News

In December 2019, we published five draft service specifications for engagement; these followed agreement with the British Medical Association General Practitioners Committee (BMA GPC) in January 2019 that the five specifications would form part of the Network DES for 2020/21. Huge thanks are due to the large numbers of GPs, local medical committees (LMCs) and […]

Headache and migraine sufferers will benefit from better diagnosis and care as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve local health services, avoiding up to 16,500 emergency hospital admissions every year. Health chiefs and other experts believe that the greater use of ‘headache diaries’ and fast access to specialist advice for family doctors […]

England’s top doctors have urged people to protect themselves and their families from flu over the coming week amid warnings that new cases may peak over the busy Christmas period. While more people over the age of 65 have got their flu jab than this time last year – the call to action from Professor […]

More lifesaving vaccines should be provided in convenient locations for parents to drive uptake, a new NHS review says today. The findings are being published amid a reduction in children getting vaccinated, with analysis showing that one in seven children aged five had not had both doses of essential measles jabs. Health leaders will also […]

GP Dr Nikki Kanani is now the country’s top family doctor after being appointed Medical Director for Primary Care for the NHS in England. Dr Kanani said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England and NHS Improvement. This is one of the most central roles in […]

A survey of thousands of GPs reveals nine in 10 family doctors say their annual work appraisal – a regular review of each GP’s performance, carried out by a senior doctor – has helped them to improve patients’ care as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Feedback from more than 13,000 GPs published today […]

Nine out of 10 patients have “confidence and trust” in their family doctor as well as other general practice staff such as nurses and pharmacists, according to new research published today. Patients rate their overall experience of their family doctor highly, with four out of five saying their GP treats them with “care and concern” […]

A scheme that has helped keep more than 1,000 nurses, midwives and other clinicians in the NHS will be rolled out to cover staff working in general practice as well as hospitals, the NHS announced today. A ‘transfer window’ lets staff move within the NHS between areas while developing new skills. Rewards from local businesses […]

Patients are set to get longer appointments with their family doctor thanks to new ways of working which start today. Practices large and small will work to support each other and deliver a wider range of specialist care services for patients from a range of skilled health professionals. Around 7,000 practices across England – more […]

The story of a Cornish fishing town’s hunt for a new family doctor has a happy ending after health chiefs stepped in. Locals in the picturesque port of Mevagissey faced losing their GP surgery after GP Dr Kathy James handed in her notice. Their hunt for a replacement, which had the social media hashtag #willyoubemygp […]