The GP shortage that pretty much all practice managers will have experienced in some form or another during their careers has been described as the “biggest challenge facing the NHS since its formation”. As there’s no miracle cure out there and no one person can fix the problem overnight, when a practice needs to recruit…

We’ve known for years that doctors in all branches of medicine experience high levels of a range of health problems, particularly psychological, psychiatric and addiction problems. We know also that doctors have generally been slow to seek and accept advice and treatment, for physical as well as psychological illness. Doctors have difficult jobs, and also…

Despite failed pilots, huge hostility from those who would have to deliver the service and reticence from the general public, Jeremy Hunt seems to be on a mission to deliver 7 day access to primary care sooner rather than later. So, in order to address the concerns of practice managers and actually be able to…

The NHS scheme was brought into the UK almost 70 years ago – a lifeline for people at the time suffering post-war austerity. Family doctors were known for their independence in the profession; and at that time the NHS was hotly debated in the political world, just like the Government plan to make doctors work seven…

Practice managers, as well as GPs, are being asked to share their views on new ‘comparison metrics’ for practices – and the quality indicators being planned by the Department of Health (DoH) for them. The survey has been launched by the Health Foundation, which was tasked with developing suitable comparison metrics to publish on the…

General practice networks are becoming increasingly common across the UK as practices look to share costs and resources, including workforce and facilities, or enhance the ability to bid for enhanced service contracts. But what should practice managers keep in mind when actively establishing, or joining, a GP network? The big question which impacts on most…

With individual GP practices allowed to manage their own recruitment, there is no overall strategy for managing succession planning within general practice. NHS England has little influence on the appointment of doctors, and the pool of available GPs to take on permanent positions is dwindling, as some GPs choose to work as locums or for…