How do you prepare for an upcoming crisis which is anticipated, yet unpredictable? What steps should a practice and a network be taking to manage its response and resources whilst safeguarding its people? Which issues should be tackled now and what workstreams should be put in place? Project management expert, Tara Humphrey, who supports the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, chats to Ben Gowland about her experiences so far and offers practical advice for maximising efficiency ahead of time.
Introductions (22 secs)
The state of play locally (56 secs)
What support is available now for practices? (1 min 30 secs)
Practical considerations (2 mins 17 secs)
The importance of communication (3 mins 46 secs)
Site/s management (5 mins 8 secs)
What are the biggest challenges for practices and networks? (5 mins 53 secs)
Co-ordinating skills and expertise (8 mins 35 secs)
Managing communication effectively and supporting staff (8 mins 59 secs)
Crisis leadership (10 mins 59 secs)
The mood in general practice right now (14 mins 26 secs)
Next steps (16 mins 37 secs)
Supporting well-being (17 mins 50 secs)
NHS Confederation document (How CCGs can support PCNs and practices during the Covid-19 crisis) https://www.nhsconfed.org/-/media/Confederation/Files/Publications/Documents/How-CCGs-can-support-PCN_COVID_19.pdf
Find out more about Tara Humphrey:
Following the release of the budget statement and the global challenges faced by the coronavirus pandemic, Paul Gordon, MacArthur Gordon Medical Specialist Financial Planner, re-joins Ben to talk through the changes and implications for the GP pension pot.
Introductions (20 secs)
What has changed since January? (45 secs)
The details of the changes (1 min 25 secs)
The annual allowance issue (3 mins 57 secs)
Checking the status of the annual allowance (5 mins 17 secs)
Scheme Pays option (6 mins 38 secs)
Balancing pensions growth against workload demand (7 mins 56 secs)
If my income is unchanged am I exempt from tax penalties? (10 mins 2 secs)
The challenge of monitoring in-year growth (11 mins 41 secs)
Advice for those considering retirement (14 mins 8 secs)
Information for employers (16 mins 30 secs)
The Covid-19 effect (17 mins 28 secs)
NHS v private pensions schemes (18 mins 52 secs)
What else should I be aware of right now? (19 mins 45 secs)
For access to an up to date pension statement: https://www.totalrewardstatements.nhs.uk/
To request annual allowance growth figures, call the Pensions Agency on 01253 774774
Scheme Pays Election form available here: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/Annual%20Allowance%20Scheme%20Pays-SPE%202-20181217-%28V11%29.pdf
This week’s podcast features Tim Sacks, Chief Operating Officer at East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG, who guides Ben through the prevalence-based contract they employ for funding general practice in his area. Does it work better than the more traditional, weighted capitation-based models, where are the challenges and can it be employed within a PCN?
Introductions (48 secs)
Delegated commissioning (1 min 33 secs)
GP contracts: weighted capitation versus prevalence (1 min 48 secs)
How do you implement a new type of contract? (3 mins 16 secs)
Measuring the impact on investment (4 mins 7 secs)
The response from general practice so far (5 mins 31 secs)
How effectively can general practice respond to financial risk? (6 mins 29 secs)
Practice involvement in shaping new contracts (8 mins 8 secs)
PCNs and funding distribution (9 mins 46 secs)
Identifying the fairest and most appropriate funding model (11 mins 38 secs)
‘Proportionate universalism’ (12 mins 38 secs)
Do hybrid models work? (13 mins 58 secs)
Plans for the future (15 mins 17 secs)
Opportunities within a PCN framework (16 mins 27 secs)
Primary care commissioning in the future? (17 mins 33 secs)
The potential for PCNs to own their funding (19 mins 36 secs)
Getting in touch & further information (22 mins 13 secs)
https://eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/
Tim is contactable via email: tim.sacks@eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk
The spotlight is on Practice Managers and their crucial role in shaping and influencing new ways of working in a network-based world. Gary Hughes has a wealth of experience in this area and here shares his insights on the impact of the PCNs on practice managers, where the role evolves and fits within a wider network community and how practice managers really feel about the changes.
Introductions (42 secs)
Gary’s own PCN and his involvement so far (54 secs)
Bracknell mental health project pilot (1 min 42 secs)
Embedding new processes; expectation versus reality (2 mins 27 secs)
What is the network impact on individual practices? (3 mins 8 secs)
Does the introduction of new roles herald a new era in general practice? (3 mins 50 secs)
Practice Managers and collaborative working (6 mins 6 secs)
Organisational leadership within a practice management role (7 mins 19 secs)
What do Practice Managers see that maybe GPs don’t? (9 mins 2 secs)
The Practice Management view of the PCNs (9 mins 52 secs)
The evolution of the Practice Manager role within networks (10 mins 41 secs)
What support might Practice Managers’ need to drive change? (11 mins 46 secs)
How does joint working really begin? (13 mins 7 secs)
The case for dedicated management support (14 mins 53 secs)
Advice on joined up working (15 mins 30 secs)
Keeping in touch (16 mins 51 secs)
You can contact Gary and keep up to date with his weekly blog via his LinkedIn profile here
How have PCNs impacted on local medical councils (LMCs)? What should the relationship be between LMCs and PCNs? Does the role of LMCs have to change following the introduction of PCNs? Listen as William Greenwood, Chief Executive of Cheshire LMC, shares his thoughts and experiences on this week’s podcast.
Introductions (45 secs)
PCNs: First impressions (1 min 40 secs)
Have LMCs been largely supportive of PCNs since their formation? (2 mins 40 secs)
The role of LMCs in relation to PCNs (3 mins 28 secs)
What have been the main concerns for Cheshire local members? (4 mins 37 secs)
Reaction to the original draft primary care specification (5 mins 51 secs)
…and the updated version? (6 mins 43 secs)
Are the LMCs generally happy with he updates & what are the chances of sign off? (8 mins 3 secs)
Are PCNs a “fad”? (8 mins 33 secs)
Practice based contracts versus a network specification (9 mins 32 secs)
Supporting the voice of a practice within a network (10 mins 49 secs)
The expectation of and from the LMC and its members (a two-way process) (14 mins 43 secs)
LMC skills and expertise and what they can offer as a result (15 mins 48 secs)
Are LMCs always constructive and helpful? (16 mins 29 secs)
LMC future role (18 mins 15 secs)
Getting in touch (19 mins 30 secs)
https://www.cheshirelmcs.org.uk/
Cheshire LMC office: 01244 313483