In May’s monthly Practice Index episode Ben has a full house & is joined by panel regulars, Susi O’Brien & Robyn Clark. Ben, Susi & Robyn are also joined by Claire Houston. They jump straight into discussing staff wellbeing & retention and it’s importance within practices. They also discuss how crucial the retention of staff is, how it can be difficult for staff in ‘additional roles’ and what they can do to make a difference to wellbeing & retention in practices. They look into the new ‘QOF’, quality improvement modules and their thoughts on this being introduced. Finally, Susi, Robyn & Claire share their advice for making peer support work within practices and Susi talks through the wellbeing & retention resources that are available (all resources mentioned are linked below).
Introduction (0:27)
Thoughts on the contract focus on Welling & retention? (0:42)
Why is it important we look after our staff? (1:45)
Practice managers thoughts on this right now.. (3:00)
Retaining staff.. (3:25)
What can we do about it? (3:53)
Difficulty with ‘additional roles’ (5:26)
Learning from the wider HR community.. (6:27)
What can make the biggest difference? Susi’s thoughts.. (7:32)
Claire & Robyns thoughts.. (8:47)
QOF quality improvement modules... (11:06)
Robyns thoughts.. (12:54)
Making the most of the opportunity (13:37)
Difference between the 2 approaches to wellbeing.. (15:39)
Starting with an organisation wellbeing approach.. (17:43)
3 elements.. (18:30)
Experience with peer support networks.. (21:10)
Advice for making it work? (22:30)
Support & resources available.. (23:31)
‘QOF’, quality improvement modules (Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for 2023/24)
All the links mentioned by Susi on the podcast are contained within this Practice Index document on employee retention (linked).
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.
Today Ben is joined by Trish Hawitt Palmer, Practice Manager at Acorns Surgery in Huntington and Lisa Drake, director of quality services and improvement at Redmore Health. They discuss ‘the digital journey planner’. This is a place for general practice staff to complete a self-assessment that is intended to help practices understand all of the elements required to deliver high quality, safe online services in the most effective way. The planner includes a number of modules, each describing the benefits of working this way and starts with a checklist of questions as an assessment. Lisa shares how she started using the digital journey planner and what her experience with it has been so far. They talk; examples, costs, their advice and how to find the digital journey planner.
Introduction (0:09)
The digital journey planner.. (1:02)
Is it nationally available? (3:24)
Does it link to the new GP access recovery plan? (4:22)
Hand holding examples.. (6:00)
How does the Digital Journey Planner work? (7:14)
How Trish started using the Digital Journey Planner.. (8:16)
Trish’s experience so far.. (9:03)
Implementing the Digital Journey Planner (10:15)
Experience with online consultations & cloud telephony.. (12:06)
Does the Digital Journey Planner work at a PCN level? (14:22)
Digital & transformation leads.. (16:19)
Outputs of the Digital Journey Planner (17:49)
Words of advice.. (18:20)
How to access the Digital Journey Planner... (20:46)
Free tools.. (22:42)
How to find the Digital Journey Planner & contact Lisa.. (23:18)
How the Digital Journey Planner can help the Digital & Transformation Lead
To create an account for the digital journey planner, email hello@redmoorhealth.co.uk or lisa@redmoorhealth.co.uk. Just mention Ockham in the subject of the email.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
Ben welcomes back podcast favourite, Sheinaz Stansfield for the first time in a while. Sheinaz is a partner at Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group, director of transformation for Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN and she continues to work with the GP transformation team at NHS England. Sheinaz shares her experience regarding ‘Better health at work’ and how the involvement has improved mental health and wellbeing within her own workforce. The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the practice.
Introduction (0:09)
Thoughts on the The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).. (0:46)
Core challenges behind looking after our staff.. (1:26)
Where did Sheinaz start in terms of improving mental health for staff? (2:24)
Challenges within the workforce.. (3:46)
Better Health at work (5:53)
What's involved in Better Health at work? (6:33)
Action plan.. (7:26)
HR processes.. (8:14)
Examples of changes within Sheinaz’s practice.. (10:22)
Importance of listening to staff.. (11:04)
Covid impact within the practice.. (12:37)
Continuing with new changes? (13:32)
Feedback from staff.. (15:14)
Impact on the practice? (16:13)
Costings.. (17:06)
Thoughts on Health & Wellbeing coaches? (18:02)
Sheinaz shares her advice.. (19:16)
How to get in touch & where to find further information (22:06)
Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles and the model for improvement
For further questions for Sheinaz please contact Ben Gowland here.
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.
This week, Ben is joined by Najib Seedat & Andy Pow. They met at the end of April 2023 to discuss the new 2023/2024 contract that has been imposed on general practice for the 5th and final year of the 5 year deal. They share their thoughts on PCNs & General Practice working together, how it works in terms of funding and how PCNs and general practices can get the balance right. They deliberate the reintroduced requirements for GP’s to declare their earnings above a threshold, how this could affect General Practices and what this requirement is trying to achieve. Andy kindly finishes the episode by sharing some advice for practices to help mitigate some cost pressures.
Introduction (0:09)
Thoughts on the imposed terms… (0:40)
Impact on practices? (2:53)
Investment through PCNs.. (5:40)
Introduced access changes.. (8:48)
Insights into the General Practice access recovery plan.. (10:40)
Redirection of care.. (12:31)
Requirements for GP’s to declare earnings.. (13:45)
Potential consequences of not declaring earnings.. (18:27)
Calculations of earnings.. (20:15)
Reaction to this year's contract.. (21:56)
Tips to help mitigate cost pressures (26:22)
For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.