The  eagerly long-awaited GP Contract letter 2024/25 has been published. I’d like to say that I was shocked, except I’m not. I don’t think I should be surprised really. The negotiations with the consultants and junior doctors have been the first clue to what was waiting around the corner. The 1.9% teaser headline a few…

General practice contract imposed as taskforce promised Imposed last night by NHS England, practices are to get a small funding increase of 2.23% as part of this year’s contract. The BMA is now set to run a ballot of GPs next month over whether to take protest action. The contract will require practices to “consider”…

The financial pressure on GP practices is building. It doesn’t matter how comfortable things have been in the past, all practices are finding life uncomfortable right now and the signs are pointing to this only getting worse. The reasons for this are well known. The national contract has been imposed for the last two years…

How important are appraisals to employees? And as a Practice or PCN Manager, how good has your appraisal been? This week the IGPM has launched a new appraisal toolkit for its members. The toolkit was developed by Robyn Clark, Managing Partner, IGPM Director and qualified HR practitioner. The aim of the toolkit is to provide…

Dispute over growing appointment numbers GP and NHS leaders have clashed over another upsurge in appointment requests. NHS England says the nearly 26 million appointments in December demonstrate progress in improving primary care, while the Royal College of GPs says it shows that pressure on practices is becoming even more intolerable. NHS England National Director…

The introduction of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in general practice was driven by the changing healthcare landscape, the need for more comprehensive and patient-centred care, and the desire to improve coordination and efficiency in healthcare delivery. In short, MDTs represent a strategic response to the challenges posed by complex health conditions and aim to enhance the…

Cloud phones hit practice budgets The BMA has warned that practices are facing rising costs while trying to implement cloud-based telephony. Implementation was included in the GP contract as a key factor in helping practices handle appointments. But some practices are facing huge increases in the costs of phone systems. The BMA has warned that…