Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

Suffolk GP Federation is a not-for-profit organisation owned by 58 GP practices and established in 2013. They deliver a number of services including cardiology and ultrasound and Suffolk GP+, which provides extra doctors’ appointments during extended hours. In this episode Ben talks to Chair and Medical Director Paul Driscoll and Chief Executive David Pannell. They explain what the federation does and how it works and look to the future with a super-partnership and a potential role in becoming the voice of general practice locally.

Show Notes

Paul, then David, introduce themselves and explain the main problems in Suffolk (53secs)

Where the federation came from (1min 44secs)

How the federation is funded (2min 28secs)

What the federation offered to the practices (3mins 09secs)

The roles of the federation (3mins 41secs)

Funding the management team (4mins 49secs)

350 staff and a turnover of £18m (5mins 09secs)

A community interest company (5mins 35secs)

Funding the work of the federation (5mins 49secs)

Defining success (6mins 44secs)

Engaging with the member practices (7mins 42secs)

The federation Board (8mins 30secs)

How do the practices view the federation? (8mins 51secs)

The direct provision of general practice (9mins 16secs)

Capital requirements not huge (10mins 25secs)

Using directly managed practices as a “test bed” (10mins 56secs)

Progress towards a super-partnership (12mins 18secs)

How does the model work? (13mins 29secs)

How do the federation and super-partnership interact (14mins 22secs)

Engagement in accountable care (14mins 47secs)

Representing general practice (15mins 40secs)

What have they learnt from the journey? (17mins 30secs)

A voice for general practice in the future? (19mins)

What next? (19mins 59secs)

Finding out more (20mins 59secs)

David can be contacted via david.pannell@suffolkfed.org.uk and their website is here