Why Join?
The NHS Practice Management Network (PMN) is a national community run by practice managers for practice managers. The Network offers support and opportunities to share, develop and influence.
At the moment it's free to join. All you need to get started is your practice number. We ask for this information so that we can ensure that all our members are Primary Care Managers in practice. This gives our members the confidence that whatever they choose to share stays between colleagues.
Our members enjoy access to a number of useful features including:
· Local Networks; an unique feature designed to help you make contact with neighbouring and distant colleagues and groups. It's easy to use (just point and click) and it's packed with contact information and links to hundreds of local networks.
· The Interactive Access Guide; a 'How To' for GP practices containing sections on everything from telephony to patient management.
· Discussion Group; we know how important it is for you to be able to network and our busy and friendly Discussion Group helps our members do just that, allowing them to share good practice and debate issues of the moment with practice managers from across the UK.
Devon Practice Managers Group - a strong force is just one of the many stories of the success brought about by networking, the strength that can be drawn from working together and the resulting benefits to patients.
Devon Practice Managers Group - a strong force
Janine Payne
Primary Care Manager
Dawlish Medical Group
When six Devon PCTs became one in 2004, the practice managers were quick to form a supportive group across the county. With each of the six areas maintaining their practice managers' networks, their Chairs joined forces to form the Devon Practice Managers Group, each bringing one network member with them. The managers saw that as a county wide group, they would have a strong voice, providing the PCT with a large reference group and enabling information to be cascaded quickly throughout 107 practices.
Across this Devon, as in many counties, levels of responsibility, experience and business mandates vary widely and this strong network offers support and confidence where it is needed.
Supporting Practice Managers
Following the start of a benchmarking exercise which caused concerns amongst managers, the Group appealed to the PCT that by working with this network prior to this exercise, they could be more transparent and fair in its delivery. The Practice Managers Group is now frequently consulted on decision making, helping to gain the buy in of all managers and creating an effective working relationship between practices and the PCT.
Effecting Local Policy
When a local directive was issued advising that trained nurses could no longer administer medicines such as vaccines The Practice Managers Group were able to highlight the implications at a patient level and persuaded the PCT to postpone the ruling until March 2010. Members of the Group have been asked to sit on the committee for Patient Group Directives and together they aim to find a solution, enabling safe and appropriate administration in the hands of trained nurses. The Practice Managers Group is keeping all 107 practices informed on progress, especially important in the middle of a flu campaign.
Making Life Better for Patients
There are 21 community hospitals working alongside the practices, sharing the responsibility of treating minor injuries. The PCT thought it would save money by only allowing the practices to treat minor injuries in the absence of a hospital within 10 miles. This meant that patients at one practice had a difficult 10 mile journey across town with poor public transport resulting in an unhappy local community and some very bad local press for the PCT.
14 practices in Teignbridge stood together and refused to sign the new Local Enhanced Service until it has been renegotiated to provide more benefits to patients by providing easier access, a reduction in hospital costs and to reward GPs appropriately.
Now the PCT will not make unilateral changes or introduce policies without this network's input. The head of Primary care attends every Devon Practice Management Group meeting with the aim of learning and sharing information vital to the improvement of care for their local residents.
Next Steps
Networks in other counties in the South West also have strong networks, eg Somerset have 85 practices signed up to PBC. Devon would like to invite Network Leads from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Dorset, Somerset, Avon and Wiltshire to join forces with Devon and share their learning.
Contact:
Janine Payne
Primary Care Manager
Dawlish Medical Group
01626 884112
janine.payne@nhs.net
We would like to hear from you. If you have a story to share with the Practice Management Network, please contact communications@practicemanagement.org.uk.