Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

In this podcast Ben Gowland, Director and Principal Consultant of Ockham Healthcare, launches a new publication from Ockham; “Ten Steps for Developing a Powerful Voice for General Practice”. With the development of Primary Care Networks and the greater integration of care come huge opportunities for at-scale general practice. However, if they are to partner with often larger and more established organisations it is essential that they develop a more powerful voice. In the Ten Step Guide and in this podcast Ben explains why it is important, how it can be done and the pitfalls to avoid.

Ben explains why he has written the Ten Step Guide at this time (0:44)

Why a strong voice is important (1:46)

Having a seat at the right meetings is not the only answer (2:28)

How should primary care network leaders establish a strong voice – looking internally and developing a mandate (3:22)

The relationship between the Clinical Director and the practices (4:27)

Having a loud voice is not the same as a powerful voice (5:26)

Relationships outside of the meetings (6:11)

Developing relationships with other PCNs (7:07)

The value of a good relationship with the LMC (8:42)

When the going gets tough… (9:12)

Managing the tension – how NOT to do it (10:25)

If you get it wrong – ‘fess up (11:54)

How to get hold of your free copy of the Ten Step Guide (12:52)

In order to sign up as a subscriber to our weekly newsletter and receive your free copy of the guide visit our website here

And if you’d like one of the last copies of our book The Future of General Practice: Real Life Case Studies of Innovation and New Ways of Working you can order one for just £9.99 here

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

The specification and guidance for the new network DES runs to over 100 pages. In the days following its publication Ben and special guest Dr Riaz Jetha digested the content of the DES and, in this episode, they talk through the key differences they identified. They look at the nature of the network agreement, the role of federations, how clinical leaders will be recruited, population size, funding and much more. You might also be interested in Ben’s latest Blog which covers similar material.

Show Notes

What are the key differences in the new guidance (0:53)

Mandatory Network Agreement (1:52)

The organisation receiving the funds must hold a primary medical contract (2:50)

Where can federations fit in? (4:13)

Subcontracting arrangements (4:55)

Clinical leadership (5:55)

Extended hours by 1^st July (7:06)

Ambitious timescales (7:45)

Backdated funding for established networks (8:33)

Flexibility in offering extended hours (9:25)

How is this likely to work? (10:26)

Flexibility on population size (11:04)

Smaller neighbourhood teams within bigger networks (11:58)

The Accountable Clinical Director (12:41)

Four options to recruit the Accountable Clinical Director (13:17)

Do smaller networks get more resources? (15:16)

What is “additionality”? Auditing levels of staffing (16:17)

Recruiting pharmacists (17:33)

Lack of flexibility this year – control and standardisation at the beginning (17:59)

Where does the additional 30% of the funding come from? (19:31)

Potential to under-use the resources? (21:45)

The expected funding for 2019/20 (22:27)

Is this package attractive enough? Unpacking the “why?” (23:40)

Remember – if you are interested in a copy of our book The Future Of General Practice which contains a series of case studies tthat will be of interest to anyone establishing a primary care network, you can now purchase a copy at only £9.99 (a reduction of over 60% on the original price). You can purchase the book here.