Making healthcare accessible is crucial for GP practices, according to the Department of Health. After all, as part of the GP Forward View, it has committed £45m fund to contribute towards the training of practice reception and clerical staff with the aim of ensuring that they are well-equipped to undertake an enhanced role in active signposting and…

Rehab alternative to fit notes rolled out The Government has recently pledged to reduce the number of fit notes. Practices will be able to refer patients to WorkWell to enable them to receive support to return to work. The pioneering service will provide assessments and referrals to treatments such as physiotherapy and counselling. Greater Manchester,…

Managing staff who are on long-term sick leave is challenging for Practice Managers. Can we contact them? How long is long enough? How can I get them back to work? In April’s HR Clinic, Robyn Clark (aka JacksonR) and Susi O’Brien (HR Help advisor) answered all your questions on this tricky subject. Here is a…

Stress Awareness Month has been running since 1992, each year with a different theme. This year the theme is ‘little by little’, based on the concept that our overall wellbeing can be transformed with small, consistent, positive actions. The Stress Management Society[1]  “…want to emphasise how even the smallest steps taken each day towards self-care…

The NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, commits to every patient having the right to be offered digital-first primary care by 2023/24. The various commitments that make up this plan have been introduced gradually every year through the GP Contract since 2019/20, which means GP practices should, among other new requirements, now offer an…

Practices are being encouraged to adopt a new “sexual safety” charter launched by NHS England. The charter pledges a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual harassment. NHS trusts and practices will be expected to sign up to the new sexual safety charter by July next year – while local integrated care board will be expected to…

Effective care navigation helps people understand what options are available to them, enabling them to access the most appropriate service to meet their health and social care needs. With the recent news that the NHS is funding one person per practice, what about training for the rest of your team? It’s important that the people…