Alliance Bite Size - 2nd February 2024
Welcome to the first Alliance Bite Size for 2024 - an update from the Dorset General Practice Alliance which aims to provide a brief overview to all our member practices on how the Alliance is working to support you.
Representation on your behalf: The Alliance executive team work for you and sit on a number of ICB committees representing primary care. We meet regularly with our colleagues in NHS Dorset and work together with the LMC to represent your voice. NHS Dorset is facing huge financial challenges this year however the Alliance & the LMC is working closely to ensure that primary care is not asked to deliver additional activity without appropriate resource provided. Last year for example we were able to ensure that a Covid anti-viral treatment service for vulnerable patients did receive appropriate funding in primary care after it was initially refused. We will continue to work with the ICB to find solutions to ensure other service changes support our patients without putting undue pressure on our practices. If you or your practice has an issue that you think the Alliance should be apprised of please get in contact by email dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk
How to make General Practice sustainable in Dorset: NHS Dorset has provided additional funding to the Alliance to support implementing the recommendations set out in our report from May 2023. A project steering group is under way with a number of workstream leads from the practices and the National Association of Primary Care working to make the recommendations in this report happen. There are ten workstreams looking at areas including how to improve staff wellbeing; what ‘working smarter’ would look like; how to improve system integration in Dorset; what a potential GP operating model could be; and what a workforce model would look like to provide safe working in Dorset set around the BMA guidance. An additional workstream focusing on the green agenda for practices has also received funding – look out for an invite to the first Dorset Green Summit later in the year and a Dorset Green Primary Care handbook.
Monthly updates will be provided to the Alliance Board meetings and if you would like to find out more about this work please get in touch.
Alliance Board Meeting 7th February: All practices are members of the Alliance and are represented at Board level with an elected member of their PCN. The Board meets monthly and all elected members and Clinical Directors are invited to attend. Papers for all Board meetings can be found on the Alliance website Resources — Dorset GP Alliance
The future of the Alliance: All practice managers, lead GPs, CDs and the Alliance Board members have been invited to attend a Teams meeting on the 14th February 1-2pm to hear plans for the Alliance to transform into its own legal entity. This is an opportunity for all to understand why this is needed, how the Alliance will be funded and what the new company form will look like. There is opportunity for Q&A session with our legal and accounting representatives. If you require an invite for this please email dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk
What else to look out for:
Clare Fuller has accepted an invitation from the Alliance to visit Dorset at the end of April. More detail to follow.
The Alliance and the Primary Care Training Hub Workforce Summit - date tbc soon.
Please do get in touch with the Alliance if you need any further information by email dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk or visit the website Dorset GP Alliance