How to rebuild general practice

Support, vision, hope and renewal are values which can raise the position of sessional GPs, says sessional GPs committee member Paula Wright for sessional GPs week

Location: UK
Published: Tuesday 13 June 2023
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With SUPPORT from practices and VISION from ICBs locums can provide HOPE and RENEWAL for general practice

 

SUPPORT from practices

 

S 

Stocked and tidy room 

U 

Unique login 

P 

Payment promptly 

P 

Pension forms signed and employers contribution paid 

O 

Orientation/induction 

R 

Respect agreed workload 

T 

Telephone numbers 

 

VISION from NHS/ICB 

 

V 

Visibility: are locums included in all GP newsletters and communications? 

I 

Inclusion in protected learning events, education and in opportunities to get involved in commissioning

S 

Safeguarding / serious case reviews: access to safeguarding training and cascading serious case reviews to locums 

I 

IT training on clinical systems

O 

Online website access (password required) about services, guidelines, education

N 

NHS net emails: are locums provided with a means to ensure they can sign up to and retain an NHS.net email address even when not based in one practice?

 

Locums can provide HOPE for general practice 

 

H 

Hope: retention in the workforce when burnt out, survival of practices by being able to get respite through locum cover (whether for holiday/illness/maternity/sabbatical, etc) 

O 

Outside roles- special interests can be supported where there is locum cover, and diversified skills are possible through portfolio working 

P 

Perspective: locums bring a fresh perspective on a clinical problem 

E 

Experience: locums can help to spread good practice as they experience many different ways of working as they move around 

 

Locums can provide RENEWAL for general practice 

 

R Renewal of collapsing areas might be possible by attracting in GPs as locums 

E Experience of different practices is disseminated via locums 

N new Networks such as chambers 

E Eyes –fresh pair of eyes for a clinical problem 

W Waste is reduced as locuming offers Retention in the workforce of GPs who might leave 

A Aptitudes are developed because locum work allows GPs to develop portfolios 

L 

Paula Wright is a sessional GPs committee member