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Mergers expert Robert McCartney returns to us for a second podcast. In Episode 49 Robert looked at the challenges around arranging successful mergers between two practices. In this episode he and Ben discuss the “bigger picture” i.e. merging at a scale that sees general practice operating over a population of 30 to 50,000. They discuss the arbitrariness (or otherwise) of this number and provide some practical advice for practices wanting to operate within networks or localities.

Show Notes

“Ending the days of the Wild West of general practice…” The end of the small business model? (1min 07secs)

Where has the magic number of 30-50,000 come from? (2mins 02secs)

Form should follow function (3mins 04secs)

Smaller scale (50,000) feels easier to make change (3mins 56secs)

Does everyone have to get bigger? Or is it optional? (5mins 44secs)

If national investment decisions are encouraging locality working… (7mins 03secs)

…what are the options for practices? (8mins 55secs)

Where trust exists why wouldn’t you merge? (9mins 45secs)

A productive framework for discussions between practices (11mins 19secs)

Options for legal processes and formalities (12mins 55secs)

The governance around practices working together (14mins 02secs)

How might joint working solve our existing problems? – putting a toe in the water to build trust (16mins 04secs)

The end of the independent contractor model? (18mins 20secs)

Advice and support from Robert rm@mccartneyhealth.co.uk (21mins 21secs)

If this podcast has whetted your appetite for further information then you might like to read Ben’s blog about NHS England’s review of the Five Year Forward View

A link to the House of Lord’s report on NHS Sustainability is here

A link to the NAPC Primary Care Home report is here