SUPPORTING PRACTICES BY HELPING MANAGERS PREPARE FOR THE CONTRACT

By The College
Contact the author by e-mail at christopher.johnstone@ntlworld.com

The challenge of implementing the new GMS Contract looks huge. RCGP Scotland has put together a series of workshops designed to help Practice Managers face the challenge and help them, and their practices, prepare for success.

The workshops will cover the organisational indicators in the Quality Framework as well as the statutory requirements of the contract. The modules will guide managers through the equivalent sections of the College’s Quality Practice Award (QPA) and Practice Accreditation criteria - practices who achieve QPA or Practice Accreditation will automatically qualify to receive quality points.

The workshops will have clear learning outcomes, linked to the delivery of the new GP contract, including the opportunity at the end of each workshop to draft an action plan to take back to the practice. There are six workshops in total, which can be taken as a whole, or as free standing days. Delegates who attend the workshops will benefit from sharing experiences with other managers during protected time in the workshops. The workshops will be held in each of the following locations – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow – at the rate of one each month, from October 2003 to March 2004. The workshop topics are:

Workshop A - Introduction to the new GMS contract.
The purpose of the workshop will be to give Practice Managers a broad overview of the whole GMS contract and increase their understanding of the manager’s role in its delivery. Annex C of the Contract, the Competency Framework for Practice Management will be examined and, in conjunction with a Pharmacist, the requirements under Section E – Medicines Management of the Organisational Quality Indicators will also be reviewed.

Workshop B - Records & Patient Communication
The workshop will cover Section A (Records and information for patients) and Section B (Patient Communication) in the Organisational Quality Indicators. The purpose of the day is to support Practice Managers in ensuring that practice systems are in place which will help them maximise outcomes under these parts of the framework.

Workshop C - Employment Practice
Will concentrate on recruiting, training and developing staff.

Workshop D - Employment Practice
Will progress from Workshop C into ensuring that Practice Managers have policies in place in a written procedures manual which will ensure that the practice complies with Equal Opportunities legislation and good employment practice.

Workshop E - Organisational Framework
Will cover three important areas in the Organisational Framework: the implementation and development of a programme of Significant Event Analysis in the practice, the important issues around computer and data security and conducting Patient Surveys.

Workshop F - Legislation
Will help Practice Managers to ensure that they comply with two significant statutory areas, the Data Protection Act/Confidentiality and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

RCGP Scotland is a significant provider of quality primary care education in Scotland. Its involvement in delivering the Practice Manager Workshops meets the College’s priorities of providing education, enhancing quality and improving patient care for all in the Primary Care sector.

Managers working for any GPs, who are members of the College, will receive a 5% discount on the delegate fee.

If you would like any further information about any aspect of the workshops please contact Hazel Illingworth on 0141 211 1658.

hoolet is the magazine of RCGP Scotland. It is supported intellectually, financially and emotionally by RCGP Scotland.

This issue maintained by Robert Hallam.