We're thrilled to welcome the inspiring Dr. Helen Kingston, a GP and senior partner at Frome Medical Practice, who shares with us her team's unique and effective approach to healthcare that prioritises sustainability. Their journey to green healthcare is quite remarkable, from integrating social prescribing into medical practice to being the first practice to receive the prestigious RCGP Green Impact Gold Plus Award. Ben & Helen explore the extensive collaborative work happening on a community level. And rounding it all off, Helen shares her thoughts on the importance of motivation and the role of networks like the Greener Practice Network in driving sustainability in general practice. Each bit of the episode is packed with valuable insights and practical takeaways on fostering sustainable healthcare practices.
Introduction (0:08)
How it all started (0:40)
Social prescribers prior to PCN’s? (1:52)
Are social subscribers integrated? (2:59)
Capturing the impacts.. (4:37)
RCGP Green Impact Gold Plus Award.. (5:49)
Is team involvement key? (8:00)
Trying something outside Practice with the local community.... (10:42)
What is a community connector? (12:26)
Are they staff? (13:44)
How does it work? (14:05)
Evolution of the patient participation groups? (14:56)
The project.. (15:19)
Measuring the impact of the programme.. (17:34)
Helen’s view on sustainability.. (19:02)
Reflections on collaborative working? (19:48)
Working together.. (21:45)
What’s next? (22:24)
Any advice for people who want to do something in their Practice? (23:27)
Access The UK's primary care sustainability network, Greener Practice here and the toolkit here
Listen back to the previous episode: Terry Kemple, Sustainable general practice here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Joining Ben to discuss how they managed to establish a PCN hub in their area is Dr Aravinth Balachandran, clinical director at Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN, Andy Gove, digital transformation manager at the same PCN & Adriana Jimenez, Primary Care Transformation Senior Innovation Access Lead, all with first hand experience in establishing a PCN hub. With the discussion rooted in their experiences, they reflect on the conception of the hub idea and its co-design with practices, demonstrating the importance of collaboration, trust, and relationship-building between practices. The conversation explores the positive effects of online consultations, improved response times, and better access to patient records. In essence, the PCN hub has brought about happier practices and positive feedback from patients.. Don't miss out on these exclusive insights and resources..
Introduction (0:09)
Establishing a PCN Hub.. (01:14)
Did you have a history of collaborative working across the practices? (03:23)
How did you get to a hub as a solution? (03:55)
What is a hub? (05:50)
Initial intentions for the hub.. (06:46)
Enhanced access funding.. (08:52)
Andy’s involvement.. (09:30)
What were the key gaps that you identified? (11:24)
Is all the work fully integrated with the GP records in their own practices? (13:28)
Transforming the digital infrastructure.. (14:53)
Adriana’s involvement.. (15:43)
Resolving the estates issue.. (17:11)
Funding.. (18:30)
Resolving governance issues.. 19:27
Impact the hub has had so far (20:21)
How do you see the hub developer in the future? (24:24)
Accessing further information.. (26:24)
Access the blueprint materials and resources here.
If you’re a PCN embarking on a similar project and would like to get in touch, email the Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN leadership team here.
For more information about how the NHS England South East regional office supported this project, please email Adriana Jimenez, Primary Care Transformation Senior Innovation Access Lead, NHS England here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Join us this week, as we navigate the complexities of the new provider selection regime and what it means for general practice with our guest, Ross Clark, a partner at Hemsons. The new provider selection regime, he explains, will allow integrated care boards to award contracts to providers including PCNs, GP provider companies, and federations without a competitive procurement process. Ross discusses the concept of direct award and the selection of suitable providers, which may streamline the merger and acquisition of practices. However, he also explores how these changes may complicate matters for commissioners wanting to switch providers. Alongside this, we discuss exceptions to these processes and their applicability in particular situations. This episode offers invaluable insights on how the new regime will impact practices, PCNs and federations..
Introduction (0:09)
What is the Provider Selection Regime? (1:19)
Thoughts behind the change.. (5:06)
What does this mean in practice? (7:08)
Being awarded the ‘Most Suitable Provider’.. (10:11)
When an APMS contract comes to an end.. (10:41)
Are we starting to see contracts being directly awarded to PCNs? (11:44)
Exceptions to these rules.. (14:01)
Encouraging mergers and PCN level services.. (15:10)
Can the regime work the other way? (16:27)
Impact on GP federations.. (19:27)
A federation of federations.. (21:04)
NHS Guidance updates.. (23:36)
Subcontracting contracts.. (24:21)
Timescales for the Provider Selection Regime.. (26:48)
Access The New Provider Selection Regime here and the Provider Selection Regime Guidance here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, this week we focus on the topic of improving the support that Practices and PCNs can give to care homes. Ben is joined by Lisa Davis, who is the PCN clinical lead for enhanced health and care homes, and Lucy Jones, who is the PCN manager, both at HMG PCN in Hereford. They shed light on how the Living Well in Later Life event has not only reinforced their relationship with care homes but also greatly enhanced their outreach. As they continue their journey in strengthening partnerships, they extend an open invitation to those who are keen to learn and build connections. Join us as we unpack these insights and experiences for a more integrated and improved support for care homes..
Introduction (0:09)
Separation between Practice and PCNs (01:54)
Living Well in Later Life.. (02:42)
Designed for clinical teams working in care homes.. (03:24)
What services are in place already? (03:57)
Who was the conference for? (04:30)
Events best bits.. (05:37)
Results from the conference.. (06:00)
Better interaction.. (06:24)
Role of the care coordinators (06:56)
Do care homes feel supported? (07:34)
Next steps.. (07:57)
Structured learning time.. (08:21)
Expanding the event.. (08:51)
Would you recommend a similar event to others? (09:43)
Ward rounds within care homes (09:59)
GP’s in care homes (10:31)
Measuring the outcomes (10:55)
Who to contact? (11:43)
Advice for those planning a similar event (12:00)
When to start planning.. (13:34)
Repeating the event.. (13:54)
How to get in touch (14:44)
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.
In this episode, Ben is joined by the individuals from Venn Health and People Wellbeing: James Davies, Alasdair Everest-Ford, and Vicky Fytche. Venn Health, an independent agency specialising in problem-solving for the health and care sector, has recently collaborated with People Wellbeing, a provider focused on creating healthier environments and staff wellbeing. Together, they are dedicated to meeting the needs and providing support for Practices & PCN’s through Wellbeing interventions. The conversation delves into the crucial aspects of cultivating a positive culture and effective management behaviour, essential for establishing a sustainable wellbeing environment in the ever-evolving landscape of General Practice. The discussion covers the significant pressures faced by GP Partners and Practice Managers, challenges in staff retention, the importance of flexible working, and insights into The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)..
Venn Health introduction (0:09)
People Wellbeing introduction (1:49)
Wellbeing within General Practice (3:18)
GP Partners & Practice Managers pressures.. (4:12)
Staff retainment (5:23)
Changes from the pandemic.. (7:02)
Benefits of a Wellbeing Provider? (7:45)
Helpful or a criticism? (9:58)
Motivations for staff.. (10:42)
Findings so far.. (11:52)
The Quality and Outcomes Framework (13:16)
Venn Health & People Wellbeing collaboration.. (14:08)
The Wellbeing Intervention.. (15:42)
Next steps.. (17:24)
Vell Health’s role.. (18:29)
Getting in touch (19:19)
Visit the Staff Wellbeing Guide for NHS General Practice and PCN Teams here.
To access the People Wellbeing Website click here and for Venn Health here.
Contact a workforce wellbeing specialist at People Wellbeing by email or contact Venn Health directly via email.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode, Ben and Donal discuss the fascinating world of Metabolic Health. Our special guest, Donal Collins, generously takes us on a journey through his own experience with type 2 diabetes, illustrating his remarkable transformation. Donal elaborates on the modifications he implemented, the exceptional results he attained, and how he turned his personal journey into inspiration for others. They discuss the concept of treating disease by promoting good health and addressing their root causes, such as using food as a treatment. Donal provides insights into the adjustments he made in his role as a practising GP and how his priorities have shifted. He also sheds light on the interventions that have been put into action and the remarkable outcomes achieved thus far. Donal offers a glimpse into his future endeavours and outlines his focus for the upcoming years.
Introduction (0:09)
Donal’s journey.. (0:52)
Changes that were made.. (5:09)
How did you get to what you’re doing now? (5:52)
Changes Donal made as a practising GP.. (7:23)
Donal’s change of career.. (8:10)
The intervention.. (10:47)
Which patients are your focus? (11:42)
Initiating the intervention.. (12:52)
Success creating more participants.. (14:23)
What’s next for Donal? (15:17)
Any roadblocks? (16:10)
Getting in touch.. (18:10)
Making a difference.. (18:45)
Contact Donal Collins via email here, via twitter here or access his linkedin here. To Access the study click here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes two special guests, Minal Bakhai and Sheinaz Stansfield, to discuss the General Practice Improvement Programme. Minal delves into the details of GPIP and elaborates on the support it offers to PCNs and Practices. Sheinaz shares her personal experiences with the programme and discusses the transformative impact of data and support on PCNs and Practices. The episode also unveils key insights gained thus far, valuable advice for moving forward, and future programme plans. Discover who can benefit from this program and learn how to get involved in GPIP..
Introduction & why the programmes been introduced (0:09)
Introducing modern General Practice.. (3:05)
Information about the programme.. (4:47)
How much funding for practices? (6:45)
Sheinaz’ support in the programme.. (7:39)
Telephony data (9:23)
What difference were you able to make? (10:14)
Staffing changes due to data.. (11:15)
Does the Practice feel different? (12:09)
Supporting GPIP implementation across the PCN.. (12:49)
What is failure demand? (14:43)
Sharing resources throughout PCN’s (15:29)
Learnings so far & advice for moving forward.. (16:14)
Disconnect between PCN’s and Practices.. (17:56)
Plans for the programme.. (18:52)
Signing up to GPIP.. (20:07)
Is this for everyone? (21:13)
Choosing the support for you.. (21:50)
Visit the National General Practice Improvement Programme here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this episode Ben reunites with NHS pensions expert Paul Gordon to explore recent changes to the NHS pension scheme. Paul last joined us in March 2023, they start by revisiting their previous discussion and the scheme's updates. Paul shares the positive changes, and the popularity around them, as well as the associated restrictions. He provides insightful details, including calculations and their impact on individuals' pension plans. Paul also offers a glimpse into the future- hoping for an increased clarity in navigating the complicated topic.
Introduction (0:09)
Recap from March 2023.. (0:35)
24 hour retirement changes.. (1:33)
What’s different now? (2:55)
Age restrictions.. (3:32)
A rise in partial retirements.. (4:24)
Working less, earning more (5:35)
Changes to the annual allowance.. (6:14)
Better rate of growth for McCloud period.. (11:01)
Annual allowance growth charge.. (11:56)
Lifetime allowance being abolished.. (13:11)
Accessing your pension information.. (15:05)
Checking your pension information.. (17:08)
Making a decision (19:02)
Decision at the point of retirement.. (21:21)
Contact details (23:13)
Get in touch with Paul via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Back by popular demand, we're excited to welcome back Naj Seedat and Andy Pow for another insightful episode.The topic of conversation has come to light due to an ICB that awarded what was an APMS contract, converted to a GMS contract to a PCN, Naj and Andy share their valuable insights and perspectives on this matter. Naj also shares his experience with having both APMS and GMS practices within his patch, shedding light on the approaches they've adopted. The three of them engage in a conversation about the potential future of APMS contracts, the crucial issue of General Practice funding, and their visions for what lies ahead in this ever-evolving landscape.
Introduction (0:09)
Independent Contractor Model (1:16)
Naj’s thoughts.. (2:44)
APMs contract reviews.. (4:58)
The end for APMS contracts? (6:43)
Andy’s thoughts.. (9:09)
How do PCN’s hold a GMS contract? (10:10)
Ben's thoughts on the future for integration? (12:40)
Naj & Andy’s salaries & integration thoughts... (15:40)
Shift in the funding.. (18:32)
Distribution of funding.. (19:29)
PCN’s are here to stay.. (21:28)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's episode we have the pleasure of welcoming back Hussain Gandhi, for the fifth year running as a PCN Clinical Director. During the conversation, Gandhi reflects on his time as a Clinical Director, sharing both the achievements and the challenges his PCN has encountered. Gandhi and Ben engage in a discussion about the difficulties associated with adapting to the changes of the IIF, the issues PCNs are currently facing, and challenges such as retention due to financial uncertainty. Gandhi also presents his vision for a ‘hub’ and discusses the topic of additional roles, specifically Physician Associates. They talk through the implications of contractual changes and funding issues which have posed significant challenges for practices and PCNs. Finally, Gandhi shares his reflections on the past four to five years of his role as a PCN Clinical Director.
Introduction (0:09)
Gandhi’s PCN.. (0:45)
The PCN’s biggest achievements (1:19)
Investment and Impact Fund criteria (1:48)
The PCN’s ‘lessons learned’ (2:52)
Funding changes.. (3:38)
Challenges as a PCN.. (4:13)
Uncertainty.. (5:09)
Additional roles.. (7:38)
Supporting additional roles.. (9:18)
Further challenges as a PCN.. (10:45)
Bureaucracy.. (11:23)
The hub.. (12:06)
The hub's staffing.. (13:08)
Effects of contractual change (13:32)
Funding issues within practices and PCN’s.. (15:01)
Disengagement within practices.. (17:04)
Active planning for the future.. (18:29)
Is Gandhi staying? (19:39)
Impact of PCN’s on General Practice.. (20:16)
How to move forward? (21:37)
PCN’s sustainability in the future.. (23:00)
Gandhi’s reflections over the last 4 to 5 years.. (24:10)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In today's episode, Ben is joined by James Catton, Physician Associate in General Practice, host of the Physician Associate Podcast and a PA Ambassador. Together, they deep dive into the role and responsibilities of a PA Ambassador, and discuss James' own creation, The Physician Associate Podcast. Throughout their conversation, James and Ben explore the challenges Physician Associates are currently facing and provide insights into the reasons behind this complex topic. They also offer valuable guidance on how to support PA's effectively and maximise their contributions within practices. James generously shares resources to assist individuals during these challenging times.
Introduction (0:09)
The role of a Physician Ambassador (0:21)
The Physician Associate Podcast (1:25)
Physician Associate listeners (2:16)
Challenging time for Physician Associates.. (3:03)
Factors contributing to the challenging time for PA's (3:31)
PA’s being targeted.. (4:41)
Numbers of PA’s working in General Practice? (6:26)
PA’s experiences so far within General Practice? (7:40)
What would be helpful? (8:45)
Additional roles.. (9:36)
What next? (11:13)
Essential support PA's Require (11:47)
Building a supportive Network within PCN's (13:13)
Emphasising the value of teamwork (14:18)
Enhancing support for PA's working alone (15:35)
Looking to the future.. (15:59)
Resources for PA’s & for supporting PA’s.. (17:53)
Listen to ‘The Physician Associate Podcast’ here, access ‘The PA+PER Magazine’ here, & ‘The Faculty of Physician Associates’ (FPA) here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Returning to the podcast this week is Tara Humphrey, Managing Director of THC. Tara joins Ben to discuss the current priorities of PCNs. Tara shares her insights into the most significant challenges PCNs are currently facing, touching upon various issues and tensions within these networks. Tara emphasises the importance of interactions within PCNs and how this directly impacts the trust levels among participating practices. The discussion also revolves around the opportunity PCNs have to collaborate, learn from each other, and provide support for one another, all while recognising that all practices share a common goal and are part of the same team. Tara outlines her expectations regarding the infrastructure needed to support PCN staff effectively. The conversation finishes on the topic of security within PCN roles and what steps networks can take now ready for the future.
Introduction (0:09)
Nomination for the 'Great British Business Women's Awards' (0:37)
Identifying the most biggest challenges faced by PCNs now (1:00)
Collaboration issues (1:41)
Challenges and issues within PCNs (2:04)
Tensions within the networks (2:58)
Repairing relationships (4:08)
Issues related to funding (6:22)
Trust within practices (7:23)
The correlation between trust and interactions (8:47)
Inattention to results (10:26)
PCNs adapting to the change of ‘access requirements’ (11:30)
The value of learning from each other (12:31)
PCN leaders (13:42)
Infrastructure to support staff (14:33)
What infrastructure works best? (16:18)
Security concerns within roles (16:59)
Strategies for tackling uncertainty (18:02)
Recommended steps to take now (19:15)
The current reality (20:33)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Find out more about Tara and the work she does via her website.
It was about time we welcomed back Dr Rachel Morris, speaker, host of ‘You Are Not a Frog’ podcast, GP, Coach and creator of the Shapes Toolkit Resilience Training Programme for doctors and other professionals. In this episode Rachel generously imparts invaluable insights into the importance of establishing professional boundaries, sheds light on the treatment of general practice, and offers guidance on navigating the uncertain times that general practice is facing. Rachel emphasises the crucial need for a strong support system and kindly shares advice on coping with times of uncertainty.
Introduction & Rachels recent work (0:09)
Professional boundaries.. (0:58)
The art of saying ‘no’.. (3:18)
How General Practice is being treated.. (7:21)
System of support.. (11:03)
QI wellbeing resources.. (12:53)
The impact of virtual working on wellbeing..(15:11)
Face to face vs online.. (17:16)
Managing uncertainty.. (17:58)
Zone of power.. (22:30)
Getting in touch with Rachel.. (24:21)
Find out more about the QI Wellbeing QoF Toolkit and the Work Well Webinar Series here. You can also tune in to the 'You Are Not a Frog' podcast, or get in touch with Rachel via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week's episode features panel regular Robyn Clark, along with Pete Maynard & Naj Seedat. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Practice Index & this week focuses on the topic of practice managers as partners in GP practices. Robyn and Pete share their personal journeys, recounting their transitions from practice managers to partners. They provide insights into the intricacies of this transition and shed light on the differences they've observed since moving into their partner roles. Naj offers his perspective on the appeal of having business decisions made by management partners, they discuss the resistance some practices encounter and the factors contributing to the reluctance to make practice managers partners. Additionally, they explore whether more practice managers are expressing interest in pursuing this career shift and who should consider taking this path. As the podcast concludes, our experts generously offer valuable advice for those contemplating the journey towards becoming a partner within their GP practice.
Introduction (0:31)
Becoming a Partner (1:04)
Navigating the partnership process (2:15)
Pete's path to partnership (4:43)
Addressing resistance to Practice Managers as Partners (7:10)
Growing interest among Practice Managers (9:21)
Insights from the journey as partners so far (11:48)
The appeal of business partner-led decision making (14:55)
Impact on practice performance and staff perspectives (16:10)
Navigating the complexity of the Practice Manager to Partner relationship (19:17)
IGPM Accreditation Framework (21:24)
Expert Advice for aspiring Partners (22:57)
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 welcomes Robert McCartney back to the podcast. Although Robert has been a guest on the podcast before he has now joined Hempsons as an associate where he focuses on aiding GP mergers and assisting PCNs, helping them form entities. This episode revolves around the relationship between GP Practices and PCNs, highlighting its significance for their future. They discuss the existing challenges that GP Practices and PCNs are facing regarding mergers, whilst also exploring potential strategies to overcome these hurdles and address ongoing disputes. Robert shares insights into his criteria for assessing governance within PCNs, covering aspects such as financial matters, decision-making processes, performance evaluation, staffing, and lastly, clinical governance. Robert wraps up the episode by sharing reflections, suggestions for proactive steps, and advice to facilitate progress moving forward.
Introduction (0:09)
Relationship between Practices & PCNs.. (0:51)
Current issues.. (2:26)
Financial disputes.. (3:56)
Moving forward with disputes.. (4:58)
External support.. (6:08)
PCN funding.. (7:47)
Importance of trust.. (9:50)
Governance within PCN’s.. (10:42)
Minimum level of infrastructure that Robert would expect to see.. (12:42)
Have PCN’s got the minimum level of infrastructure in place? (13:59)
PCN’s going down the incorporation route.. (15:52)
Access the ‘No risk’ of PCNs being scrapped, says NHS England GP lead’ article here (17:21)
Risks of creating distances between organisations .. (18:48)
Practices merging to become PCN size.. (21:25)
Should practices merge in stages or all at once? (22:27)
Robert’s final thoughts.. (24:23)
Robert’s contact details.. (26:19)
Contact Robert via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's podcast episode, Ben is accompanied by Su Suehr, Amanda Spooner, and Linzi Fisher. The main focus of their discussion revolves around the recent implementation of the new integrated team lead role. Throughout the podcast they discuss the advantages brought about by this role, and share what the integrated model looks like to Su and Amanda. Additionally, they recount the hurdles they managed to overcome in order to establish this role. Linzi takes the time to discuss her personal journey within the role detailing the obstacles she has encountered but also highlighting how this experience has widened her horizons, and made her feel like a significant contributor. Linzi emphasises her substantial growth and her privileged position to share her insights with the staff, who have exhibited great enthusiasm for the upcoming prospects. The trio outlines their forthcoming objectives, focusing on discovering more avenues for supportive integrated collaboration and further integration. Finally, they share advice for those considering a similar path, drawing from their own transformative journey.
Introduction & how the idea come about.. (0:09)
How did you get talking? (1:45)
Any worry around losing control of staff.. (3:06)
What benefits did the trust gain? (3:51)
What does an integrated model look like to you? (4:31)
What challenges have you overcome? (Su) (5:44)
How does the governance work? (6:28)
What challenges have you overcome? (Amanda).. (7:08)
Resistance to the role.. (8:15)
Linzi’s role.. (10:44)
What’s the experience been like so far? (11:39)
Broadening opportunities.. (12:49)
Working both ways.. (14:53)
Stand out ideas.. (16:09)
Biggest challenges.. (17:16)
How is the role working 4 months in? (18:39)
GP’s reactions.. (19:54)
Is this the beginning of integrated neighbourhood teams? (20:26)
Advice for others.. (21:50)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Today, Ben is joined by Rasha Gadelrab, a GP & Medical Educator & Healthcare Engagement Specialist. Rasha kicks off the podcast by sharing her professional journey and how she arrived at her current position. Rasha possesses extensive experience, ranging from working as a biotechnology recruitment consultant to becoming a GP educator, healthcare corporate trainer, workforce well-being and sustainability coach, junior doctor mentor, patient advocate & PCN Social prescribing clinical lead PCN2 Barnet. During their conversation, Ben and Rasha delve into the subject of Barnet PCN, social prescribing link workers, care coordinators, and the innovative concept of health & well-being coaches. Rasha emphasises the crucial elements for maintaining staff and highlights the approaches that have helped bridge the gap between practices and the additional roles. Rasha also takes the opportunity to share her accomplishments and the positive feedback she has received thus far. She expresses her determination to continue the journey of progress and growth, with the hope of further success in the future.
Introduction & Rasha’s career journey (0:09)
About Rasha’s PCN.. (5:24)
Rasha’s official role within the PCN.. (6:42)
How do you ensure staff feel valued? (8:05)
Do you provide supervision for all the teams? (10:33)
Sense of belonging.. (12:02)
SPLW & Care Coordinators job descriptions.. (13:04)
What’s the key to success? (14:54)
Closing the gap between practices & the additional roles.. (15:43)
Self referral.. Generating extra work or making a difference? (18:27)
Positive results so far.. (20:14)
What’s next? (21:11)
SPLW turnover.. (22:30)
Getting in touch.. (24:50)
To contact Rasha directly, please email.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week's episode is focused on tackling abuse in general practice and features insights from our esteemed guest, Mike Neville, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index. Mike is not only a panel member but also holds the positions of LMC Manager Rep, and North West England Regional Rep for the IGM. During the discussion Mike discusses his journey into the role of a practice manager and shares his thoughts around abusive incidents within healthcare practices. Mike sheds light on the pivotal role that support has played in moving general practice towards progress. Furthermore, he elaborates on the strategies he has implemented to curtail instances of abuse, and offers his perspective on how this issue can be enhanced in the future. Mike provides valuable insights into the factors that have had the most substantial impact, outlining his thoughts on managing patients who exhibit abusive behaviour. Mike also shares his recommendations for how you can support your staff and the importance of effective communication within your network.
Introduction (0:09)
How did you get into being a Practice Manager? (1:01)
Types of abuse experienced.. (2:02)
Face to face & online abuse.. (3:22)
Physical abuse.. (4:45)
Incidents acting as a catalyst for action.. (6:10)
Local approach to tackling abuse.. (7:24)
Zero tolerance.. (9:28)
Prevention is better than cure.. (13:05)
How does the zero tolerance policy work? (14:39)
What implications have made the most difference? (16:31)
The roles staff have to play.. (19:21)
Resources Mike recommends.. (21:49)
Getting in touch with Mike.. (23:39)
Contact Mike via twitter ‘miken231’ or contact Mike via email here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
In this week's podcast episode, Ben hosts Colin Armstead from George House Trust and Kay Keane from Urban Village Medical Practice, both located in Manchester. The mission of George House Trust is to empower individuals living with HIV, helping them lead healthy and confident lives through the provision of HIV support, advice, and advocacy services. The main topic of discussion revolves around the accessibility of GPs and their understanding regarding individuals living with HIV, with a particular focus on George House Trust's recent report titled 'Towards Positive Practice'. This report involved extensive research and engagement activities aimed at understanding the experiences of people living with HIV when seeking primary healthcare, specifically from GPs. During the podcast, Colin presents the report's findings and outlines the recommendations that have emerged as a result.
Introduction (0:09)
How Kay came across Colin & the George House trust.. (0:54)
GP access for those living with HIV.. (3:03)
Stigma around HIV.. (4:31)
‘Towards Positive Practice’ report.. (5:59)
Kays thoughts on the statistics.. (9:19)
What should we expect GPs to know? (12:59)
Where do responsibilities lie? (14:06)
Partnerships between the HIV clinics & local practices.. (15:55)
Providing access for the people who need it most.. (21:17)
What practices can do to give a better experience for those living with HIV? (23:11)
Find out more.. (24:35)
Visit the George House Trust website here and access the ‘Towards Positive Practice’ report here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Today, Ben is accompanied by Ben Allen, Partner at a Sheffield GP and Clinical Director for primary care in Sheffield, supporting primary care to thrive. During the podcast, they delve into the document that Ben has worked on, titled 'Another General Practice is possible’, a document that has served as a catalyst for initiating change within Ben's practice. Upon joining the practice, Ben immediately recognised the potential for improvement and dedicated considerable time to research and investigation, looking deeper into ways to facilitate change. Ben identified a variety of alterations that could be implemented, including restructuring partner meetings, ensuring everyone is in the right seats, refining the recruitment process and much more. Ben expresses his delight with the positive impact that 'Another General Practice is possible' has already had, reflecting on his accomplishments thus far and sharing his plans for the future.
Introduction (0:09)
Why was change needed? (0:43)
Ben’s beginnings in the practice.. (2:45)
How long was spent on the framework of Another General Practice is possible? (3:55)
Infrastructure around the changes.. (4:24)
Changes to the partner meetings.. (6:57)
Trusting your staff.. (7:35)
Sharing the ownership within the practice.. (8:18)
Understanding the problems before making solutions.. (9:11)
Proactively getting everyone in the right seats.. (11:50)
Wrong person in power within practices.. (12:59)
Changes to recruitment.. (14:10)
Recruiting the right type of people.. (17:33)
Where are we now? (19:31)
Ben’s reflections & what’s next.. (21:01)
How to find out more & get in touch.. (22:29)
To find out more, contact Ben Allen via email or find Ben on twitter ‘BenAllenGP’
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, Ben offers a solo episode where he discusses the future for PCNs and shares his insights on what to expect from March 2024 onwards. During the podcast, he covers various topics, including the NHS long term plan, the 5 year GP contract and the Fuller stocktake report. Ben also addresses the growing unpopularity of PCNs and offers his perspective on the reasons behind this. He sheds light on integrated neighbourhood teams and their implications for the healthcare system. Looking ahead, Ben explores the focus on integration in next year's contract and the existing gap between General Practice and the rest of the healthcare system. He provides valuable insights into what aspects we should and shouldn't be concerned about once the contract concludes in March next year. Ben ends the episode by emphasising the importance of taking proactive steps now to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Introduction - what is the future of PCNs? (0:09)
The Context:
The NHS Long Term Plan.. (1:12)
The new five-year GP contract (2.37)
Fuller Stocktake report (4:25)
Integrated Care Systems.. (5:52)
Noise Re: nationalisation of General Practice.. (6:49)
Where are we now? (8:18)
An increase in the unpopularity of PCNs.. (9:54)
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.. (11:10)
Next year's contract? (12:23)
What does all this mean? (13:33)
What should we be worried about from March next year? (14:41)
What shouldn’t we be worried about from March next year? (16:58)
What do we do now? (18:30)
Listen to Matthew Winn – ICS Incoming…. Primary Care and Community Trusts here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week's episode features discussions led by our Practice Index sponsored panel members Jo Wadey, Robyn Clark, and Nicola Davies. This episode focuses on the 'NHS Long Term Workforce Plan'. They delve into the positive aspects associated with the long-term plan while also addressing the concerns they have since its publication. The panel members discuss recruitment within practices, the incorporation of additional roles and the allocation of funding. Jo, Robyn, and Nicola highlight the benefits of the long-term plan; however, they also express their apprehensions regarding the absence of any specific mention of management within the practices. Ben ends the discussion by asking for the IGPMs response to the plan.
Introduction & thoughts on the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (0:09)
Recruiting trainees & apprentices.. (1:59)
The panel's opinions on the plans for GP recruitment.. (4:01)
Increasing specialist doctors in GPs.. (5:34)
Would you recruit a specialist doctor in your practice? (8:02)
Additional roles & funding.. (11:03)
The issue of pay.. (14:13)
NHS Long Term Workforce Plan not referencing GP managers.. (15:05)
Government vs local support? (18:20)
IGPM response to the plan.. (24:12)
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.
On this week's Ockham podcast Ben welcomes Kay Keane, Anthony Verrall and Shaun Jackson from Urban Village Medical Practice. Together they delve into the beginnings of Urban Village and discuss how the practice has progressed. Originally Urban Village focused on facilitating registration for homeless individuals in Manchester but has since expanded its scope to provide further assistance to the homeless population. The practice now offers a wide range of primary healthcare services along with other essential support. By following a ‘needs led’ approach Urban Village provides homeless individuals access to various professionals and services including drug and alcohol workers, counsellors, CPNs, nurses, GPs and midwives. Additionally, they offer referrals to secondary care services, housing advice agencies, and outreach programs.
Introduction (0:09)
How Urban Village started.. (0:58)
What has evolved within the practice (5:00)
Anthony shares his experience within the team.. (7:09)
Working together in one location.. (8:53)
Progress within integrated care.. (13:31)
How has Urban Village progressed? (14:34)
Outreach service van.. (16:41)
Kay’s thoughts on Urban Village.. (18:43)
What’s next for Urban Village? (20:34)
Where to find out more? (23:07)
Visit Charity Pathway charity organisation & Urban Village Medical Practice website & to find out more contact Kay Keane here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week's podcast features a conversation between host Ben and Dustyn Saint from 'Primary Care IT,' where they discuss the recent projects Dustyn has been engaged in. Dustyn shares information about charity ‘EMIS National User Group’ (EMIS NUG) and what Primary Care IT have been doing to support EMIS NUG. Dustyn, along with the Primary Care IT team have been collaborating with EMIS NUG on ‘EduNUG’, which involves creating videos and conducting interactive sessions with Q&As. The live sessions cover a broad range of topics, allowing for in-depth discussions, on-screen demonstrations, and real-time Q&A opportunities. To enhance accessibility and convenience, the EMIS NUG website now hosts a collection of resources, including materials for induction training, answers from past Q&A sessions and specialised training for specific roles. Dustyn also shares the positive feedback they have received thus far and highlights the ongoing evolution of the service. Finally, Dustyn elaborates on his plans for the upcoming year..
Introduction (0:09)
What is EMIS NUG? (0:39)
How to join EMIS.. (1:33)
Dustyn’s relationship with EMIS NUG (2:21)
Information about the training resources (EduNUG).. (2:41)
Most common questions about EMIS.. (4:20)
EduNUG sessions.. (4:48)
Catalogue of resources.. (5:52)
Specific resources for induction training.. (6:56)
How is the training organised to cover all roles? (7:57)
Feedback so far.. (8:56)
Plans for the year ahead.. (9:26)
PCIT Toolset.. (9:55)
Work completed & results received in North West London (11:40)
How did the alerts work? (13:58)
Evolving the service.. (14:49)
Outcomes.. (15:32)
Are we progressing with data reporting? (18:09)
The correct scale of investments for data reporting... (19:14)
To find out more.. (22:21)
Visit Primary Care website here or EMIS National User Group website here. To access the Primary Care IT blog, visit here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Clare Sieber returns to the podcast along with Oscar Mathew to discuss ‘The Well-Led Practice’, a leadership & team self-development platform for practices and PCNs. Clare is a GP based in West Sussex, she also mediates partnership and PCN disputes. Oscar used to be a GMC barrister and now mediates with front line healthcare teams. The pair now also work together on ‘The Well-Led Practice platform’ which uses anonymous data gathered from the leadership team, and wider staff, to understand the team's strengths and areas for development. They discuss how the platform works, why teams are using it, and how it can help practices get through the CQC.
Introduction (0:09)
Most interesting GMC case.. (1:54)
Advice for GMC investigations.. (2:34)
The Well-Led Practice platform (3:38)
Why teams are using ‘The Well-Led Practice’ platform (6:29)
How does the platform work? (7.27)
Common development needs for Practices.. (9:45)
Understanding the different leadership styles.. (10:45)
Tensions between partners.. (12:54)
Differences between Practices & PCN’s using the platform.. (15:52)
Is the CQC investigating PCN’s? (17:26)
Impacts of using the platform.. (18:57)
Costs & available funding for ‘The Well-Led Practice’ platform (20:37)
How to find out more.. (22:00)
Visit the platforms website here or email here.
To listen to Ben & Clares previous podcasts, use the links below;
Podcast – Clare Sieber – Resolving conflict within General Practice
Podcast – Clare Sieber – An insight into the General Practice Committee
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.