Talking General Practice

This week Nick and Emma discuss the latest on list cleaning and what it means for GP funding, as well as how it is affecting individual practices and patients.

They look again at neighbourhood contracts after seeing various responses to NHS England’s consultation - they assess what GP organisations and others had to say about the proposals and what it could mean longer term.

And they talk about access and continuity following the results from our own survey and also the publication of a report by MPs into access across all areas of primary care,.

This week’s good news story is about the CQC showcasing positive work in general practice.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

● List cleaning has slashed equivalent of 30m appointments from GP practices
● 'Patients have missed out on medication because they've been removed unfairly'
● Neighbourhood contracts untested and may not be necessary, warns RCGP
● Neighbourhood contracts risk imposing form over function, warns NAPC
● Viewpoint: Neighbourhood contracts bring risk - but also opportunity for GPs
● Government focus on GP access 'undermining quality and continuity'
● NHS needs 'fundamental shift' of resources to primary care, MPs say
● CQC highlights best practice examples from GP inspections

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GP Money Matters is a series of special bonus episodes of Talking General Practice sponsored by Wesleyan where we look at key personal finance issues that affect GPs.

It’s pensions awareness week and in this episode Wendy Baillie, a chartered financial planner and regional manager at Wesleyan Financial Services, speaks to GPonline editor Emma Bower about the pension gap, what it is and what GPs can do about it.

Wendy explains why GPs can face a shortfall between their expected retirement income and what their pension will deliver. She discusses how modern working patterns, including portfolio careers, reduced sessions, and taking time away for family or caring responsibilities, can impact NHS pension accumulation.

Wendy also sets out practical steps GPs can take to assess their retirement outlook early, and explains the importance of reviewing financial plans whenever working arrangements change and the options available to help build flexibility into your future retirement.

This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.

This podcast is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Individual circumstances may vary.

Useful links
To learn more about the financial considerations discussed in this podcast, you can book an appointment with a specialist financial adviser at Wesleyan Financial Services. Charges may apply. If you want to find out more about Wesleyan following this podcast, you can visit wesleyan.co.uk/gppodcast

About Wesleyan
Wesleyan Financial Services supports doctors with advice shaped around the realities of the profession.

From complex income structures and portfolio careers to the NHS Pension Scheme and retirement options, its Specialist Financial Advisers work closely with doctors every day. Recognised by the NHS as able to give guidance on the NHS Pension Scheme, Wesleyan brings trusted expertise to key financial decisions. Combining financial planning, investment advice and protection, it helps doctors make confident, informed choices.

According to Wesleyan Financial Service's survey data, 96% of doctors rated their specialist financial adviser as very good or excellent, reflecting a focused service that helps doctors protect their income, grow wealth and plan ahead with confidence.

Remember: The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.

Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd (Registered in England and Wales No. 1651212) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AR. Telephone: 0345 351 2352. VAT number: 487282114. Calls may be recorded to help us provide, monitor and improve our services to you. Read more information about the Wesleyan group of companies.

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Emma speaks to Dr Dominic Patterson, a GP in Doncaster, chair of the Royal College of GPs Health Equity Special Interest Group, and CEO of the charity Fair Health.

In this conversation, Dominic talks about the college’s new Fairer Practice Toolkit, which provides practical, evidence-informed steps GP practices can take to tackle health inequalities. He explains how the toolkit breaks down over 100 actions into accessible tiers, supporting practices to make a meaningful difference.

He also explains why practices should consider reframing DNAs through the lens of ‘missingness’ to better support vulnerable groups, how health equity focused training schemes are encouraging GPs into deprived practices, and simple changes - such as reviewing practice registration barriers - that make a big difference.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links
● RCGP Fairer Practice Toolkit
● RCGP Health Equity Special Interest Group
● Fair Health
● NHS England’s Core 20-plus framework

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The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.

Warning: This episode of the podcast includes discussion of suicide in the section about the GMC’s duty of care.

This week we look at what we know about GP earnings after the latest data based on GPs’ tax returns for 2024/25 were published. He outlines what the figures tell us about how much both salaried GPs and GP partners are being paid and differences in earnings across England and the UK more widely.

With NHS England’s consultation on new neighbourhood contracts set to close next week, the team discusses how these contracts could work in practice and what the BMA thinks about some of the proposals.

And they talk about a legal appeal that is arguing that the GMC has a duty of care to the doctors it is investigating and what this means for the profession more widely.

Our good news story this week is about how GPs in some parts of the country are leading the development of new neighbourhood services.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links
● GP income slowed in England in 2024/25 compared with rest of UK
● Regional income gap rising for partners but not salaried GPs
● ICBs will be expected to put more services and funds into GP neighbourhood contracts
● More PCN DES variations are imminent, says NHS England
● Doctor’s suicide drives legal challenge over GMC’s duty of care
● Midlands GPs agree £1m deal to run neighbourhood model
GPs lead roll out of multi-million pound neighbourhood scheme

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This week Emma speaks to Dr Jess Court, the acting chair of Nottinghamshire LMC, about safe working limits in general practice.
In this conversation, Jess explains what safe working limits look like in day-to-day practice, why capping patient contacts and moving to 15-minute appointments is vital for patient safety, and how policies like unlimited online consultations are exacerbating GP workload and burnout.
She also talks about the safe working charter developed by Nottinghamshire LMC, how practices can push back against unresourced workload transfers from secondary care, and the practical steps practice managers and GP partners can take to start embedding a safe working culture.
This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.
Useful links
● A blog for the BMA by Jess on this
● BMA safe working guidance
● Nottinghamshire Local Medical Committee Safe Working Charter

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