Four months on from the roll-out of PCSE’s outsourced medical records transfer service, the scale of the problem has been brought to light by GP practice managers via a discussion on the Practice Index Forum. As previously reported on Practice Index, the Capita calamity is causing plenty of headaches for practice managers, as well as…

The controversial system of inspecting practices is “driving improvements,” according to the man in charge. More than 6,000 practices in England have now undergone inspection at the hands of the Care Quality Commission, leaving fewer than 2,000 to be inspected. Out of these some 165 have been rated outstanding. In the latest round of inspections…

Volunteers. Could they help your practice? And what about work experience placements? Could the extra pair of hands help ease your workload? While some practice managers may dismiss both as ‘taking more time than they save’, for many practices up and down the country they are a great way to ease the pressure of work…

The Accessible Information Standard (AIS), known officially as SCCI1605 Accessible Information, is a new mandatory ‘information standard’ for implementation by all organisations that provide NHS or adult social care – including GP practices – that needs to be in place by 31 July 2016. The Accessible Information Standard aims to ensure that people who have…

The very nature of a general practice in the UK is being challenged by ‘progress’; progress in new technology, personnel, and health and safety legislation.  Major changes are taking place in the way GP Practices are expected to provide services, how theses services are funded and managed, and how standards are monitored and measured. Working…

In the months leading up to and during school holidays, many practices can be inundated with holiday requests for the same period. With an obligation for practice managers to ensure enough staff are present to provide adequate cover for patient care and daily administrative work, balancing leave requests can be tricky. The right to refuse…

We’ve all got that one patient haven’t we? The one who shouts the loudest so gets what he/she wants, regardless of the rules/procedures/protocols that we’re supposed to follow.  I’ve caved in on a few occasions with patients who’ve been put through to me to try and sort them out – and even I can’t get…