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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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Returning to the podcast this week is Tara Humphrey, Managing Director of THC. Tara joins Ben to discuss the current priorities for 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.