Record numbers are signing up for GP training and in this episode Ben talks to Dipesh Gopal and Ebrahim Mulla, two GP trainees, about why they chose to become GPs. He asks them about their expectations versus the reality of the role, how (and if) they see the partnership model figuring in their careers and why they think so many GPs are leaving the profession. They consider what can be done to “solve the problems of general practice” and give a view on whether the future for general practice is a bright one

In the third in our series of podcasts on social prescribing, GP and social prescribing champion Marie Anne Essam returns to tell us three powerful real-life patient stories in which a social prescription has changed a patient’s life; a carer who got his purpose back, a man with a housing problem who turned his life around and an anxious, reluctant patient who found the support she needed. Plus: guidance on the new link workers will shortly be issued to all primary care networks and Marie Anne gives us a sneak preview of what it will contain.

The specification and guidance for the new network DES runs to over 100 pages. In the days following its publication Ben and special guest Dr Riaz Jetha digested the content of the DES and, in this episode, they talk through the key differences they identified. They look at the nature of the network agreement, the role of federations, how clinical leaders will be recruited, population size, funding and much more. You might also be interested in Ben’s latest Blog which covers similar material.

We have three guests this episode to talk about the unique Salaried Trainee Practice Manager programme developed by the City and Hackney GP Confederation. Dr Mary Clarke CBE the Confederation’s Director of Workforce, Grace Neil, the Programme Co-ordinator for the scheme and trainee Practice Manager Kerry Reynolds join Ben to variously explain how and why the programme was developed, the format and content of the programme and what it felt like to be a participant.

Tom Howseman is a GP Partner in a large urban practice in Northampton. When their number of GP partners fell from twelve to six due to retirements and they couldn’t recruit they decided to adopt a more multi-disciplinary approach. Over the last two years they have introduced and refined a system of pre-triage protocols which enable reception staff to collect information from patients presenting on the day which is then helpful to the pre-triage clinicians in directing those patients to the appropriate member of the emergency care team. 20,000 additional appointments have been created through this system and in this episode Tom explains how they have done it.

Last Thursday (14th March) was International Social Prescribing Day and we brought you a short series of podcasts to recognise this. Last week we gave you social prescribing ambassador Marie-Anne Essam. This week it is the turn of Christiana Melam who is Chief Executive of the National Association of Link Workers; the national professional network for link workers. In this episode Christiana describes what the National Association does, outlines the roles and responsibilities of the link worker and suggests what primary care networks should be doing now to prepare for this role.

This Thursday (14th March) is International Social Prescribing Day. To recognise this and to focus on the new GP Contract commitment to provide link workers in all primary care networks, we begin a short series of two podcasts. In the first, this week, Ben talks to Marie-Anne Essam a GP in Herts Valley and an enthusiastic ambassador for social prescribing. She explains what it is and tells a powerful story about a patient of hers which amply illustrates the value of social prescription. She also talks about the role of link workers including their salary, their competences and their likely backgrounds

Ben’s special guest for the second week is Dr Nikki Kanani, Director of Primary Care for NHS England. You can listen to the first episode here. In this second part she addresses the concerns of podcast listeners about primary care networks including population size, hosting of the networks and the role of federations. She looks at how clinical leaders should be identified and focuses in detail on the timetable from March 2019 onwards and what practices should be doing now to guarantee success.

Ben’s special guest this week is Dr Nikki Kanani, one of the chief architects of the new GP contract. Nikki is a GP in south-east London and is currently Director of Primary Care for NHS England. This is the first of two discussions with Nikki and in this part, she explains the role of primary care networks in general practice and looks in detail at the funding behind the new contract. She explains how the money will be delivered and what it will be made available for including 20,000 new staff, support for clinical leadership and investment in innovation. The second part of the discussion will be published next week.

This week Ben is joined by Neha Shah, a Legal Director from Capsticks and Accountant Colin Haw from BHP Chartered Accountants. In this episode they discuss some of the legal, financial and governance issues facing general practice as it begins to establish Primary Care Networks. Specifically they consider how networks will be hosted and the implications for liability, choices around the organisational form, employment contracts, pensions and VAT.