Two large GP practices in the East of England have been placed in special measures after falling foul of government inspectors. The Sleaford Medical Group in Lincolnshire had enjoyed high ratings until inspectors visited in April. According to local press reports, it then suffered further press reports before a report of the Care Quality Commission […]
July 20, 2017, by Practice Index in CQC
CQC inspections: The changes coming soon
Just when you think you’ve got the CQC inspections sussed, and you’ve successfully survived your first visit, along come some changes to the regulations! Yes, that’s right – later this year the CQC will be changing the focus of its inspections. Originally scheduled to come into force in October 2017 – but delayed by the […]
July 19, 2017, by Practice Index in HR - Human Resources, Staff
How to handle an accusation of bullying at work
There is no single legal definition of bullying. ACAS refer to it as unwelcome “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient”. It is “unwarranted and causes a detrimental effect”. Examples of bullying can include Ridiculing Telling jokes in public at […]
July 18, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, News, Recruitment
GP recruitment to be “industrial”
The NHS drive to recruit overseas GPs will be on an “industrial scale,” the head of NHS England has promised. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens revealed yesterday that he plans to recruit 2,000 GPs from overseas to tackle the crisis in primary care. Some GP leaders have condemned the plans as a “sticking plaster” […]
July 14, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, GPs, HR - Human Resources, News
200 practices close
More than 200 GP practices have closed in England in the last year, according to figures published today. In contrast just 8 new practices have opened. The closures have affected about half the country and have occurred in spite of an increasing population of practice patients. Numbers increased by 55,000 over 12 months, according to […]
July 13, 2017, by Practice Index in GP Practice Management, Staff
Ten ways to positively deal with conflict
Human beings are all different. It therefore figures that, when you put people together in a practice, conflict is inevitable. Conflicts can arise between co-workers, managers and subordinates or between employees and external stakeholders, which in primary care generally means patients. We’ve all experienced situations where you can cut the tension in the air with […]
July 13, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, IT & Technology, News
End to XP in practice data security drive
New rules are to be introduced about sharing patient data for research purposes as part of a cyber-security crackdown, it was announced yesterday. The move is among a raft of measures announced as the government rushed out proposals following the WannaCry cyber-attack on the NHS last month – and a series of previously shelved reports […]
July 11, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, News
GPs vote on practice list closures
GPs are being asked to say whether they will join a novel kind of industrial action in England to press for more resources for primary care. Ballot papers have been issued to doctors by the British Medical Association. Under the proposals practices will suspend registrations of new patients or apply for formal list closure. The […]
July 7, 2017, by Practice Index in Events, GP Practice Management, Practice Index News, Practice Manager
Practice Index Talks – FREE event!
An afternoon of inspiring and motivational talks to invigorate and rejuvenate GP practice managers.
July 6, 2017, by Practice Index in GP Practice Management, Training
Training your practice team
Your admin team is the beating heart of your practice. From receptionists on the front line who are your communication hub and first point of contact with patients, through to medical secretaries who work hard behind the scenes to ensure practice admin is accurate and complete. It’s therefore imperative that they have all the skills […]
July 6, 2017, by Guest Blogger in Suppliers
Getting the most from your suppliers
Partnership working with both neighbours and technology suppliers offers the best route to improving efficiency, says James Morriss, Head of Sales & Marketing, Lexacom There is a lot of pressure on practices to adopt more efficient ways of working, with technology seen as a key enabler in getting more done in less time without compromising […]
July 4, 2017, by GP Practice News in News, Wales
Red tape deterring doctors from Welsh general practice
Restrictions on GPs transferring from England to Wales should be lifted to help fill vacancies, according to a health official. Doctors are waiting at least eight weeks to be admitted to the country’s “performers’ list” for GPs – and this is deterring locums, according to the North Wales Community Health Council. The council says there […]
July 4, 2017, by GP Practice News in News
Support for Manchester practices
Practices in greater Manchester are to benefit from £2 million of extra funding through a deal involving the Royal College of GPs, it has been announced. The money is to come from the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, which is overseeing health services in the region. It will deliver the “GP Excellence Programme,” […]
June 30, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, GPs, News, NHS England
Practice support project releases hours of time
Up to 7,000 hours of practice staff time has been released through a project in one Lancashire borough, it has been claimed. Some 25 practices in Bury have taken part in the Productive General Practice project, backed by NHS England. The local clinical commissioning group says it has put in place more efficient processes, reduced […]
June 29, 2017, by Practice Index in NHS, Patients
What can you do about the latest clinical correspondence calamity?
Patient records – and the inability of the NHS and its appointed contractors to handle them correctly – once again hit the headlines this week. This time, rather than Capita being in the firing line it was NHS Shared Business Services (SBS), who was employed in the East Midlands, South West and north-east London to […]
June 28, 2017, by GP Practice News in CCGs, Mental Health, News
Six in 10 Clinical Commissioning Groups missing talking therapy targets
New data gives an insight into how Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are performing with regard to delivering talking therapies. The figures, from NHS England’s mental health ‘dashboard’*, highlight the proportion of CCGs meeting and missing their targets when it comes to increasing access to talking therapies. The latest data show that nearly 6 in 10 […]
June 27, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, News, NHS
Agency “disgrace” over failure to deliver practice letters
A catalogue of delays led to nearly 2,000 patients being put at risk by unprocessed mail that accumulated over five years, according to a damning audit report published today. The revelations were branded a “disgrace” by one senior GP. In total at least 700,000 items of GP correspondence were put into storage by NHS Shared […]
June 26, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, News, NHS
Plan for practices to close doors under pressure
A black alert system should be introduced for GP surgeries – allowing them to close their doors when care is becoming unsafe, doctors say today. The idea is being brought to the annual conference of the British Medical Association in Bournemouth. The proposal says that the “black alert” system for GPs would be similar to […]
June 22, 2017, by GP Practice News in GP Practice Management, News, Northern Ireland
NI practices go back to basics
Hard-pressed GPs in Northern Ireland have announced a sweeping series of measures aimed at reducing the pressure on their practices. The doctors say the measures will reduce red-tape and unnecessary work and give them more time with patients. Under the restrictions they will refuse to do paperwork for insurance companies or personal independence payments. GPs […]
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July 21, 2017, by GP Practice News in CQC, GP Practice Management, News