12
sep
0

Podcast – Neil Modha – The challenge of reducing health inequality

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GP Dr Neil Modha returns to the Ockham sofa this week to discuss the topic of health inequalities, something which is particularly close to his heart on account of the vulnerable communities which make up the majority of his Thistlemoor practice in Peterborough’s patient population. From QOF measures to Covid vaccination numbers, Neil explains why the current funding model and the systems in place are not always supportive of those working their hardest to meet the needs of those most in need but also, with the introduction of integrated care systems and some close liaison with NHS England, why there is reason to be optimistic going forwards.

Introduction (0:36)

The population served by Neil’s practice (0:50)

How the Thistlemoor team are meeting the needs of vulnerable patient groups (1:24)

Covid vaccinations and why measured targets are not always representative of efforts on the ground (2:23)

Weighted populations (5:05)

The Carr-Hill formula and how it works in practice (6:01)

Other GP contract pressures (7:02)

Challenges of QOF and ‘absolute’ target setting (8:49)

Increasing the inequality gap (9:40)

The digital impact (11:25)

Barriers to tech (12:42)

What is the best way forward? (14:05)

Can change happen with the introduction of integrated care systems? (16:44)

The appetite for change within the centralised bodies (18:41)

Optimism for the future (20:25)

Funding analysis– can you help?! (21:19)

The episode Ben refers to, where Neil introduces us to Thistlemoor’s innovative open access model, can be found here

If you can assist with some funding analysis, Ben can put you in touch with Neil

5
sep
1

Podcast – Mel Lamb – Recognising the value of our General Practice Nurses

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For too long general practice nursing has been in crisis with high rates of staff turnover, a lack of opportunity to progress – or to seek training and development to progress, coupled with nursing confidence in the system at an all time low and stress levels at an all-time high. As a result, the ten-point action plan for general practice nursing was implemented with the aim of developing confidence, capability, and capacity across primary care nursing. As Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership’s training hub lead, Mel Lamb has been instrumental in embedding the ten-point plan principles in her area; supporting, and promoting the work of her fellow nurses, and providing encouragement to develop their skills further and ultimately, to progress with confidence.  In this week’s episode, she talks Ben through her role, the legacy she hopes that the ten-point plan can leave for both newly qualified nurses and those already in post and most importantly, if the work Mel and her colleagues are doing can enable a brighter future for general practice nursing, going forwards.

Introduction (0:37)

Mel’s role as a training hub lead (0:57)

Implementation of the 10-point action plan for general practice nursing (1:48)

Mel’s first impressions (2:31)

Is there a crisis in general practice nursing and can this be overcome? (4:05)

Training and development opportunities on offer to nurses right now (5:11)

Impact on morale and improving recruitment and retention (7:54)

Establishing a support network (9:04)

The ‘threat’ of the additional roles (11:02)

Are nurses’ skills and experiences appropriately utilised when planning for the new roles? (12:48)

Training hubs and what they can offer (13:52)

Accessing and locating local training hubs (15:07)

Breaking down the barriers to nurse leadership opportunities (15:45)

Is the 10-point plan working? (17:46)

Getting in touch (18:52)

If you’re interested in learning more about the 10-point action plan, further information can be found here

Mid and South Essex Training Hub’s Twitter contact

To get in touch via email

29
aug
0

Podcast – Taurus Healthcare – Inspiring great leadership in the dawn of Integrated Care Systems

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The healthcare landscape is once again changing, and it is expanding rapidly. The age of integrated care systems (ICSs) is almost upon us and with it heralds a new set of challenges for general practice, particularly when it comes to establishing and maintaining effective leadership and enabling sound and unified decision making (which truly represents all local parties). This week, we introduce Dr Mike Hearne and Nisha Sankey, Managing Director and Director of Strategy and PCNs respectively, from the GP federation Taurus Healthcare based in Herefordshire. Both Mike and Nisha have been instrumental in setting up and running the Herefordshire General Practice Leadership Team; a single, decision-making body incorporating Herefordshire’s PCNs, federation, LMCs and CCG teams. Our podcast this week explores their journey; their infrastructure and resources, the decision-making processes in place, the obstacles and challenges they have faced along the way and how and why a single, unified leadership team will be instrumental in the new, integrated world.

Introductions (0:45)

Taurus Healthcare background and achievements to date (0:52)

Nisha’s role (2:07)

Relationships between PCNs and federation (2:52)

Taurus infrastructure (3:55)

The General Practice Leadership Team (4:58)

Establishing a recognised decision-making forum (6:56)

Managing pushback and obstacles (7:41)

Non-clinical chairmanship (9:10)

Nisha’s view on impartiality (10:14)

Manging tensions when it comes to decision making (10:47)

Facing future challenges (12:05)

Preserving the views of the group within individual representation (12:54)

Maintaining proactivity in the new world (15:23)

Resourcing and representation within the ICS environment (17:16)

Financial considerations (19:41)

Funding channels (20:24)

Getting in touch / finding out more (21:40)

The team at Taurus Healthcare are more than happy to talk and to share their experiences with others. All their main contact points are shown below:

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Taurus Healthcare website

LAST CALL FOR REMAINING PLACES! Information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme, for those new to partnership or considering going into partnership, can be found here.

22
aug
0

Podcast – Practice Index – The Practice Manager / PCN Manager Compliment

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The introduction of new roles is not new to general practice, particularly right now, but with the relatively short timeframe that practices have had to adjust to the changes and the challenges following the introduction of the PCNs, it is not surprising that those working in the PCN Manager roles can find it difficult to integrate and engage with local staff. For Practice Managers who have long been used to the autonomy of leading their individual areas and juggling competing demands, the arrival of another manager and entrusting that they can prioritise their practice’s needs can be of concern. In our latest Practice Index / Ockham podcast series, we explore this theme with our resident Practice Management leads, Nicola Davies, and Robyn Clark, and with two experienced PCN Managers, Julie Damon and Tara Humphrey who share their experiences to date. The panel are all in agreement that the Practice Manager / PCN Manager relationship can and should work in harmony, but how can this happen and what can those who are struggling on both sides right now do to improve confidence and maximise the ability to deliver?

Introductions (0:39)

Julie says hello (1:02)

Reintroducing Tara (1:31)

Robyn’s relationship with her PCN Manager (2:09)

Nicola’s network (2:43)

Julie’s experiences of working alongside the Practice Managers in her area (2:23)

Building trust with existing practice staff (4:08)

Why keeping in touch is so important (5:13)

The challenges Tara has faced in the past (5:44)

What made things tough? (6:46)

Finding a way through (7:43)

What does the role of the PCN Manager mean for Practice Managers? (8:43)

Nicola’s view (9:34)

Confidence and communication (10:42)

Learning to let go (11:44)

PCN v Practice (12:49)

The challenges of meeting workload demand (15:04)

Advice from Robyn and Nicola for PCN Managers who may be struggling to engage with practice staff (16:55)

Julie and Tara share their wisdom (19:18)

Recommended resources (21:06)

Support from the Institute of General Practice Management (22:18)

 

Practice Index’s website can be found here

For more information and to sign up to become a member of the IGPM, please find the website here

THC Primary Care’s website can be found here

For all enquiries, please contact James Dillon here or Ben Gowland here

15
aug
0

Podcast – Chantelle Martin – A Social Prescribing and Occupational Therapy mashup!

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This week’s episode of our additional roles focused series of podcasts features Alliance for Better Care’s multi-talented Chantelle Martin, an Occupational Therapist by background, who made the jump into social prescribing – and back again! Chantelle’s talks to Ben about her experiences of both worlds, her personal journey within general practice, and why she is now a passionate advocate and supporter of a hybrid approach to embedding the additional roles. So much so, that she has is pioneering and leading a joint social prescribing and occupational therapy service in her local area to enhance and complement what is already on offer to practices and patients.

Introduction (0:46)

All about Chantelle (0:59)

Jumping from occupational therapy into social prescribing (1:47)

Haywards Heath PCN (2:55)

Starting out as the PCN’s first social prescribing link worker (3:31)

Network versus practice (4:11)

The social prescribing role (4:29)

Referral criteria and pathways (5:45)

Moving back to occupational therapy and the birth of a joint service (6:25)

How can social prescribing link workers and OTs work in partnership? (7:36)

Support, supervision, and caseload management (9:04)

A sense of belonging and influence (10:10)

Chantelle’s support network (12:25)

The occupational therapy service (13:08)

Expanding the social prescribing team (14:21)

Are the additional roles attractive enough for potential applicants? (15:15)

Meeting social prescribing referral targets (16:13)

Lessons learned (17:46)

Working as holistic teams, rather than as separate services (19:12)

Recommended resources (20:17)

There are still a couple of places up for grabs on each of the courses Ben is jointly running in September:

For clinical directors looking for some ongoing, structured support, the PCN Clinical Director Mastermind Programme is still open for applications. Click here if you’d like to find out more.

Information about the New to General Practice Partnership Training Programme, for those new to partnership or considering going into partnership, can be found here.

If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the courses which are currently on offer further, please contact Ben at ben@ockham.healthcare

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