The Beacon Medical Group in Devon is no stranger to the General Practice Podcast. We’ve already featured its CEO and GP Partner Dr Jonathan Cope on a number of occasions – including in the very popular Episode 57 – A very modern practice. This week we talk to Claire Oatway who is the practice’s most senior management figure; Chief Operating Officer. In this podcast Claire explains how her role differs from that of the traditional practice manager and offers advice for others seeking to develop their role.

Mark Spencer is a GP from Fleetwood with what he describes as a portfolio career; as well as being a GP he is Medical Director of an urgent care provider, clinical lead for primary care transformation across his local STP and involved in NHS Collaborate – a primary care leaders network. In this episode Mark outlines his vision of a new model for general practice within a wider, collaborative primary care environment with the aim of empowering local communities. He also explains how NHS Collaborate can support primary care leaders who are engaged in making such change happen.

Anna Starling is a Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation (an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK). The Foundation has recently published a report called Some Assembly Required; Implementing New Models of Care which looks at the lessons being learnt by the vanguard sites in the new care models programme. As the author of the report Anna tells Ben about four of the key lessons that are emerging; from focussing on a specific population to having a shared understanding of the problem.