Why can’t everyone just behave?! I hear you beleaguered practice managers cry whenever someone does something a bit naughty. Managing misconduct feels like a minefield – but it doesn’t have to be! Robyn Clark (aka JacksonR) and Susi O’Brien (HR Help advisor) hosted a lunchtime HR Clinic which focused on managing conduct and the disciplinary…

Scottish GP leaders have reported chronic shortages of doctors in a new survey, linking it to growing abuse of staff. The British Medical Association warned of a shortage of more than 300 GPs after more than a third of practices reported having vacancies. In the survey, some 42% of GPs said demand was “substantially” exceeding…

Practices in England are to get full rights to send patients with vague cancer-linked symptoms for direct testing, it was announced today. NHS England claimed the moved could enable early diagnosis of tens of thousands of cancers while GP leaders praised it as a “positive step”. Under the new rules, GPs and other practice staff…

More than a fifth of general practice premises are “not fit for purpose,” according to a new survey. The NHS Confederation yesterday called on the Government to provide extra investment to step up the modernisation and building of clinics. Rundown buildings and shortages of computers, phones and other basic equipment mean that new primary care…

A controversial project aimed at creating a single research database of GP records has suffered major budget cuts, it has been revealed. The programme was due to have a budget of £8.8 million this year – but this has been cut to £2.5 million by NHS England, the Health Service Journal reported. The ‘General Practice…

The Government hopes to complete the rollout out of its troubled patient record access project this month, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said yesterday. Earlier this week two major suppliers suspended implementation of the Citizens’ Access project while GP leaders have warned that many practices are not ready. The project is intended to give patients access…

Many practices are not ready for a launch next week of a new patient record access system, GP leaders have warned. The British Medical Association last night told GPs not to take part if they are not ready, setting out guidance on how to opt out. The “accelerated citizens’ access” will allow patients to access…