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Chapter 12 – Support arrangements for PCTs and practices
- Further resources
- Support for commissioners to implement changes to the nGMS contract
- Support for practices to implement changes to the nGMS contract
12.1 NHS Primary Care Contracting (NHS PCC) is working as the implementation arm of NHS Employers to support the implementation of the agreements reached through stage 1 of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract negotiations in England.
12.2 A range of support is available including National Learning Exchange Events, a helpdesk and local support through NHS PCC’s network of Advisors. Useful information on the support programme and all the latest editions of the relevant documents can also be accessed via their website .
National Learning Exchange Events
12.3 A series of 4 national events were arranged to help Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) address areas of implementation related to nGMS changes. Bookings are still being taken for the final event:
- Monday 6th March at The Hilton Metropole Hotel, London
- the GMS changes for 06/07 including financial implications
- the principles behind the contract negotiations
- the benefits that PCTs and practices are expected to realise through GMS
- other technical changes such as normalisation and contractor population index
- the rationale behind new Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators
- the new enhanced services and how to monitor services.
National Learning Events – The new arrangements for dispensing doctors
12.6 A series of four national events to introduce the new arrangements for dispensing doctors to PCT managers will be held on the following dates:
- Wednesday 22nd February at The Randolph Hotel, Oxford
- Thursday 23rd February at The Holiday Inn Bristol, Filton
- Wednesday 1st March at The Haycock Hotel, Peterborough
- Friday 3rd March at The Canarybar Hotel, York
- for PCTs to understand the new arrangements for dispensing doctor fees
- to understand the financial implications to PCTs and practices
- to understand the implementation of the new dispensary quality payments scheme
- to understand the new guidance on excessive or inappropriate prescribing.
12.9 PCT directors and those working in the area of primary care including prescribing should prioritise attending these events. Places are free and open to all working within the NHS. Please note that if the events become oversubscribed priority will be given to PCT and Strategic Health Authority (SHA) representatives.
12.10 To book visit the NHS PCC website .
Local Support
12.11 NHS PCC has nine geographically based Primary Care Contracting Advisors providing support to every SHA and PCT area in England. The Advisors have a breadth and depth of experience across all areas of primary care contracting, with the ability to share practical implementation experience. The Advisors can:
- attend and support local networks
- arrange and facilitate local and regional events
- respond to queries raised locally
- provide one to one support where appropriate
- provide support and advice on technical areas of nGMS
- spread implementation examples
- keep the area up to date with the latest guidance and information to support implementation.
Help desk and website
12.13 An on line question and answer facility is available. Through the website PCTs and SHAs can search the frequently asked questions database and where an answer is not yet available, e-mail an Advisor with the question. Questions will be forwarded to the Primary Care Contracting Advisor who has specialist knowledge in the area of the question. They will aim to respond as quickly as possible and within 5 days, however, where the question is complex and requires NHS Employers or Department of Health advice responses may take slightly longer. This facility is available to PCT and SHA employees only. Practices and other primary care providers should raise questions via their PCT contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
12.14 Using questions raised through the help desk and questions received from other sources, such as the learning events, a frequently asked questions database will be developed and maintained. This will act as a reference source for PCTs, SHAs and other users of the NHS PCC website. This database will be quality checked by both NHS Employers and the Department of Health prior to publication on the website.
Event presentations
12.15 Following the National Learning Exchange and other local events presentations will be made available on the website as a reference source for delegates and for those unable to attend the events.
Briefings and Information
12.16 In conjunction with NHS Employers NHS PCC will publish briefings and provide links to the latest guidance and other helpful documents direct from the NHS PCC website. If a common area is identified where PCTs need further information and advice factsheets will also be developed.
New@PCC
12.17 New@PCC is the weekly e-mail newsletter collated by the NHS PCC team to keep the NHS up to date with new information across all primary care contracting and related policy areas. This newsletter will alert managers to new documents, information, events and resources as they are made available. To subscribe to new@PCC please visit the NHS PCC website and click on the link on the home page.
12.18 For more information on any of the above, or to find information on any area of support for primary care contracting please contact your local Primary Care Contracting Advisor via the NHS PCC website .
Support for practices to implement changes to the GMS contract
12.19 The GPC will produce a series of guidance notes to help UK GPs and LMCs manoeuvre around the new contract documents and explain how various aspects of the contract will work. There will be a number of ‘Focus on.…’ publications, along with Frequently Asked Questions, available on the BMA website . This information will cover the contract in all four countries of the UK.
12.20 If you have any queries regarding the implementation of the new contract please contact your LMC, askBMA on 0870 60 60 828 or askbma@bma.org.uk (for members) or the GPC directly by emailing info.gpc@bma.org.uk.
Further resources
12.21 Ongoing updates on implementation and negotiations on stage two are available on the NHS Employers website .
12.22 Contract documentation including policy, guidance and legislation for all primary medical care contracting routes (nGMS, Personal Medical Services (PMS), Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS), Primary Care Trust Medical Services (PCTMS)) can be found on the Department of Health website .