This week we return to Helen Parker and her fascinating insights into general practice half way round the world. Helen has, for the past four years, worked in New Zealand for the Pinnacle network of GP practices and this is the second part of an interview that we began in Episode 64. In this part Helen goes into more detail about the structured model of general practice they are introducing in New Zealand; how it is being implemented and what it means for patient and staff satisfaction.

Jon Griffiths is the GP Chair of Vale Royal CCG in Cheshire. In this podcast he outlines the work being undertaken to break down the barriers between GPs and hospital consultants and to re-establish the traditional relationships that appear to have been severed for a variety of reasons. Finding that the emerging relationships are building new levels of trust and understanding Jon looks forward to the potential development of an accountable care system.

This week we have a three-way conversation on the principles and practicalities of how to make collaborative working between practices happen. In one corner of the triangle we have Richard Taunt from Kaleidoscope Health and Care. Kaleidoscope is a social enterprise aiming to improve health through effective collaboration. In the second corner sits Ben Gowland who runs Ockham Healthcare, a consultancy supporting innovation in general practice and finally, pulling the conversation together is Robert McCartney of McCartney Healthcare Associates, experts in mergers and federation development. Struggling with collaboration in your area? Listen out for news about an exciting new six month training programme that could offer all the support and skills that you need.

Last August we spoke to Tracey Vell, Manchester GP and LMC Lead about the integration of services in Manchester as they piloted the draft contract for Multi-speciality Community Providers. Nine months on Ben catches up with Tracey to talk about their continuing progress; about the philosophy and the model they are adopting, about the impact felt by individual practices and about some of the key lessons they are learning.