A search is under way for the best practice in Northern Ireland. The Royal College of GPs in the region names a practice and a GP annually as the best of the year. It has now appealed to patients to make their nominations. Regional college chair Dr Laurence Dorman said: “The last couple of years…

GP leaders have appealed to patients to notify practices when they cannot attend appointments – as the number of missed appointments begins to climb. The Royal College of GPs stopped short of backing calls for patients to be charged if they miss an appointment, warning of “unintended consequences.” The latest data shows that 1.04 million…

GP numbers remain in “steady but sustained” decline, the British Medical Association has warned following the publication of new data. NHS England data shows that total GP numbers, including trainees, are fewer than a year ago, whether measures as full time equivalent or by numbers of doctors. The data suggests that big increases in trainee…

A new neighbourhood-based system for GPs should be introduced as part of primary care reforms, according to a major new review. Multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams should also involve specialists such as paediatricians, geriatricians and psychiatrists, according to the report. The Fuller Stocktake – an NHS England commissioned review by GP Dr Claire Fuller – was published…

The Care Certificate isn’t a new concept, but what does it mean to you? Do you know how it applies to you and your practice? Have your Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) and Assistant Practitioners (APs) completed the Care Certificate? Did you know they had to (well, those employed since April 2015 have to)? Then there’s the…

Soaring inflation could see GPs caught in the pension trap that has affected many consultants, the British Medical Association has warned. The risk of high pension tax penalties could increase the flow of doctors seeking to leave general practice, the BMA said. The BMA’s concern is that just one measure of inflation, the consumer prices…

Practices should have explicit policies on zero tolerance of abuse, specifying what kinds of abuse will lead to patients being removed from lists, according to new guidance. The guidance says that removing a patient from a list will normally be “exceptional,” and can be done where someone’s safety is at risk. Normally removal would be…