Talking General Practice

GP Money Matters is a series of special bonus episodes of Talking General Practice sponsored by Wesleyan where we look at key personal finance issues that affect GPs.In this episode GPonline editor Emma Bower talks to Wendy Baillie, a chartered financial planner and the retirement lead for the medical division at Wesleyan, about the complexities of the NHS pension scheme and the specific challenges currently facing GPs.Wendy provides a recap on the McCloud judgment, the high court ruling about unfair changes to public pension schemes, and explains why the resulting administrative backlog is making it difficult for doctors to get the finalised numbers they need to plan their retirement.She discusses the risks of making decisions about retirement without full information on your pension and practical steps GPs can take at different stages of their careers to ensure their pension is in good health.Wendy outlines what you need to consider to ensure you have the retirement you want, particularly if you hope to retire early.This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksFind out more about Wesleyan About WesleyanWesleyan Financial Services supports doctors with advice shaped around the realities of the profession.From complex income structures and portfolio careers to the NHS Pension Scheme and retirement options, its Specialist Financial Advisers work closely with doctors every day. Recognised by the NHS as able to give guidance on the NHS Pension Scheme, Wesleyan brings trusted expertise to key financial decisions. Combining financial planning, investment advice and protection, it helps doctors make confident, informed choices.96% of doctors rated their specialist financial adviser as very good or excellent, reflecting a focused service that helps doctors protect their income, grow wealth and plan ahead with confidence.Remember: The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd (Registered in England and Wales No. 1651212) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AR. Telephone: 0345 351 2352. Calls may be recorded to help us provide, monitor and improve our services to you.

Emma speaks to Dr Nada Khan, a GP in Exeter and clinical lecturer in general practice at Exeter University, about her recent study on GP retention.In this conversation, Nada explains how GP workload has become increasingly intense, fragmented, and risk-laden, and she describes the impact of hybrid access models and moral distress on GPs - all of which is causing experienced doctors to cut back on sessions they work or leave the profession altogether.She also highlights the critical factors that help GPs stay in practice, including the importance of continuity of care, supportive practice teams, and establishing clear workload boundaries .And Nada describes what national policymakers need to understand to address the retention crisis among mid-to-late career GPs, and the practical changes individual practices can make on the ground to support their staff.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links Sustaining a career in general practice: A qualitative study of experienced GPs in South West EnglandAdvice and guidance 'ping-pong' fuelling the GP retention crisisViewpoint: Why experienced GPs are leaving the NHS and how we can keep them  

Emma and Nick talk about the ongoing dispute between the BMA and the government about this year’s GP contract and what the BMA will be asking GP practices to do from 1 June as it steps up collective action. They discuss a vote at the UK LMCs conference earlier this month, which saw LMC representatives back exploring the radical step of moving towards a hybrid NHS/private model for general practice - and the BMA’s confirmation that it plans to ballot the profession on this.They look at an update NHS England published on the GP contract at the end of last week as well as looking ahead to the government’s new NHS workforce plan, which is expected to be published next month, and what that needs to do to ensure there are enough GPs to meet the demands of an ageing population. And they talk about the government’s new Health Bill and what that means for general practice - in particular the plans for a single patient record. And we’ll be talking at This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina DeenUseful linksBMA sets out next steps as GPs ramp up collective actionBMA to ballot GPs on switch to 'Plan B' semi-private contractGP leaders vote to explore NHS/private 'dentist model' for general practiceWes Streeting’s legacy as health and social care secretaryNHS clarifies locum rules on GP reimbursement in contract updateWhat does the new Health Bill mean for GPs?GPs should be fastest-growing part of NHS workforce, experts say

This week Talking General Practice is looking at the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme - or NNHIP. This is the NHS England and government programme to support the development of neighbourhood health with 43 pioneer sites across England leading the way to test how integrated neighbourhood teams and neighbourhood approaches can better support patients.To find out what this looks like on the frontline, Emma speaks to leaders from two of those pioneer sites. Dr Zalan Alam, a GP in Rochdale, discusses his work in intermediate care and the importance of building trust across care boundaries to tackle frailty and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.Meanwhile, Rachel Stead, strategic PCN manager for South Sefton PCN, shares the success of their innovative adverse childhood experiences programme and highlights the need for infrastructure and funding to ensure neighbourhood working is sustainable for general practice.Zalan and Rachel discuss the reality of integrated working, what the future could hold, and why general practice must remain the cornerstone of any successful neighbourhood model.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina DeenUseful linksAs part of the MIMS Healthcare Network, GPonline has produced a new report for our subscribers on neighbourhood health - view the report here.National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme websiteSefton’s adverse childhood experiences programmeCould new PCN rules make neighbourhood contracts redundant?MIMS Learning LiveMIMS Learning Live South is returning to London on Friday 12 June 2026, and tickets are free to book.This is your chance to boost your clinical know-how, connect with peers from across the UK, and gain fresh insights that can make a real difference in your patients’ lives. This year’s clinical programme covers issues including obesity management, paediatrics, women's health and cardiology.We’re also running a GP Business hub stream aimed at GP partners, practice managers and PCN managers, which will cover practice finance, neighbourhood working, using AI in practice and how to meet the challenges of rising patient demand.Get your tickets here www.mimslearninglive.com/south

The GPonline team talks about collective action, after the BMA GP committee narrowly voted in favour of the move, what that action involves and what needs to happen to resolve the dispute.They look at the practice-level reimbursement scheme for GPs, how that is going to work and some of the issues and challenges the scheme could present.And they discuss some late changes to the network contract DES - the contract that governs how primary care networks work - which will allow ICBs to introduce local variations to help develop neighbourhoods and what that could all mean in practice.In our good news story this week, Emma reflects on a conference on tackling health inequalities she attended this week and the great work going on in many local communities.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksBMA lays out collective action roadmap and escalation planWill GPs unite behind collective action?NHS Modernisation Bill to introduce single patient recordPractice-level GP reimbursement scheme limited to salaried GPsRestrictive GP contract changes 'will not boost access'Could new PCN rules make neighbourhood contracts redundant?PCNs should refuse contract variations if work is not properly funded, says BMA

Emma speaks to Dr John Ribchester, a GP partner at Whitstable Medical Practice in Kent, a practice that is frequently cited as a leading example of the ‘neighbourhood NHS’ in action. The practice has spent years shifting services like diagnostics, day surgery, and urgent care out of hospital and into the community.John explains the journey his practice took to develop this model, including the financial risks involved in building GP-owned premises capable of housing consultant clinics, diagnostics and an urgent treatment centre and why he believes working as a single-practice PCN has helped them to do this.He also highlights some of the challenges the practice has faced along the way and the changes he thinks the government could introduce to make working in this way easier. And he offers some practical advice for GPs and primary care teams looking to create change from the ground up.As part of the MIMS Healthcare Network, GPonline has produced a new report for our subscribers on neighbourhood health - view the report here..This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.MIMS Learning LiveMIMS Learning Live South is returning to London on Friday 12 June 2026, and tickets are free to book.This is your chance to boost your clinical know-how, connect with peers from across the UK, and gain fresh insights that can make a real difference in your patients’ lives. This year’s clinical programme covers issues including obesity management, paediatrics, women's health and cardiology.We’re also running a GP Business hub stream aimed at GP partners, practice managers and PCN managers, which will cover practice finance, neighbourhood working, using AI in practice and how to meet the challenges of rising patient demand.Get your tickets here www.mimslearninglive.com/south

In our regular news review, the GPonline team talks about advice and guidance after NHS England was forced to clarify that there was no national target for diverting GP referrals. They also look at some new guidance from the BMA on advice and guidance and whether GPs have been involved locally with the development of controversial single point of access systems that NHS England say will overhaul referrals.They discuss the state of the GP partnership after a private company, Operose Health, approached GP partners with the offer to ‘liberate them’ from the pressure of running a practice. And there’s a brief look ahead to the UK LMCs conference, which starts on 13 May.Our good news story this week is about a practice in North Yorkshire that has been saved from closure.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksCan NHS England bring GPs on board with advice and guidance reforms?NHS rules out 'national target' to cut GP referrals in advice and guidance updateBMA hails progress in talks with DHSC as GP collective action deadline nearsPrivate provider offers to 'liberate GP partners' from running NHS practicesGPs to debate quitting NHS amid warnings over 'Amazon-style' accessPractices rally round to stop village losing GP services

This week Nick and Emma discuss GP retention and look at the reasons why experienced doctors are leaving the role and what the NHS needs to do to ensure more GPs remain in the job for longer.They talk about how the expanded use of online consultations has impacted on GP workload and fears about what this year’s GP contract – which introduces new same-day access targets and changes to GP referrals – and the push towards neighbourhoods could mean for practice workload.And they discuss the latest on this year’s GP contract, including what we know about the practice-level reimbursement scheme for GPs and possible collective action by GPs.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksAdvice and guidance 'ping-pong' fuelling the GP retention crisisViewpoint: Why experienced GPs are leaving the NHS and how we can keep themGP workforce at 10-year high, government claimsGPs working 20 hours a day to clear avalanche of online requestsSteep rise in online consultations over past year, latest data showPreparations underway for return to GP collective actionPractice-level GP reimbursement scheme will not begin until May