The last vestige of practice control of health services could be scrapped within 18 months with the abolition of clinical commissioning groups, it has been revealed. The move could roll back 30 years of reorganisations that have attempted to use primary care knowledge to improve allocation of resources in the NHS. The CCGs would be…

GP leaders have rejected the latest claims that patients are unable to get appointments because of COVID restrictions. The latest Daily Mail article points the finger at receptionists, accusing them of acting like “gatekeeper guard-docs. Caroline Abrams, chief executive of Age UK, told the paper: “Most experts assume the higher-than-usual deaths at home are people…

Most doctors spend at least an hour a day on administration while GPs may spend a third of their time on red tape, a government review has found. Health secretary Matt Hancock used the findings of the review to promise the profession further reductions in red tape. The review found more than a thousand examples…

Practices in Wales have taken on tasks that are normally provided through hospital services – often without being asked about their willingness to do so, according to a survey of GPs. These include blood tests and ECGs as well as follow ups and prescriptions, according to the British Medical Association survey. 90% of GPs said…

Have you ever wondered what those four letters mean and the importance surrounding them? ‘Discussing Stupid Questions and Suggestions’? No, for once this doesn’t relate to PCSE! I have to admit to not remembering whether these letters were even uttered at my practice manager interview but then I have been a PM for a while,…

Improving access to digital technology could help reduce health inequalities, according to a new report. The findings come from a three-year project on technology and health by the NHS’s Widening Digital Participation Programme. The project examined initiatives to break down the ‘digital divide’ which stands in the way of reducing health inequalities. As part of…

GP trainee recruitment has hit new records, it has been announced. Some 3,793 doctors have accepted offers of training posts this year, Health Education England announced. The target for the year was 3,250. Increases in numbers of GP trainees have been seen as crucial to offset retirements and doctors moving to part-time working to help…