Podcast – Practice Index – The Impact of Budget Changes on General Practices
Release Date: 11/04/2024
Podcast – Practice Index – Contracts, Costs & Care: Challenges Facing GP Practices
The General Practice Podcast
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to discuss the financial challenges currently facing general practice. Together they highlight how inadequate core contract funding and rising inflation are leaving practices unable to cover the real costs of staffing and operations. They also examine the upcoming October contract changes, considering how these may heighten patient expectations around appointments and access, while creating practical challenges for practices working across both digital...
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Podcast – Charlie Andrews – Bridging the Gap: GPs, Gastroenterology, and the Future of Patient Care
The General Practice Podcast
What if general practice could seamlessly connect with secondary care? In this episode, Ben speaks with Dr. Charlie Andrews, a GP at Somerset’s Summer Valley Medical Group and a leading voice in gastroenterology. Charlie shares his journey and the inspiration behind pioneering specialised roles for GPs. He discusses his innovative training programme, supported by NHS England and the Southwest Endoscopy Training Academy, which empowers GPs to expand into areas like inflammatory bowel disease and endoscopy while collaborating with hospital specialists. Charlie also explores the challenges of...
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Podcast – Andy Pow – Funding, Contracts & the Future: 10 Year NHS Plan
The General Practice Podcast
In this episode, Ben explores the NHS's 10 year plan through the lens of general practice funding. Joined by finance expert Andy Pow, they unpack the major shifts proposed in the plan, including resource movement from acute care to community services and the ambitious productivity expectations placed on general practice. Andy shares his insights on the feasibility of these changes and the implications of emerging GP contracts, such as single and multi-neighborhood provider models, which could fundamentally reshape funding and delivery structures. The discussion also touches on governance...
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Podcast – Practice Index – Transforming General Practice: 10 Year NHS Plan
The General Practice Podcast
What does the future hold for general practice in our communities? In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Adrian Down & Ceri Chaplin to unpack the NHS’s ambitious 10 year plan to shift care from hospitals into local settings, with a focus on digital transformation and preventative strategies. With a blend of optimism and realism, Adrian and Ceri explore what these changes mean for small, independent practices, particularly in rural areas, sharing contrasting experiences and hopes for the neighbourhood health service model. They delve...
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Podcast – Katie Bramall-Stainer & Alice Benton – From Vision to Action: 10 Year NHS Plan
The General Practice Podcast
In this episode, healthcare leaders Katie Bramall-Stainer & Alice Benton unpack the newly published 10-year NHS plan, highlighting the vital yet often overlooked role of practicing professionals in shaping effective policy. They explore the transformative potential of tools like the NHS app and AI, the real world challenges facing GPs, and the shifting balance of resources from hospitals to community care. With a strong focus on funding transparency, integration, and the importance of GP voices in decision making, this conversation is a timely call for healthcare professionals to stay...
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Podcast – Ben Gowland – Fit for the Future: 10 Year NHS Plan
The General Practice Podcast
In this solo episode, Ben examines the newly published 10-Year NHS Plan, Fit for the Future, and its implications for general practice as the NHS shifts towards a neighbourhood health service model. He discusses how digital platforms like the NHS app are reshaping patient access, moving general practice away from its traditional front-door role. The episode highlights opportunities for growth and investment, the organisational changes needed to realise them, and the risks to established models of care. Ben also explores how neighbourhood services could reduce reliance on hospitals and how new...
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Podcast - Vicky Maskill & Adam Davies - Transforming Healthcare with Pure Unity Health
The General Practice Podcast
Join us this week as we explore the transformative journey of Pure Unity Health with our insightful guests, Vicky Maskill and Adam Davies. Discover how Pure Unity Health has grown into a leading provider of first contact physiotherapy services across the UK. Vicky and Adam share their experiences of delivering high quality services and maintaining robust data reporting, while highlighting the importance of building strong relationships with PCNs. The conversation also explores their innovative health coaching initiatives, including the integration of pain cafes and community based coaching...
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Podcast – Practice Index – Redefining Receptionist Roles in Healthcare
The General Practice Podcast
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Robyn Clark and introduce new guest Tracey Clarke to discuss the vital role of reception teams in general practice. They explore efforts to better support these teams, including the launch of a new campaign video, and highlight the importance of safeguarding staff wellbeing. The episode calls for action against patient aggression, the need to stand up for colleagues, and greater recognition of the crucial part receptionists play in patient care. It also touches on training opportunities, such as...
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Podcast - Alex Matheson - Building an Inclusive Future in LGBTQ+ Health
The General Practice Podcast
With Pride Month just around the corner, join us for an insightful discussion with Alex Matheson, Director of Inclusion at the LGBT Foundation, as we explore the vital work being done to improve healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities. Alex shares their expertise on the comprehensive services offered by the foundation, including talking therapies, addiction recovery, and mental health support. Discover the origins and impact of the Pride in Practice program, a key initiative addressing health inequalities and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing healthcare. Alex highlights the...
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Podcast - Rachel Morris - Conquering Stress and Enhancing Communication
The General Practice Podcast
This episode features Dr Rachel Morris discussing the impact of stress and burnout on GP partners and PCN Clinical Directors, with a focus on how maintaining job control can help reduce pressure. It also introduces a communication model rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the principle of "highest intent," offering strategies for improving workplace relationships. The importance of trust-building and direct, face-to-face communication is explored as a way to bridge gaps between practices and strengthen collaboration, drawing on Stephen Covey’s principles to turn misunderstanding into teamwork....
info_outlineIn this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome James Gransby and Ceri Chaplin. They join Ben to discuss the implications of the recent budget on general practice, sharing concerns about how these changes could significantly impact practice finances. They highlight the projected cost increase for employing someone on minimum wage next year, illustrating the financial pressures facing GP practices. The episode further explores the funding challenges general practice managers face, focusing on the gap between rising staff salaries and insufficient funding. The episode emphasises the need for more clarity and planning to ensure primary care can effectively manage resources amidst these financial uncertainties.
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Introduction (00:08)
The budget (00:50)
The two big changes.. (01:48)
The changes to the National Living Wage? (03:15)
Impact on practices (03:45)
Another rise, unfunded or underfunded? (04:08)
Calculations about the impact on practices. (04:37)
Has general practice been caught in the crossfire? (05:26)
The offset.. (06:35)
The partnership model.. (08:39)
What are the other impacts from the budget? (10:37)
Could partners leave sooner? (12:30)
Practice premises upgrade.. (13:37)
The future is looking promising.. (14:37)
The local community (15:20)
Key takeaways (17:33)
Advice & final thoughts.. (20:53)
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.