Practice News

A Watford GP was locked in her consulting room this week by a man who refused to leave without a face-to-face diagnosis for his child, according to one of her colleagues.

Practices can reduce social distancing from 2m to 1m providing the continued use of face coverings is in place, new infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance says.

Government plans billed as a ‘support package’ for general practice threaten a fifth of practices with direct intervention over face-to-face appointments and fail to provide the assistance the profession desperately needs, GP leaders have warned.

Social prescribing is probably the ‘biggest cultural shift’ in medicine and healthcare for generations,but more needs to be done to realise its benefits, the RCGP chair has said.

A former senior banker who went on to become a GP receptionist before becoming a social prescriber has been named social prescribing link worker of the year.

A list of GPs in England earning more than £150,000 a year in NHS income will be published before the end of the year, NHS England has confirmed.

Healthcare workers must be offered priority access to fuel to guarantee that vital NHS services can continue, BMA leaders have warned.

The BMA has demanded ‘clear public backing’ for general practice from the government – along with investment, steps to protect staff from abuse and attacks and measures to address workload.

A man has been charged with assault after four members of staff at a GP surgery in Manchester were attacked on Friday afternoon.

General practice in Cornwall is ‘on the brink of a crisis’ and may not cope this winter if there is a surge of flu and other respiratory illnesses alongside a rise in COVID-19 cases, the county’s LMC has warned.

Routine testing in primary care will resume from 17 September although blood tube supplies ‘remain constrained’, NHS England has confirmed – urging practices to follow strict new guidelines on tests.

Routine testing in primary care will resume from 17 September although blood tube supplies ‘remain constrained’, NHS England has confirmed – urging practices to follow strict new guidelines on tests.

Our relaunched site, GP Business, supports best practice in finance, management and leadership for all professionals working in general practice.

Our relaunched site, GP Business, supports best practice in finance, management and leadership for all professionals working in general practice.

Delegates at the BMA’s annual representative meeting have backed a motion saying that all doctors should be vaccinated against COVID-19.

It is ‘too early’ to talk about flu vaccine shortages despite the UK’s largest supplier recently announcing delays of up to two weeks, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has told MPs.

Senior GPs have resigned from roles in the BMA GP committee as its leadership announced a return to talks with NHS England following a months-long stand-off.

The government must ‘demonstrate publicly visible responsibility’ for the ongoing blood test tube crisis amid ‘unfair complaints, anger and criticism’ aimed at GPs, the BMA has warned.

GPs are facing anger and abuse from patients over blood tests cancelled due to a chronic test tube shortage, as the government confirmed it had secured 9m extra tubes.

The UK CMOs have accepted a recommendation that all children and young people who remain on the shielded patient list should be removed.

More than nine in ten female doctors (91%) have experienced sexism in the workplace within the last two years, with 42% saying they did not feel able to report it, a new BMA poll has found.

More than nine in ten female doctors (91%) have experienced sexism in the workplace within the last two years, with 42% saying they did not feel able to report it, a new BMA poll has found.

The BMA has called on NHS England to provide QOF income protection for GP practices if they are financially impacted by the current blood test tube shortages.

The BMA has called on NHS England to provide QOF income protection for GP practices if they are financially impacted by the current blood test tube shortage.

The BMA has launched a public petition calling on the government to provide additional funding for general practice to recruit more GPs and improve premises.

The BMA has launched a public petition calling on the government to provide additional funding for general practice to recruit more GPs and improve premises.

Claims that GPs are refusing to see patients face-to-face are a complete misconception, the chair of the RCGP has said, warning that growing levels of criticism and abuse are having a negative impact on doctors’ mental health.

Claims that GPs are refusing to see patients face-to-face are a complete misconception, the chair of the RCGP has said, warning that growing levels of criticism and abuse are having a negative impact on doctors’ mental health.

BMA leaders have said that GPs should be protected from any clinical negligence claims that result from patients receiving a delayed diagnosis because of the current blood test tube shortage.

BMA leaders have said that GPs should be protected from any clinical negligence claims that result from patients receiving a delayed diagnosis because of the current blood test tube shortage.

BMA leaders have said that GPs should be protected from any clinical negligence claims that result from patients receiving a delayed diagnosis because of the current blood test tube shortage.

The BMA has written to the government asking for a change in rules that would require all driving medicals to be completed by the driver’s own GP.

The BMA has written to the government asking for a change in rules that would require all driving medicals to be completed by the driver’s own GP.

The BMA has written to the government asking for a change in rules that would require all driving medicals to be completed by the driver’s own GP, saying the current system that allows patients to be certified by any doctor is unsafe.

The BMA has asked for more detail on government plans to change GPs’ role in gun licensing after the home secretary revealed practices could be asked to carry out mental health assessments.

The BMA has asked for more detail on government plans to change GPs’ role in gun licensing after the home secretary revealed practices could be asked to carry out mental health assessments.

The BMA has asked for more detail on government plans to change GPs’ role in gun licensing after the home secretary revealed practices could be asked to carry out mental health assessments.

GPs have been told to stop undertaking non-essential blood tests in light of a global shortage of blood test tubes.

The BMA is to survey its junior doctor members on whether any action, including possible industrial action, should be taken after they were excluded from the 3% pay award for other doctors and NHS staff this year.

BMA leaders have criticised the latest official data on GP workforce numbers, saying they are ‘disingenuous’ and purposely fail to ‘depict the extent of the staffing crisis’ in general practice.

BMA leaders have criticised the latest official data on GP workforce numbers, saying they are ‘disingenuous’ and purposely fail to ‘depict the extent of the staffing crisis’ in general practice.

Almost 4m clinically extremely vulnerable people have been told to contact their GP for advice if they have concerns about COVID-19 restrictions being lifted next week in new government guidance.

More flexibility around appointments and the removal of tick-box targets may explain a rise in patient satisfaction during the pandemic – and could pave the way for general practice to move on from the rigid 10-minute consultation model, the BMA’s top GP has said.

More flexibility around appointments and the removal of tick-box targets may explain a rise in patient satisfaction during the pandemic – and could pave the way for general practice to move on from the rigid 10-minute consultation model, the BMA’s top GP has said.

More flexibility around appointments and the removal of tick-box targets may explain a rise in patient satisfaction during the pandemic – and could pave the way for general practice to move on from the rigid 10-minute consultation model, the BMA’s top GP has said.

Patient satisfaction with general practice has hit its highest point in three years despite the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest GP patient survey reveals.

Patient satisfaction with general practice has hit its highest point in three years despite the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest GP patient survey reveals.

Patient satisfaction with general practice has hit its highest point in three years despite the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest GP patient survey reveals.

The gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses is to be cut from 12 to eight weeks for all adults in England as part of the government’s plan to scrap almost all restrictions, the prime minister has announced.

The gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses is to be cut from 12 to eight weeks for all adults in England as part of the government’s plan to scrap almost all restrictions, the prime minister has announced.

The gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses is to be cut from 12 to eight weeks for all adults in England as part of the government’s plan to scrap almost all restrictions, the prime minister has announced.

The gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses is to be cut from 12 to eight weeks for all adults in England, as part of the government’s plan to scrap almost all restrictions in England, the prime minister has announced.

Most GP partners fear practice income will fall in 2021/22, with many reporting income and profits have dropped over the past year, a GPonline poll shows.

Most GP partners fear practice income will fall in 2021/22, with many reporting income and profits have dropped over the past year, a GPonline poll shows.

There are no plans for the QOF to be suspended for 2021/22 or for a repeat of income protection for practices despite intense workload pressure on general practice, NHS England has said.

There are no plans for the QOF to be suspended for 2021/22 or for a repeat of income protection for practices despite intense workload pressure on general practice, NHS England has said.

There are no plans for the QOF to be suspended for 2021/22 or for a repeat of income protection for practices despite intense workload pressure on general practice, NHS England has said.

There are no plans for the QOF to be suspended for 2021/22 or for a repeat of income protection for practices despite intense workload pressure on general practice, NHS England has said.

There are no plans for the QOF to be suspended for 2021/22 or for a repeat of income protection for practices despite intense workload pressure on general practice, NHS England has said.

Campaigners have launched a bid for a judicial review into the takeover of NHS GP practices by the subsidiary of a giant US health corporation – and have raised more than £40,000 towards legal costs.

The BMA has offered a scathing assessment of an updated standard operating procedure (SOP) for general practice published by NHS England – dismissing it as unclear and out of touch.

An updated standard operating procedure (SOP) for primary care from NHS England repeats a controversial call for all patients to be offered face-to-face appointments – as its top GP rejected calls to resign.

A motion calling for research into possible options for delivering general practice outside of GMS, PMS and APMS contracts has been narrowly defeated at the UK LMCs conference.

The GP workforce grew by 0.4% in the year to March 2021, but the number of GP partners has continued its dramatic decline, latest official figures show.

LMCs have hit out at legislative proposals they fear could see GP practices forced to integrate into ‘corporate entities’ while core GP funding is stripped from the profession.

The BMA has set up an independent investigation into a potential breach of election rules by a candidate in its GP committee elections.

The BMA has set up an independent investigation into a potential breach of election rules by a candidate in its GP committee elections.

The BMA has set up an independent investigation into a potential breach of election rules by a candidate in its GP committee elections.

The BMA has set up an independent investigation into a potential breach of election rules by a candidate in its GP committee elections.

NHS systems will be expected to embed total triage in general practice beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a health service strategy paper that also outlines plans for a ‘significant’ rise in online consultations.

NHS systems will be expected to embed total triage in general practice beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a health service strategy paper that also outlines plans for a ‘significant’ rise in online consultations.

NHS systems will be expected to embed total triage in general practice beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a health service strategy paper that also outlines plans for a ‘significant’ rise in online consultations.

GPs are set to be included on the specialist register as part of sweeping government plans to reform professional regulation.

GPs are set to be included on the specialist register under sweeping government plans to reform professional regulation.

GPs are set to be included on the specialist register under sweeping government plans to reform professional regulation.

GP practices have been told to undertake new risk assessments for any members of staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable ahead of shielding coming to an end on 1 April.

GP practices have been told to undertake new risk assessments for any members of staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable ahead of shielding coming to an end on 1 April.

Matt Hancock has attributed the success of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to the involvement of ‘private companies’ such as NHS GP practices – in comments condemned by the BMA as a ‘gross and deliberate misinterpretation’.

Additional funding for PCN clinical directors, that was initially intended to apply between January and March this year, has been extended until the end of June, NHS England has confirmed.

GP practices in England have been provided with final detail of the biggest overhaul of vaccine payments for 30 years, which is set to go ahead from April as part of the 2021/22 GP contract.

The BMA and NHS England have confirmed that the QOF will restart in full from April this year.

COVID-19 vaccination sites run by primary care networks (PCNs) are no longer required to have a GP on site when vaccines are being administered, NHS England has said.

The CQC has set out plans to move away from routine on-site inspections of GP practices, as part of a consultation process to improve how the it assesses primary care services.

A subsidiary of a giant US healthcare company is set to hold nearly 1% of GP contracts in England – making it the country’s largest provider of NHS primary care with around half a million patients.

GPs are nearly twice as likely to have received abuse from patients during the COVID-19 pandemic as their counterparts in hospital, a poll suggests.

GPs are nearly twice as likely to have received abuse from patients during the COVID-19 pandemic as their counterparts in hospital, a poll suggests.

The increase in the number of GP trainees in the UK over the past few years is ‘too little, too late’ and does not go far enough to address the current workforce crisis, a leading health management expert has warned.

The increase in the number of GP trainees in the UK over the past few years is ‘too little, too late’ and does not go far enough to address the current workforce crisis, a leading health management expert has warned.

GPs at a Nottingham practice were woken in the night early this week after a suspected arson attack left their premises ablaze – but a day later the surgery was open with barely an appointment missed.

NHS England is to provide local health systems with £120,000 each to set up new ‘flexible pools’ of locum and salaried GPs to support practices.

NHS England is to provide local health systems with £120,000 each to set up new ‘flexible pools’ of locum and salaried GPs to support practices.

Practices have reported phone lines being ‘jammed’ with a deluge of calls from patients after the government announced the expansion of flu jabs to patients aged 50-64 from next month without warning GPs.

Practices have reported phone lines being ‘jammed’ with a deluge of calls from patients after the government announced the expansion of flu jabs to patients aged 50-64 from next month without warning GPs.

Practices have reported phone lines being ‘jammed’ with a deluge of calls from patients after the government announced the expansion of flu jabs to patients aged 50-64 from next month without warning GPs.

The government has failed to provide general practice with the funding or resources it needs to fight COVID-19, LMCs will argue at a BMA conference later this month.

Most GP practices in the UK should be stopping either ‘some’ or ‘a significant volume’ of non-essential work as a result of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new guidance from the RCGP and BMA.

The RCGP has produced resources to help practices inform patients that they are open throughout the national lockdown in England, which also explain how care will be delivered.

One in three doctors have experienced verbal or physical abuse from patients or patients’ relatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey has found.

Around 9,000 doctors who are due to revalidate between March and July 2021 will have their revalidation dates pushed back by four months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the GMC has said.

NHS England primary care medical director Dr Nikki Kanani has thanked GPs and their teams after official data showed general practice delivered 26.65m appointments last month – more than in any month since January this year

NHS England primary care medical director Dr Nikki Kanani has thanked GPs and their teams after official data showed general practice delivered 26.65m appointments last month – more than in any month since January this year

Nearly half of GPs say patients on their list have come to harm because of delays to care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some reporting patients have died while waiting for treatment, a GPonline poll has found.

Nearly half of GPs say patients on their list have come to harm because of delays to care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some reporting patients have died while waiting for treatment, a GPonline poll has found.

The latest annual report from the CQC sets out ratings for all of the sectors it regulates. GPonline looks at how general practice has performed.

The CQC plans to ‘follow up’ concerns about access to face-to-face GP services, warning that remote care ‘does not meet the needs’ of all patients – despite practices in England delivering 2m appointments in person over the past week alone.

Controversial digital first provider GP at Hand now holds the largest practice list in England with more than 86,000 patients, official data show.

GPs could be facing a huge wave of complaints due to changes to working practices adopted during the pandemic and delays in access to secondary care, medico-legal experts have warned.

GP practices have been told to ‘gear up for a major expansion of the winter flu programme’ as part of plans that will see a dramatic reduction in QOF work this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public satisfaction with GP services remains high, with 82% of patients reporting a good overall experience of general practice, according to the 2020 GP patient survey.

GPs have demanded more resources to support social prescribers after a poll found almost a third could quit over a lack of support that has deepened in the COVID-19 pandemic.

NICE has launched a consultation on proposed indicators for a new QOF vaccination domain, which forms part of the biggest overhaul of how practices are paid for immunisations in 30 years.

A GPonline survey of more than 500 GPs has predicted that over half of patient appointments will be dealt with remotely once the pandemic subsides.

Patients have been urged not to skip routine vaccination amid concerns the COVID-19 pandemic could trigger a wave of preventable disease.