The General Practice Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Should GPs be added to the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme? Join Ben & Tara Humphrey from THC Primary Care, as they dissect the details of the new funding scheme specifically allocated for GPs and its potential impact on PCNs. Tara shares her insights on learning from past experiences, avoiding resource dilution, and the practicalities of financial feasibility. Together, they look at the recent funds allocation by NHS England for hiring more GPs, debating the most effective distribution of this funding, and providing practical advice on making the most of this opportunity despite its potential limitations. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of GP roles in PCNs.

Introduction (00:09) 

Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme.. (00:39) 

Making decisions.. (02:46) 

Making the most of the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme (03:56) 

One GP per PCN? (04:59) 

How to get the most value out of the GPs? (06:43)

Is a new service required? (08:22) 

A focal point for this new role.. (09:01) 

Impact GP’s could have to the additional role teams? (09:59) 

Sharing resources.. (10:54)

Restrictions for GPs.. (11:51)

Releasing information.. (13:43)

How can we offer people any security (16:03) 

Price competition (18:03)

Preparation for PCNs.. (20:53) 

Getting in touch.. (22:20) 

To contact Tara directly, visit her LinkedIn here. 

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Join Ben for his first episode back as he talks with Adrian Down & Darren Altus, as they explore the fascinating journey of K2 Healthcare. They focus on the strategic approach to healthcare model implementation, emphasising the importance of tailoring funding and structure around a predefined model. Explore the methods of measuring success, the feedback loop from clinicians, and the long term impact of sustained interventions. They also discuss the challenges of managing multiple PCNs and the role of federations in the future of healthcare delivery. To wrap up the episode, they highlight the need for PCNs to think beyond traditional roles and engage in integrated community partnerships, balancing collaborative efforts with maintaining individuality. Join Ben, Adrian & Darren for an insightful conversation on the future developments in the neighbourhood team model and much more.

Introduction (00:09) 

The Federation - K2 (02:51) 

Pre PCN.. (04:04)

Funding.. (05:08)

What was the impact of PCNs on your federation? (06:28) 

Tension between federations.. (09:22)

K2 & PCNs.. (10:37)

Keeping contact with practices.. (12:59)

Integrated neighbourhood teams (14:47) 

Measuring success (16:58)

Seeing the results.. (18:45)

Involvement in pilots.. (19:34) 

How do you see the role of federations in the future? (20:38) 

Getting in touch.. (22:47)

Contact Adrian via email here, & Darren here. 

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Join us for a fascinating exploration with Agnes Kasprowicz from the City and Hackney Office of PCNs. We look at the journey of City & Hackney Office of PCNs, as they provide support to eight PCNs, acting as a unified voice for the networks and championing their development and impact in their local communities. Discover how these networks have evolved to tackle the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic by centralising operations and setting up a dedicated company. We delve into the pivotal merger that formed the City and Hackney Office of PCN’s and we look at its role in ensuring a unified primary care voice within the changing Integrated Care System landscape. 

Introduction (00:09) 

The Office of Primary Care Networks (00:23)

The start of the office.. (02:48)

Funding.. (03:32) 

Delivering vaccination services (04:20)

Representing practices (06:25) 

What services does the office of PCNs offer? (06:48)

Work streams.. (07:10)

Coming together (09:22)

Working together.. (10:08) 

What are the work streams? (11:28)

Plans for the future.. (14:50) 

Lessons learnt.. (16:26)

Find out more.. (18:32) 

Get in touch with Agnes via email here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back the insightful Robyn Clark and Kay Keane, who share their pioneering experiences with the ‘Right Care, First Time’ campaign. 

This episode brings to light the complex skills required of modern patient services teams, the critical need for recognition and appropriate compensation for their work, and how their evolution is instrumental in guiding patients to the right care. Join us for this enlightening conversation that's bound to reshape your perspective on the ever-changing landscape of general practice.

Right Care, First Time (00:09) 

The thinking behind the campaign.. (01:13) 

Modern General Practice (02:35) 

Who is the campaign targeted at? (03:44)

Getting the message across.. (04:30) 

Acceptance of new roles.. (05:49)

Funding.. (09:07) 

Targeting specific needs.. (09:49) 

A more flexible pot? (12:54) 

Trust within PCN’s (15:00) 

NHS England Care Navigation Training.. (17:13) 

Building the confidence of the public.. (19:29) 

Feedback following the video.. (21:45) 

Where can I access the video? (22:02) 

What does industrial action look like for General Practice? (22:56) 

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Ben is joined, once again by Dr. Neil Modha, a mastermind in revolutionising patient care through innovative practices and strategic partnerships. As the GP partner of Thistlemoor Medical Centre. Neil discusses the fine art of managing workload and curbing GP burnout by staying ahead of the curve with bespoke roles designed to meet patient demands.

Neil offers a sneak peek into the promising future of GP and pharmacy collaborations. Ben & Neil also look into the financial challenges and opportunities for community pharmacies, contemplating the evolution of the GP partnership model amidst current contractual changes. 

Introduction (00:09) 

Latest achievements.. (00:20)

Thistlemoor turns 30! (01:14) 

What makes Thistlemoor different? (01:50)

Additional roles.. (03:28)

Recent changes to roles.. (05:16) 

Consultations in the pharmacy.. (08:25)

Learnings so far.. (10:33) 

Creating effective partnerships.. (11:54)

Bring the practice and pharmacy together (14:17) 

Thoughts on the GP Partnership model? (17:00)

A difficult year ahead.. (18:54) 

What’s next? (20:06) . 

Taking a risk.. (23:12)

Getting in touch.. (25:59)

You can listen to Episode 116: Neil Modha – An innovative model for general practice here.

Find Neil on LinkedIn, Twitter & email, you can also visit Thistlemoor Medical Centre on twitter & their website.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Ben is joined by George Gavriel & Bobby Pozzoni-Child, from the Bucks GP Provider Alliance. Their engaging discussion looks at the crucial role of collaboration with the ICB to amplify the GP provider voice and underscores the value of place-based leadership groups as emphasised in the Fuller stock take. Discover the intricate structure of Bucks' GP, the interplay of its practices, PCNs, and the local federation, and learn how challenges are navigated to align these entities.Tune in for a conversation that's at the heart of transforming patient care and healthcare leadership at the local level..

Introduction (00:08)

Bucks GP Provider Alliance (00:40)

Place-wide federation (01:38) 

Bobby’s role.. (03:18)

Other staff.. (04:11)

Bringing together the leaders (06:02) 

Do practices understand the system and how it works? (07:12)

Objectives of the GP Provider alliance.. (09:25)

How long have you been going? (11:19) 

What are your main achievements so far? (11:51) 

Annual report.. (13:47)

Funding.. (14:24) 

Benefits to the ICB of having you guys in place? (16:45)

Support for practices.. (18:40)

Biggest learning so far.. (21:10)

To find out more contact Bobby via email here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

In this episode, we delve into highlights from the second annual PCN Plus live conference, where Ben teamed up with Tara Humphrey, Dr. Andy Foster, and Dr. Hussain Gandhi on Wednesday 17th April. Tune in as they explore life beyond primary care networks, the evolving role of PCNs, and their significant influence on the healthcare landscape.

Introduction (00:08) 

What have been the main impacts of primary care networks? (00:40) 

What will come in the next contract? (04:43)

How should PCNs be preparing to deliver integrated neighbourhood teams? (10:35) 

Should GPs be included in ARS roles? (15:30)

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

We are joined, once again, by Dr Nigel Fraser, Dr Mike Hearne, and Conor Price. This week they discuss how Herefordshire has taken significant strides in influencing integrated care board decisions through data sharing and analytics, highlighting the critical role of Primary Care Analytics in the evolution of local data systems. 

Hear about the national landscape of general practice data analytics and its impact on healthcare strategies from our guests. They bring to the table discussions on the need for a unified voice in the sector, the challenges in translating complex activities into actionable insights, and the role primary care analysts play in this domain. The episode wraps up with a look at the strategic enhancement of data analytics in primary care. Don't miss part 2 of this insightful discussion on revolutionising general practice and promoting innovation across the nation.

Introduction (00:09)

Data in General Practice (02:03) 

The importance of sharing data (03:32)

Controls.. (04:36) 

Primary Care Analytics.. (05:02) 

Primary Care Analytics forum.. (07:54) 

General Practice influence (08:53)

Skills gap within General Practice (10:04)

Working together.. (11:08) 

Measuring what’s important (13:09)

Supporting other areas.. (13:59)

Influencing at a ICB level (17:20) 

Getting in touch.. (18:37) 

Starting a National movement.. (19:00)

Final thoughts (19:37)

Contact Conor Price via email here & visit the Primary Care Analytics website here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

Join us as we explore the advancements in general practice data and analytics, as Ben sits down with Dr Nigel Fraser, Dr Mike Hearne, and Conor Price. They share their invaluable insights on the early initiatives of data sharing using EMIS and the importance of establishing trust among practices. Together, they unravel the complexities of standardising data to enhance collaborative healthcare and reflect on the journey from the initial phases to the sophisticated state of data utilisation today.

Listen in as they tackle the significant strides made in healthcare data management and the importance of standardised coding templates, the trust required in data sharing, and the role of mobile healthcare in addressing critical issues. They also discuss the creation of robust data management teams and the strategic deployment of data to advocate for primary care investments, all while recognising the undeniable power of data in steering healthcare improvements and fortifying practice support within the larger system..

Introduction (00:08)

Primary Care Analytics (01:57)

Comparing apples with apples (04:02) 

LMC’s perspective.. (05:07) 

The pro’s of providing the data.. (05:54)

The developments & benefits.. (07:06)

Using the data right (11:34) 

Producing information.. (14:23) 

Data analyst & beyond.. (16:55)

What does the data look like now? (18:36)

How does the data help? (21:28) 

How to get in touch (23:02)

Contact Conor Price via email here & visit the Primary Care Analytics website here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.

With general practice at a crossroads, Practice Index podcast regulars Robyn Clark and Claire Houston join Ben to assess the financial hurdles presented within the latest GP contract. The 2% funding increase is a drop in the ocean against towering inflation and the uptick in the national living wage could well see a situation whereby practices are unable to hire or replace departing staff, calling into question, once again, the issue of sustainability.

We consider newer directives linked to capacity and access such as telephony, online consultations, and care navigation systems and probe the effectiveness of the Integrated Care Board payments - and the Quality and Outcomes Framework - questioning their impact on an already stretched thin resource pool.

Don't miss this episode for a frank and insightful examination of the state of general practice right now, with our expert practice management panel guiding the conversation.

Introduction (00.:09)

Welcoming the panel (00:39)

Funding implications (00:52)

An unrealistic uplift against the economic reality (02:12)

Impact on practices (03:06)

Government response and continuing uncertainty (03:48)

Complications with budget-setting (05:38)

Advice from Clare when planning ahead (06:49)

Debating the QOF changes (07:53)

Changes related to vaccs and imms (09:46)

Scrapping the IIF in favour of capacity and access (10:32)

Achieving the 30% (12:33)

National extraction of demand data (14:25)

A new “registration solution” (17:03)

Merging the PCN DES spec and ARRS (17:55)

The future of general practice taskforce (20:48)

GP referendum (21:55)

Final thoughts (23:47)

The importance of standing together (24:40)

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.