Can fundamental change in General Practice be achieved by changing the contracting model? Will the use of other professionals achieve major efficiencies? Reform the public sector think tank believe so and have published “Who Cares; The Future of General Practice” to set out their “blue print for best practice”. In this bonus edition of our podcast, Ben Gowland talks to Alex Hitchcock, one of the report’s authors.

Digital health technologies could dramatically change the relationships between clinicians and patients and support the shift towards prevention. Ben interviews Maneesh Juneja, internationally lauded expert in digital health to determine whether the advent of this brave new world is a promise or a threat.

Can technology help GPs better manage on-the-day demand? Ben talks to Harry Longman, founder and Chief Executive of GP Access, about how telephone consulting and online algorithms can dramatically support practices in reducing the pressures of seemingly uncontrollable demand.

How can commissioners support the development of General Practice? Ben talks to Dr Isobel Hodkinson the principal clinical lead at Tower Hamlets CCG about their 15 year journey of transformation through network working to a borough-wide GP provider group.

In our second look at a Portsmouth practice which has expanded following a series of mergers, Ben talks to their Business Partner, Mark Stubbings. Mark outlines some of the steps needed for a successful merger and sees a future where operating at an even greater scale is the norm.

How to realise the benefits of operating at scale: part 1.  This week Ben talks to Dr Andrew Whittamore from Portsdown Group Practice in Portsmouth, which has grown to cover a population of 40,000, about the growing pains of increasing in practice size, and making size an asset.

The practice has energetically pursued a policy of expansion and are continuing to grow, aiming to double in size again over the next few years. Their focus is first and foremost what is best for patient care in their area and believe that working at increasing scale brings significant benefits for patients, practice staff and the health economy as a whole.

Should clinical pharmacists play an increased role in General Practice?  Absolutely, according to Ravi Sharma, a senior primary care pharmacist in the South East.  In this episode, Ravi explains to Ben the contribution clinical pharmacists can make to patient care and makes it clear that they shouldn’t be seen as yet another drain on GP time and resources.  

Do GP practices have to sacrifice their values if they want to grow in size?  Not according to Sheinaz Stansfield who shares with Ben the remarkable story of how her Practice increased in size and used the power of social prescribing to positively impact on their patients’ lives.

This week Ben talks to Sheinaz Stansfield, Practice Manager at Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group in Gateshead. The interview begins about achieving greater scale and how merging with another local practice secured their future. But when Sheinaz begins to explain the Practice’s approach to “social prescribing” we enter a world where a Christmas Lunch for vulnerable people and the organisation of a tea-dance become part of an even brighter future for the Practice and its patients.

Ben talks to Katie Slack, Practice Manager at Blue Dykes and Grassmoor Surgeries in Chesterfield about losing ten GPs over two year and how this crisis prompted them to employ other professionals and ultimately improve patient access, satisfaction and staff morale.

The tables are turned and Ben Gowland is interviewed about his latest White Paper, “Five Years to the End of General Practice?”.

The White Paper, which makes three recommendations designed to protect the future of General Practice, is underpinned by in-depth interviews with GPs and a survey of GPs across the country.