This week Emma speaks to Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, about how to create a neighbourhood NHS and the role general practice will play.

A key plank of the government’s plans is a move towards a neighbourhood NHS with more care provided outside hospital and in the community, but what does this mean in practice? ICBs are already working to set up integrated neighbourhood teams, but as yet there is no clear definition of what these teams should look like.

In this conversation Ruth explains how this work is going, how the NHS will need to change if it is going to deliver more services in primary care, and the importance of allowing local areas the flexibility to redesign care in a way that meets the needs of their population.

She also talks about how the GP contract may need to change in future to deliver this vision, the important role primary care networks have to play and the opportunities to create new pathways involving GPs with extended roles.

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

Useful links

GP contract and funding reform key steps towards 'neighbourhood NHS'

NHS Confederation Primary Care Network

NHS Confederation report - The case for neighbourhood health and care

What do GPs want from the 10-year NHS plan?

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The government is aiming to create 1,000 new GP jobs through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), but are they on track to hit this target before the end of March? Nick and Emma discuss what we know about how the scheme is going.

They also talk about a report from the Nuffield Trust, which shows how the ARRS more widely has changed the make-up of the workforce in general practice and argues that the introduction of new roles to the NHS has not been backed by enough planning and support - particularly on issues such as training, regulation and supervision.

And they discuss some of the problems the CQC is facing and how this is potentially impacting on GP practices.

Our good news story is about a change in RCGP policy for exam resits for GP registrars who are disabled.

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

Some PCNs yet to claim any ARRS GP funding, NHS England admits

GPs outnumbered almost 3:1 after 'stark' reshaping of workforce through ARRS

Long waits for CQC reports 'risk damaging GP practices'

GPs entitled to follow advice on PAs that could lead to redundancies, says BMA

Take part in our GP locum rates survey here https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025

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If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 - you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.

Is the NHS making best use of the locum GP workforce and how is the current crisis in the GP jobs market affecting locum GPs?

This week Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of the National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP), speaks to Emma about all things related to locum GPs.

Around a third of GPs in England are not currently working in substantive posts in GP practices and many of these doctors will be working as locums.

Richard set up the NASGP in 1998 to provide support to locum GPs and lobby policymakers on issues specific to locums. In this interview he explains how the current jobs market is affecting locum GPs and the rates they are receiving for work, what the NHS could do to make better use of locums and the value locums bring to general practice.

He also talks about why being a locum is still a good career choice and offers some advice for GPs starting out as locums and for practices on how they can get the best from their locum GPs.

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

Useful links

• National Association of Sessional GPs
• GP job shortage forces locums to cut fees and take on private work
• How to create a GP portfolio career
• Manchester University research Richard mentions in the podcast
• Becoming a GP locum: Setting your rates
• Becoming a GP locum: Setting your terms
• Becoming a GP locum: Invoicing and expenses

If you do locum GP work complete our annual survey on GP locum rates here - https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/Locum-rates-survey-2025 – you will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of John Lewis vouchers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.