Alliance Bite Size December 2025

Welcome to the December Alliance Bite Size for 2025 - 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 continuing to progress and support you.

THANK YOU for everything you continue to do for your patients and communities.

“Thank you to all our Alliance members and general practice. General practice continues to show incredible commitment during a very pressured time. In September alone, Dorset practices delivered 495,000 appointments which is a huge achievement, and a sign of how hard teams are working across the county. Your dedication, professionalism and compassion make a real difference every day. On behalf of the Alliance, thank you.” A message from Dr Forbes Watson, GP and Chair of the Alliance

Alliance becoming a Community Interest Company

In January 2026, the Alliance will become a Community Interest Company (CIC).  This change gives us a stronger structure and helps us plan long term. Our purpose will stay the same: to represent and amplify the voice of general practice across Dorset.

Your wellbeing matters

We know that general practice is extremely busy and that staff might find themselves prioritising the wellbeing of patients over their own self-care. This is our reminder that even when the pressure makes it hard to pause, giving yourself permission to take a one-minute break to breathe, rehydrate or reset, can support your wellbeing. Your health matters too. 

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Alliance 2025 staff survey. We are busy looking at the results and collaborating with the Primary Care Training Hub to see what training and support we should plan for next year. We will give more of an update soon.

Here are some other ways to help you and your staff stay well:

• Flu vaccinations are available for frontline health and care staff this year. If you missed these at your own practice or PCN there are walk-in clinics you can attend, as well as pharmacies. Visit staywelldorset.nhs.uk to find these. Take the time to protect yourself especially as we head into peak flu season.

• Staff wellbeing remains a priority for the Alliance and we will continue to share any wellbeing resources, training and helpful services with you

• Some of our practices and PCNs are piloting an Employee Assistance Programme. This offers confidential support services for staff including legal support, counselling and general advice. To find out if your practice is involved, look out for posters, ask your manager, or email dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk 

• The Alliance is now a strategic partner of Our Dorset - A Movement for Movement, Dorset’s Physical Activity strategy which aims to support everyone to move a little more every day, in ways that work for them. Their website has resources, inspiring stories and practical advice to support people to move more.

Greener General Practice

Work continues following the launch of the Green Practice Guide in October 2024. Practices have achieved some amazing green outcomes and savings so far.  Dorset general practice surgeries going greener to boost health and cut emissions  We will be reviewing and updating the Greener Practice webpage and guide this year ready for 2026 so watch this space!

Alliance Membership events

Thank you to everyone who joined our busy membership events this year. Our event sharing the successes of general practices was well received with over 100 people attending. The nursing network event was so valuable and popular that we hope to run another one next year, along with an additional event for AHPs

Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and system working

Dr Simone Yule, Deputy Chair at the Alliance and GP Partner in North Dorset continues to support the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs). Her focus is helping practices and PCNs link into their local INTs and making sure general practice remains part of wider system conversations. This is a reminder that there is now INT funding available for PCN involvement.  PCNs have been provided with funds from the INT programme and there is an additional fund that INTs can apply for, to support a specific area of work.

Email: dorset.ints@nhs.net

Successes this year

We have been reflecting on the highlights for the Alliance this year, which include:

·     Being a strong voice for general practice across the ICS

·     Sharing a high number of good news stories from practices and PCNs that the media also shared.

·     Launching the Know Your General Practice Team campaign and introducing Canva templates to help practices share local messages about their team

·     Delivering wellbeing support and training for staff

·     Bringing practice managers together and supporting a pan-Dorset approach to meetings

·     Supported a Dorset approach for a community weight management service

Blandford CQC – congratulations

A huge congratulations to Blandford on their recent CQC success. This reflects the hard work of the whole team and is great news for the local community.

South West Chief Nursing Officer Community and Primary Care Nursing Awards 2025

We were proud to see Dorset nurses recognised in the South West Chief Nursing Officer Community and Primary Care Nursing Awards 2025, with several local nominees, finalists and winners. Social posts will follow to help amplify these achievements. Well done to everyone involved!  There are so many achievements across general practice that it’s impossible to highlight them all.  Please keep emailing us with stories of your initiatives and positive news stories. We will support with communication wherever we can.

Practice Manager meetings

Since January, the Alliance has helped bring together a single approach to PM meetings, held alternatively at Miramar and Cobham’s. Thank you to everyone who has been attending and for the honest and helpful conversations. As discussed with all attendees, we will link some PCN manager meetings with PM sessions in 2026 as this will help join up issues and improve solutions. These sessions aim to raise issues and share ideas. We are working to ensure NHS Dorset colleagues join every other month.

Looking ahead to next year:

AHP Event – save the date: 11 March 2026 - invite coming soon.     

There will be another GP event, date TBC later in 2026

Nurses are invited to join the general practice and community Nursing Network – to join, please email Claire Mechen at clare.mechen@dorsetgp.nhs.uk  

A refreshed programme of Alliance membership monthly webinars will continue. Dates are on the Alliance website: Dorset General Practice Alliance

Stay connected

Sign up to the weekly Primary Care Bulletin that is sent from the NHS Dorset inbox.  This is for all staff. 

You can see the most recent news on the SharePoint home page. This includes updates from system partners, UHD, NHS Dorset, pharmacies, training opportunities and more. 

If you need guidance or information, email: dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk.

For all meeting/event dates, please visit our website: Alliance Annual Planner.

Thank you again for your continued hard work.

Dorset General Practice Alliance