Adrian Down, Managing Partner at Caythorpe and Ancaster Medical Practice and a regional IGPM representative, raised an important issue at this year’s LMC UK Conference. He highlighted a significant oversight when it comes to the voice and influence of non-GP Partners.

The issue is this: the GPC negotiates the GP contract on behalf of all GP practices. The GPC is part of the BMA. But only doctors are allowed to be part of the BMA, and so not only are Practice Managers (and any other professions who may also be Partners in a GP practice) excluded from the negotiations about the contract that’s being agreed on their behalf, they can’t even speak at BMA/GPC conferences. Managing Partners couldn’t even participate in the recent vote on industrial action.

Adrian joined me on the latest podcast and we discussed not only how this disempowers all non-GP Partners, but also how his raising this very issue at the latest UK LMC conference came about, how it was received and the reaction he’s had to it subsequently.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed, but as Adrian rightly points out, addressed in a way that strengthens unity across general practice rather than deepening internal divides. As the profession stands on the brink of collective action, it’s important it stands together with a united voice and isn’t hampered by internal schisms which will only serve to weaken any external influence general practice is trying to exert.

20 or 30 years ago, nearly all the Partners in GP practices were GPs, and so this wasn’t an issue. Now 10% of practices have non-GP Partners and the numbers are growing. So, now this has been identified, this isn’t something that can continue to be ignored.

When I asked Adrian what the way forward should be, his view was constructive and pragmatic. He believes it’s up to the IGPM and the other bodies representing those professions that have Partners to come together and not only continue to highlight this as an issue but also to suggest a way forward that will work for all (rather than simply handing the problem to the GPC).

For now, the priority clearly has to be standing together so that the trend of underfunding general practice is reversed. Now that a new government has come to power, there’s an opportunity for such a change in direction to take place. But, at the same time, the issue that Adrian has so eloquently raised is an extremely important one for Practice Managers and all those other non-GP professionals who have become Partners in GP practices, and is one that must be resolved so that, going forward, these currently muted voices can rightly be heard.

Practice Index have a number of useful resources available:

• Partnership guidance document [PLUS]
• Partners joining and leaving guidance [PLUS]
• Partner drawings calculation tool [PLUS]
• Interview pack – Partner [PLUS]