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In another of our series focused on Primary Care preparations for Integrated Care System (ICS) go-live in July and working alongside partners both old and new, we speak to Alliance for Better Care (ABC) Chair, Surrey Heartlands ICS Primary Care Leader and PCN Clinical Director Dr Pramit Patel, and ABC CEO Katherine Saunders, on the role of GP federations, and how they can both support and springboard practices and networks in making the most of the opportunities available in the new world. From establishment of meeting forums and well-balanced structures, to managing and maintaining effective communication across much wider remits, and the role of federations going forwards, ABC offer a best practice view of where we should be challenging our energies over the coming weeks and months, in the lead up to ICS launch.

Meeting Pramit (0:17)

Introducing Katherine (0:44)

The ICS / Primary Care Leader role (1:07)

Executive Structure (2:12)

Reaching consensus across a large area; meetings and formal structures (2:56)

Summarising the existing setup (5:28)

How does engagement work, particularly at place level? (6:14)

A lone GP voice in the room? (7:37)

Getting a sense of how other parts of the system view general practice (8:33)

External perceptions of Primary Care (9:41)

How does the federation work to support general practice operations within the ICS? (10:38)

The role of the federations in the ‘new world’ (11:56)

Joint working between federations (12:53)

What should the objectives be for general practice, moving forwards? (14:19)

Communication of the positive possibilities (15:49)

What differences will we see and what impacts will we feel at ICS go-live? (17:41)

Readying practices, networks, and federations ahead of July (19:23)

Pramit’s top tips for others (20:32)

Advice from Katherine (21:44)

Further resources, support, and information, as advised by Pramit and Katherine, can be found within the dedicated Primary Care NHS Confederation webpage here

Katherine and Pramit are happy to speak to anyone who would like to learn more about the Surrey Heartlands / Alliance for Better Care journey towards integrated care. Please visit the ABC website for more information and contact points.