Appendix H – General practice quick reference

The following may be helpful as quick reference links for general practices wishing to understand where and how this document can assist them. The full document contains much more detail and should be consulted as appropriate.

About the operating model

Procuring services

Requirements

How the digital requirements for general practice are classified for example what are the “must dos”, what are locally determined and what are practice responsibilities. Details of each of these requirements is provided as:

  • Core and mandated (Must do) requirements for – clinical systems, nationally provided digital services, patient facing systems, and locally commissioned GP IT Enabling services. The latter includes Commissioning GP IT, GP IT Service Desk, Equipment Asset Management, Software Licence Management, Registration Authority (smartcards), NHS Mail Administration, Essential Infrastructure (for example networking and data hosting), HSCN, WiFi, Desktop Infrastructure, Remote Access (incl home), Electronic Messaging (for example SMS), Controlled Digital Environment, Cyber Security, Information Governance, Clinical Safety Assurance, Procurement Support, Contract Support, Estates, Clinical System Training, Data Quality Support, Project Management, Local Digital Strategy, National Digital Services.
  • Enhanced Requirements – locally determined subject to affordability. These are often enablers for efficiency and transformation.
  • General Practice business systems – these are practices responsibility to choose, procure and fund. These include practice websites, telephony, dispensing practices (systems and IT), business systems for example payroll and accounting systems, estate related for example power, comms rooms, air conditioning, IT consumables, practice legal and regulatory responsibilities for example Health and Safety regulations compliance.

Guidance contents

Download a PDF copy of ‘Securing Excellence in Primary Care (GP) Digital Services: The Primary Care (GP) Digital Services Operating Model 2021-2023’