers how his team embraced an NHS England pilot with a mix of enthusiasm and cautious optimism, aiming to revolutionise data accuracy and effectiveness in primary care.

Eager to innovate, Tom explores strategic approaches to data collection and capacity building, he sheds light on the importance of establishing consistent baselines and the potential for debunking myths around general practice funding through transparent data. Our conversation also paves the way for a richer understanding of frailty care expansion and the integration of neighbourhood teams to enhance emergency services coordination. Looking ahead, they delve into the promising future of the GP programme, with plans for new staff appointments and expanded capacity. Join us as we anticipate the transformative impact this will have on patient care and eagerly await future outcomes.

Introduction (00:09) 

Tom’s roles.. (00:23) 

The focus.. (02:01)

The NHS England PCN Pilot Scheme.. (02:58) 

10% increase in capacity.. (07:31)

The impact of data overtime.. (09:03)

Investing in General Practice (10:29) 

The future of the pilot.. (17:33)

Support throughout the pilot (18:41) 

Results from the pilot.. (19:51)

Listen to Tom’s previous episode here - ‘Supporting frailty in Sheffield’.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.