The NHS “is there to improve our health and wellbeing, supporting us to keep mentally and physically well, to get better when we are ill and, when we cannot fully recover, to stay as well as we can to the end of our lives” (NHS Constitution for England). Such a powerful statement and coupled with…

Much of the reaction so far to the Fuller Report has been that it’s pretty anodyne and that the implications for general practice are relatively limited. My sense, however, is different; the report could end up being one of the most significant ever for general practice and how it operates. This is because of the…

The pandemic changed so many things for all of us; daily lives became disrupted, and the new norm meant remaining within the four walls of home. Sadly, the circumstances of lockdown gave rise to a growing trend of increased domestic abuse and sexual assault. Domestic abuse/sexual abuse helplines reported a growing number of people calling…

I’ve been expecting the new contract changes to arrive, so I’ve been keeping an eye on my emails more closely than usual. At first glance, some of the changes seem relatively innocuous – that is, until you get to the ‘work late’ and ‘Saturday too’ bit. It’s just slipped in there, almost as if we…

There’s much excitement in our practice this week. The buzz is reaching fever pitch. What are we going to spend our 3% increase on? That’s if we do get it, of course! On average, for reception staff across practices, this will equate to under £2.00 per day. The staff have been talking about what this…

On the first day of Christmas My receptionist sent to me A sick note as she was poorly. On the second day of Christmas My practice nurse sent to me Two patient tasks, And a sick note as she was poorly. On the third day of Christmas My healthcare worker sent to me Three new…

Many practices are under pressure financially following COVID-19. Specialist medical accountant Sally Sidaway offers ten tips on how to maintain profits in challenging times. 1 – Drug profit levels Even for non-dispensing practices, having good internal controls and a solid buying policy for drugs are essential. Make sure everything used is claimed for and that…