Practices may struggle to deliver COVID vaccination after a 25% cut in fees, GP leaders in England have warned. NHS England says the new fee of £7.54 a vaccination is “sufficient” to cover the cost of a five minute procedure. The British Medical Association says that COVID vaccination takes twice as long as flu vaccination.…

During July, Practice Index brought you lots of fantastic content to keep your mind off the constant rain! If you missed anything, you can catch up here! So, we’re talking about workplace and wellbeing now, are we? – By Susi O’Brien – This year’s Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) from NHS England includes quality improvement requirements…

Practices are to get direct access to diagnostic checks for cardiovascular and lung diseases, it was announced today. The move follows the successful introduction of direct access pathways for patients with suspected cancer – but some GPs believe it is aimed at shifting work from secondary care to practices. NHS England said it would enable…

The long-awaited NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was finally published on 30th June this year. But at 151 pages long, have you had time to wade your way through it? If not, here are the ten things you need to know about it – most of which we covered in the latest episode of the…

We all know just how important safeguarding is, yet it seems to be a subject often surrounded by confusion. Many questions are asked about what GP practices are required to do, in order to demonstrate that they’re complying with CQC regulations. Here are eight essentials that will help you become and remain compliant. Safeguarding policy …

Government ministers have rejected proposals aimed at improving continuity of care for patients with GPs, it has been announced. The proposals came from the House of Commons health committee and its chair, Steve Brine, described the rejection as “disappointing”. MPs had proposed that the Department of Health develop a national measure for continuity of care…

Many GPs are willing to support extended practice closures as part of industrial action, it was reported today. A survey found that 31% of GP partners would shut their practices for a week and 54% would close for a day. Some 46% said they would provide undated resignations – a mechanism that has been used…