Talking General Practice

Last week the BMA rejected a contract offer for practices in England that would deliver a 1.9% uplift in funding. In this episode of Talking General Practice the GPonline team looks at what we know about the deal that’s currently on the table.They discuss what a 1.9% funding uplift would mean for practices, what the BMA, grassroots GPs and Labour think about the deal, and what happens next – including whether industrial action could be on the cards.In other news, they look at what’s going on with regulation of physician’s associates and the ongoing debate about their use in the NHS. And this week’s good news is about Northern Ireland.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksWhat do we know about the 2024/25 GP contract offer?'Insulting' 1.9% uplift threatens £50,000 black hole per average practiceLabour says 1.9% GP contract offer ‘devaluing general practice'Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer: It's time to stop ignoring reality - GPs need more fundingMost doctors say working with physician associates has increased workloadLords set for full debate on physician associates after pressure from doctors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robyn Clark is a managing partner in a practice in Gloucestershire and a founder and director of the Institute of General Practice Management.On this episode of Talking General Practice she talks to Emma about the challenges facing practice managers in the current climate, what needs to be done to cut bureaucracy in general practice – including how the QOF needs to change – and what practice managers are hoping to see from the next GP contract.Robyn also explains the current financial pressures facing GP practices, and discusses what NHS England and GP partners should be doing to support managers and recognise the vital role they play.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksInstitute of General Practice ManagementFrom GPonlineViewpoint: Investment in practice managers is a step towards saving general practiceAccreditation for practice managersFind out more about our website GP Business and how to subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s podcast the team discusses GP funding after analysis by the Liberal Democrats showed a real-terms fall in practice funding during the past four years. Meanwhile, government figures have also shown that the share of NHS funding going to primary care has fallen to an eight-year low.They also talk about problems at the primary care interface - the interface between practices and other parts of the NHS, including hospitals, community services and mental health services – and how it is wasting millions of GP appointments every year.And they look at the latest on measles and MMR vaccine uptake after the UK Health Security Agency last week declared a national incident because of rising cases of measles.Our good news story this week is about the Friends and Family Test.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior news reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links●     Which ICB areas have seen the largest drops in real-terms GP funding?●     RCGP warning as primary care share of NHS funding hits eight-year low●     Solving NHS 'interface' chaos could save 6m GP appointments a year●     NHS England launches catch-up MMR campaign amid rising measles cases●     GPs told to wear PPE when seeing suspected measles cases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking General Practice speaks to former BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul about the extent of the problem of racism in the medical profession and what we can do to address this.Dr Nagpaul is a London GP, a former chair of the BMA GP committee, and in 2017 he became the first person from an ethnic minority to chair the British Medical Association - a post he held until 2022.While he was chair the BMA set up a national forum for racial and ethnic equality - the first time it had such a group. It also conducted a landmark survey in 2022 to establish the scale of the issue of racism across the medical profession and how it affects doctors’ wellbeing and their careers.In this conversation Dr Nagpaul explains some of the key findings from that survey and what he believes the NHS and the medical profession need to do to tackle racism. He also talks about the impact racism has on doctors and how it affects patient care, how we can address differential attainment in medical exams and disparities in GMC referrals, as well as the importance of having more leaders in medicine from different ethnic groups.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksBMA FREE (forum for racial and ethnic equality)BMA racism in medicine surveyBMA - delivering racial equality in medicine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our regular news review Emma and Nick discuss a practice in Surrey that is set to make three salaried GPs redundant, and what this tells us about changes in primary careThey also talk about the GP workforce, in particular the falling number of GP partners and the impact this might have, and NHS England’s decision to scrap two key GP retention schemes.Our good news story this week highlights those GPs and others from the world of primary care who received New Year Honours.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links●     Practice makes salaried GPs redundant as model shifts to additional roles●     GP partners' income down 20% in a year, BMA poll reveals●     Small increase in GP workforce during past year but partners still falling●     Which ICB areas have the biggest shortages of GP partners?●     RCGP condemns 'disappointing' decision to scrap GP retention schemes●     GPs recognised in New Year Honours Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy new year!This week Emma is talking to GP partner Dr Tommy Perkins and specialist medical accountant Andy Pow from Medics Money, about the financial year ahead for general practice.Tommy and Andy talk about the current financial pressures GP practices are under, how GP partner income has changed, and the sort of uplift practices might need from this year’s GP contract to help address the shortfalls they’ve experienced in recent years.They also offer lots of useful advice on how practices can start the new year on a sound financial footing, explain what upcoming tax changes will mean for all GPs, and the importance of better financial training for GPs as general practice becomes increasingly complex.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksGP BusinessOur website GP Business provides practical advice for GP partners and practice managers to help them run their business more effectively. More details here. From Medics MoneyMedics Money GP partnership courseMedics Money GP registrar Business for GPs courseMedics Money podcastFind a good accountant for doctors (from Medics Money)Find a good independent financial adviser for doctors (from Medics Money)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re bringing you some highlights from our top interviews of 2023 - and we’ve had some really fantastic guests this year.In this episode you’ll hear from BMA GP committee for England chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne, NHS England director for health inequalities Professor Bola Owolabi, RCGP Wales chair Dr Rowena Christmas and all-round general practice expert and fellow podcast host Ben Gowland.And between them they’ll be talking about GP contract negotiations, continuity of care, what we can do to retain more GPs, influencing politicians in the run up to next year’s general election, the difference healthcare professionals can make on health inequalities, and the future of primary care networks.Thanks to everyone who’s taken part in Talking General Practice during 2023 - and happy new year to all of our listeners!Don’t forget you can listen to the full versions of all these interviews - and interviews with lots of other brilliant people from the world of primary care by searching in our podcast feed or on our website at GPonline.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma and Nick look at what happens next for the quality and outcomes framework after the government launched its consultation on the future of incentive payments in general practice. They talk about what the consultation is asking and whether this could mean the end of the QOF?And they discuss an ageing GP workforce and what it means for the stability of GP practices in some parts of England.They also look ahead to next year and some of the key news stories that are likely to be important in 2024.Our good news story this week is about a Christmas delivery to a practice in Shropshire.Merry Christmas to all of our listeners.Useful linksGovernment QOF consultation asks if continuity and access should be incentivisedHundreds of practices on the brink as half their GPs are over retirement ageWhich ICBs have most GP practices at risk from an ageing workforce?Patient safety fears as one in three practice nurses near retirementGP practice staff moved to tears as patients deliver Christmas tree gift  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma speaks to Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, a GP from Sheffield who is vice chair of the RCGP South Yorkshire and North Trent Faculty and a chair of the RCGP Northern Faculties International Medical Graduate steering group.They talk about the challenges that international medical graduates - or IMG - GPs face and what the NHS and general practice can do to support them.Around half of the doctors who enter GP training each year are now IMGs, which means they received their initial medical qualification outside the UK.Sylvia herself qualified as a doctor in Nigeria. In this episode she talks about her own move to the UK in 2004, and some of the difficulties IMG doctors face in the UK, including racism, long-standing problems related to visas and the challenges of practising medicine in a completely different country and culture.She also explains why the RCGP Northern Faculties IMG steering group was set up and what it is hoping to achieve, and offers some practical advice on how practices can best support IMG doctors. It was produced by Czarina DeenUseful linksIMG group on the RCGP members’ forumE-learning for health’s guide to induction for IMG doctorsRCGP overseas doctors guideBMA guide on becoming a tier 2 sponsor for GP practicesNHS guide for IMG doctorsMost regions of Health Education England will have information for IMG doctors working in their area , including:Yorkshire and the Humber - you can find the IMG guidebook that Sylvia mentioned in the podcast hereEast of EnglandLondonNorth WestSouth WestInformation from Health Education ScotlandInformation from Health Education and Improvement Wales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emma and Nick look at what we know about what the BMA in England might be looking to achieve in contract negotiations, how the current deal that’s on the table for consultants could affect talks, and whether continuity should be a contractual requirement.They also discuss Labour’s plan for neighbourhood health centres and what the party might want them to achieve.Our good news story this week is about a British GP's success Down Under.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksWhat questions is the BMA asking GPs to shape its vision for general practice?Next GP contract 'must signal hope', GP committee chair warnsGovernment must match consultants' pay offer in new contract for GPsLabour plans neighbourhood walk-in GP centres open seven days a weekNew contract that enforces continuity would make GPs and patients safer, says watchdogGP conquers 'Everest of competitive mullet growing' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.