The General Practice Podcast

Ben Gowland

Ben Gowland talks to those making real change happen in healthcare, getting underneath what they did, how they managed to do it, and the challenges they faced along the way

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10 episodes
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Avg 27 min
English

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Monday · 27 min
Podcast – Practice Index – Is There Still a Place for Flu in General Practice?
Flu clinics are a familiar part of the general practice calendar, but are they becoming increasingly difficult for practices to deliver? In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Claire Houston from Practice Index and new guest Nicki Walker, Practice Manager in Rhyl, to discuss the challenges facing practices during this year’s flu vaccination campaign. They explore vaccine supply, consent requirements, the changing role of community pharmacies and, importantly, whether the current funding makes delivering flu vaccinations financially sustainable for general practice. They also share practical advice for making this year’s clinics run as smoothly as possible. The challenges facing flu clinics this year (02:07) Vaccine supply and the impact of recent changes (04:05) Confusion around consent and vaccination guidance (07:05) Where practice managers can find clearer guidance (11:39) The changing role of community pharmacies (12:31) Is delivering flu vaccinations still financially viable? (15:55) Why practices are considering opting out of flu vaccinations (18:56) Could general practice be pushed out of delivering flu vaccinations? (22:48) Top tips for running successful flu clinics (24:24) Prior planning, preparation and keeping the team positive (24:36) To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Practice Index – Is There Still a Place for Flu in General Practice? appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
August 31 · 23 min
Podcast – Ceri Chaplin & Robert McCartney – PCNs to Neighbourhoods: What Happens Next?
Where are neighbourhoods taking general practice, and what does this mean for Primary Care Networks? In this episode, Ben is joined by Ceri Chaplin, Managing Partner at Hereford Medical Group, and Robert McCartney, Partner at Hempsons, to discuss the latest NHS England neighbourhood proposals and what they could mean for practices. They explore the changing role of PCNs, funding and locally enhanced services, governance, relationships between practices, and why now is the time for practices to prepare for what comes next. What exactly is a neighbourhood? (00:27) How different areas are approaching neighbourhoods (02:13) What does the NHS England consultation tell us? (04:14) Funding, contracts and potential risks for practices (05:15) Are neighbourhoods simply the next stage of PCNs? (07:05) What could changes mean for practices and PCN funding? (09:07) What should practices be doing now? (15:20) Governance, incorporation and preparing for new contracts (16:33) The challenge of difficult PCN relationships (18:00) Why practices need to act now (20:20) Should practices respond to the consultation? (20:43) The opportunities neighbourhood working could bring (21:32) Shifting care into primary and community care (23:02) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Ceri Chaplin & Robert McCartney – PCNs to Neighbourhoods: What Happens Next? appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
August 9 · 27 min
Podcast – Katie Collin – Neighbourhood Provider Contracts: What Do They Mean for General Practice?
This week, Ben is joined by Katie Collin, Partner at Ramsay Brown, to discuss NHS England’s consultation on Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts and Multi-Neighbourhood Provider contracts. They explore what the proposed contracts could mean for GP practices, PCNs and federations, including the potential impact on funding, governance and locally commissioned services. Katie explains the different contract options, whether PCNs should consider incorporation, and the potential role of federations and collaboratives as MNPs. The discussion also looks at the opportunities and risks of shifting more services into primary care, and why strong governance, transparency and financial planning will be essential as neighbourhood working develops. With the consultation still underway, Katie shares her thoughts on what practices and PCNs should be considering now. Introduction (00:08) The NHS England consultation on neighbourhood provider contracts (00:30) Why the consultation is a positive step for general practice (00:51) Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts: what do they mean for GPs? (03:57) PCN DES vs a local variation: understanding the options (05:47) Could locally commissioned services move through PCNs? (08:39) The financial implications for GP practices (09:00) What the IIF taught us about collective funding (11:01) Why PCN governance could become more important than ever (13:40) Should PCNs consider incorporation? (15:29) The benefits of incorporation and stronger governance (15:57) What are Multi-Neighbourhood Providers (MNPs)? (18:16) Could MNPs create new opportunities for general practice? (20:18) The risks of following the funding into primary care (21:38) How can federations and collaboratives fit into the new model? (23:37) Why governance and transparency will be critical (25:06) What should PCNs and practices do next? (26:03) Visit Katie on Linkedin here, or email Katie directly here. Visit the Ramsay Brown website here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Katie Collin – Neighbourhood Provider Contracts: What Do They Mean for General Practice? appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
July 27 · 27 min
Podcast – Bobby Pozzoni-Child – Building Primary Care Together: How Buckinghamshire Is Turning Integration into Action
Integrated neighbourhood working has been talked about for years, but what does it actually look like when it’s put into practice? In this episode, Ben is joined by Bobby Pozzoni-Child, Director of Partnerships and Transformation for the Buckinghamshire Primary Care Provider Collaborative. Bobby explains how Buckinghamshire has evolved from a GP Provider Alliance into a truly integrated primary care collaborative, bringing together general practice, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry to create a stronger collective voice and deliver better care. If you’re interested in neighbourhood health, integration, system leadership or the future role of primary care, this episode offers practical lessons from a system that’s already making it happen. Introduction (00:08) Why Buckinghamshire expanded beyond general practice (01:29) Bringing GPs, pharmacies, dentists and optometrists together (02:41) Creating a stronger voice for primary care across the system (04:31) Why neighbourhood working needs relationships and delivery (06:05) How Buckinghamshire is turning collaboration into action (08:01) Building neighbourhood teams and local leadership (10:23) Keeping practices engaged as neighbourhoods grow (11:45) Delivering measurable results through integrated working (14:27) How attitudes towards primary care are changing (16:49) From planning neighbourhoods to delivering care (18:51) Why Bucks isn’t waiting for national contracts (20:57) Lessons learned from leading system-wide integration (22:40) Why expanding to wider primary care was the right move (25:59) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Bobby Pozzoni-Child – Building Primary Care Together: How Buckinghamshire Is Turning Integration into Action appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
July 14 · 26 min
Podcast – Practice Index – The New CQC Inspection Explained: What Every Practice Manager Needs to Know
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Robyn Clark and Ed Kennedy to discuss the new “return to good” inspections, how they differ from previous CQC visits, and why many practice managers feel these are now effectively practice manager inspections. Ed shares his first-hand experience of being among the first practices inspected under the new approach, while Robyn discusses the wider concerns being raised by practice managers across the country. Together they explore the benefits, challenges and practical steps practices can take to prepare, as well as the growing recognition of practice managers as leaders within the NHS. The new CQC inspection model explained (02:31) Ed’s experience of being one of the first practices inspected (04:27) Why these are becoming “practice manager inspections” (05:43) The benefits and limitations of the new approach (07:07) Can practices improve their CQC rating? (07:52) Why inspector consistency remains a major concern (11:45) The increasing pressure on practice managers (14:23) Practical advice to prepare for a CQC inspection (16:18) Key compliance areas inspectors are focusing on (17:08) What to do if you disagree with your inspection report (21:45) Practice managers influencing national NHS policy (22:41) How the role of practice manager is gaining national recognition (24:18) Listen back to a Practice Index – Navigating CQC Inspections with Confidence feating Kay Keane here. To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Practice Index – The New CQC Inspection Explained: What Every Practice Manager Needs to Know appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
June 29 · 30 min
Podcast – Sunaina Khanna & Imran Zaman – How Birmingham & Solihull Built a Unified Voice for General Practice
What does it take for general practice to lead system transformation rather than simply respond to it? In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Dr Sunaina Khanna and Dr Imran Zaman to discuss how they have built a unified leadership model that is helping shape neighbourhood health across one of England’s largest Integrated Care Systems. Starting with a collaborative response to winter pressures, they explain how GP leaders came together to create the GP Partnership Board, giving general practice a stronger voice in system decision-making while developing services at scale. They share the practical lessons they’ve learnt about building trust, securing buy-in from practices, working alongside community providers, and creating leadership that is focused on delivery rather than representation alone. The conversation also explores how general practice can prepare for the future NHS landscape, why working at scale matters, and the importance of demonstrating value through action. Whether you’re a GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director, practice manager or system leader, this episode offers valuable insights into building collaboration, influencing change and strengthening the role of general practice within neighbourhood health. Introduction (00:09) How winter pressures sparked a new model of GP collaboration (01:26) Using population health to redesign services at scale (03:20) Building multidisciplinary teams around neighbourhood health (05:59) Why Birmingham & Solihull created the GP Partnership Board (08:25) Winning practice buy-in through delivery, not persuasion (11:39) Balancing uncertainty with opportunity in the changing NHS (13:10) Evolving towards a 24/7 general practice leadership model (16:22) Making general practice easier for the system to work with (17:33) Building stronger partnerships across community services (19:30) Why every area needs a unified GP leadership voice (22:19) Practical advice for creating collaboration at scale (25:30) Learning by doing and proving what works (28:30) Final reflections (29:36) Contact Sunaina directly via email here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Sunaina Khanna & Imran Zaman – How Birmingham & Solihull Built a Unified Voice for General Practice appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
June 15 · 24 min
Podcast – Matt Jones – The Carr-Hill Formula: Why Some Practices Are Missing Out on Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds
The Carr-Hill formula sits at the heart of GP funding, yet few people fully understand how it works, or the impact it can have on individual practices. In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Matt Jones, GP Partner in Cardiff, who has spent years investigating the formula after discovering significant funding differences between seemingly similar practices. Drawing on Freedom of Information requests, published papers, and detailed analysis, Matt explains why Carr-Hill remains such a controversial issue and why a long-awaited review could have major implications for general practice. Together they explore how the formula’s different indices interact, why some practices can lose out by hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, the role of deprivation and fixed costs, and how funding inequalities can affect workforce capacity, patient access, and sustainability. Matt also shares his thoughts on what meaningful reform could look like and why greater transparency is essential if practices are to understand the challenges they face. Introduction (0:09) How did you become interested in the Carr-Hill formula? (0:19) What prompted your research and submissions to the Welsh inquiry? (1:05) Why is understanding Carr-Hill so important ahead of the current review? (1:54) Is the problem really about deprivation, or is it more complex than that? (2:45) Which parts of the formula have the biggest impact on funding? (3:18) Why are some of the formula’s deprivation measures now outdated? (4:12) How do the different Carr-Hill indices compound to create large funding gaps? (6:14) Do practices actually know their Carr-Hill scores? (7:49) How large can the funding differences between practices be? (8:43) Why do funding inequalities become harder to fix over time? (10:17) What happens if the formula is adjusted to better reflect current deprivation? (11:31) Does Carr-Hill underestimate the fixed costs of running a GP practice? (12:42) Why does the age and sex index potentially exaggerate funding differences? (13:24) How do fixed costs reduce clinical capacity in lower-funded practices? (14:27) What changes could make the funding model fairer? (15:50) Should national pay uplifts be separated from the Carr-Hill formula? (16:59) Why are funding inequalities continuing to grow? (17:57) What does this mean for access targets and patient care? (19:18) Could funding be based on workload instead? (20:24) What would Matt like to see from the Carr-Hill review? (22:11) Why transparency around funding matters for practices and patients (22:50) Closing thoughts (24:11) Read Matt Jones’ paper here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Matt Jones – The Carr-Hill Formula: Why Some Practices Are Missing Out on Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
June 1 · 32 min
Podcast – Robert McCartney – Single Neighbourhood Provider Contracts: What PCNs Need to Do Now
The proposed Single Neighbourhood Provider Contract could significantly reshape how services are commissioned and delivered at neighbourhood level, but with many details still to be confirmed, PCNs are being faced with important decisions now. In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Robert McCartney, Senior Associate at Hempsons, to discuss what we know so far about the SNP Contract, the growing focus on neighbourhood footprints, and how local PCN DES variations could provide opportunities for PCNs to begin implementing change without waiting for national guidance. They explore the practical steps PCNs can take to strengthen their position, including leadership, governance, incorporation, and service redesign. Robert shares why proactive PCNs may be best placed to influence the future of neighbourhood working, maintain control of local services, and demonstrate their ability to lead change across their communities. Introduction (0:08) What are PCNs and practices asking for support with right now? (0:41) Why are some PCNs preparing for the future while others are taking a wait-and-see approach? (1:25) What impact are funding changes having on PCNs and workforce planning? (2:46) What is the Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) Contract? (4:09) How could neighbourhood footprints affect PCN boundaries and membership? (6:01) Can multiple PCNs work together under a neighbourhood model? (7:44) Does collaboration increase the risk of another organisation holding the contract? (9:13) What do the new PCN DES local variations mean for practices? (10:39) Could local DES variations reduce the need for an SNP Contract? (11:11) What opportunities do local variations create for service redesign? (13:47) How do local variations differ from the SNP Contract? (14:50) What should PCNs be doing now to prepare for the future? (17:44) How can proactive leadership help PCNs retain influence and control? (19:58) What practical steps should PCNs take to implement neighbourhood working? (20:36) Do PCNs have the leadership and management capacity needed for change? (22:18) Is incorporation necessary to prepare for the SNP Contract? (23:55) When does setting up a company make sense for a PCN? (24:17) Can federations provide an alternative to incorporation? (26:20) How long does incorporation take and what are the common mistakes? (27:56) Visit the Hempsons website here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Robert McCartney – Single Neighbourhood Provider Contracts: What PCNs Need to Do Now appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
May 18 · 26 min
Podcast – Sian Stanley – Can General Practice Lead System Transformation?
In this episode of the General Practice Podcast, Ben is joined by Dr Sian Stanley, GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director and Health System Transformation Leader to explore how general practice can play a central role in reshaping urgent and community care. Sian shares the story behind a GP-led urgent treatment centre collaborative in West Essex, bringing together primary care, community services, the acute trust and wider system partners to redesign patient flow and reinvest savings back into local services. This is a fascinating discussion about practical system leadership, collaboration, and the future role of general practice in NHS transformation. Introduction (0:09) Tell us about your roles (0:23) Tell us about the urgent treatment centre and why it’s unusual for primary care to lead it (1:38) How does the funding and profit-sharing work within the collaborative? (3:27) Is the hospital involved in the collaborative? (4:42) How does making “left shift” tangible help bring practices on board? (6:15) Is it difficult balancing system leadership with representing practices? (7:16) How do you reassure practices and keep them engaged? (7:50) What is the relationship with the acute trust and how has it developed? (10:04) What impact has the loss of ICB funding had on these roles? (11:28) How do you see the provider collaborative developing? (12:23) Is there nervousness about acute trusts becoming too powerful in community care? (13:47) How do you stop general practice becoming an extension of the acute trust? (15:01) How are you tackling the “substitution effect” around hospital admissions? (17:55) Are you starting to see shared savings models work in practice? (21:14) How did you build influence and get a voice at the table? (23:48) Closing reflections (26:24) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Sian Stanley – Can General Practice Lead System Transformation? appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.
April 27 · 28 min
Podcast – Practice Index – The GP Contract & What It Means for Practices
In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to unpack the realities of the 2026/27 GP contract and what it means for general practice. Claire & Robyn share practical insights into how practices are managing rising expenses, the limitations of current funding allocations, and the increasing challenge of balancing demand with limited resources. They also reflect on wider system issues, including the sustainability of general practice, the risks of shifting workload without adequate funding, and the growing tension between policy expectations and operational reality. Introduction & Sponsor (0:09) Immediate Impact of Contract Changes (2:00) Capacity & Access Funding Changes (9:30) Barriers to Recruitment & Delivery (10:30) Advice & Guidance Changes (17:16) Referral Management & System Pressures (19:09) QOF & Childhood Immunisations Update (24:23) Support Available via Practice Index (26:42) To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here. The post Podcast – Practice Index – The GP Contract & What It Means for Practices appeared first on Ockham Healthcare.

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