The Management of General Practice

By

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION5

Problem Statement8

Research aims and Objectives8

Methodology of the Research10

Role of the practice management11

The scope of general practice12

General practice provision13

REFERENCES15

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

This document highlights the key areas and skills that are required to manage a General Practice in the NHS (National Health Service).

The Research looks at the new challenges that the governments white paper are moving Primary care towards, such as GP commissioning consortiums and performance managed contracts. And within a change environment what skills will be needed to continue to meet the needs of all stakeholders and patients.

Standards of management in General Practice is important to ensure that a Primary Care service provider, e.g. doctor's surgery, meets the needs of patients, the owners and other stakeholders involved in the organisation. In order to meet the challenges ahead it is necessary to review the current practice management structures and the roles and responsibilities currently undertaken by Practice Managers to ensure that GP practices are in position to meet the challenges ahead and are currently fit for purpose. (Florin, 2004, 159)

There has not been a detailed review of training for the Practice Manager regarding what skills and experience is needed to fulfil the role, nor have there been any major guidelines, only an outline of what Practice management should include, i.e. by the Royal College of General Practitioners and other organisations such as The Institute of Healthcare Management and the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists etc. The new contract gave a list of areas that a Practice Manager should know, but did not explain how, where or why they needed to know them in order to run a business (Royal College of General Practitioners 2006).

The government has made it clear that it wants a more rigorous approach in engaging patients in discussions regarding their health and the government expects new and existing providers to adapt and implement this kind of approach. The third sector providers will be stopped from entering the market as mentioned by the white paper. The Research will look at the new challenges that the government's white paper are moving Primary care towards, such as GP commissioning consortiums and performance managed contracts and bringing a change within the environment what skills will be needed to continue to meet the needs of all stakeholders and patients. In order to deal with the change, General Practitioners need to be responsive so that their quality and performance is not affected.

The GP history originates with the first episode of illness or health control in which ...