You may recall that I asked you all to complete a one-question poll about whether you include bank holidays in the 28 days’ statutory leave entitlement you award to your staff. The results are more or less a 50/50 split, and I’m not sure whether I’m surprised about this or not. Anyway, you knew I’d…

Over the years, I’ve heard many arguments as to why some GP practices claim not to be able to afford an annual cost-of-living pay rise for their hard-working and supportive staff. You’ve probably heard the ‘excuses’ yourself – at least, let’s call them that for the time being. You may agree with them, but on…

As a practice manager, you have a foot in two camps. You’re normally an employee and, as such, expect to be paid a reasonable salary for what you do. You need to fight your own corner; but in the absence of any staff representation, apart from a few members of trade unions and nurses who…

I’ve been looking at my Practice Manager Handover Manual again, having found an example of a practice that’s been going through a succession of managers and three GP retirements in the space of 12 months. I learnt that while there may have been a handover of sorts, the quality of the handovers left much to…

My wife and I have been self-isolating at home for over a month now, only going out for a major shop once a week and a cycle ride every other day. We live in Cumbria, so the countryside is just a mile away. We’re very lucky, but even so there are 936 cases in Cumbria…

During this devastating period of the coronavirus pandemic, there are staff who may well have essential front-line NHS jobs but who, for whatever reason, need to accept the government’s instruction to stay at home. This is a decision that individuals might make for themselves or that their employer might make for them. But no employer…

You may not even have the time to read this! I’m sure all practices have been looking at the risks that general practice staff are facing and great emphasis has been placed on using PPE and social distancing. But, as you know, there are general practice workers already facing patients with symptoms and workers who…