Suggested email copy for stakeholders to promote Next Steps to the Strategic Commissioning Framework – a vision for strengthening general practice

Dear all,

Healthy London Partnership has launched the ‘Next Steps to the Strategic Commissioning Framework – a vision for strengthening general practice.’ The framework provides guidance and resources that will support practices to develop high quality larger-scale general practice collaboration across London. This has been developed together with the Londonwide LMCs London STPs, CCGs and overseen by the Primary Care Clinical Cabinet.

In 2015 our offer to the system was the ‘Transforming Primary Care in London: A Strategic Commissioning Framework’ which set out a bold new vision for primary care in the capital. Much work has been done on this and great successes have been achieved; we now have more GPs in training, a broader skill mix in our primary care workforce, greater use of digital technology such as online consultations and 100% extended access for patients across London.

XXX INSERT PRACTICE/CCG is part of this movement and has joined with XXX INSERT NAMES OF OTHER PRACTICES OR NAME OF ORGANISATION to bring benefits for the practice and our local community.

By working together at greater scale, general practice can be both small and big; it can keep providing patients with personalised, whole-person care at practice and network level but it can also provide strategic support, leadership and a strong voice within larger-scale general practice organisations.

Collaboration is not new to general practice. In recent years practices across the capital have been developing stronger relationships with each other and with other care providers. Almost every practice is now part of a larger scale organisation or federation.

The ‘Next Steps to the Strategic Commissioning Framework’ recognises that practices in London are all at different stages. It outlines two main types of collaborative arrangements between practices. These are;

Larger scale general practice models (LGPOs) where multiple practices work via formal collaborative arrangements enabling them to develop and train a broad workforce, create shared operational systems and quality improvement approaches.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) where practices come together with community providers and the voluntary sector to serve smaller populations. The vision is for the creation of multi-disciplinary, team based care for those with enduring, complex health and care needs.

The new publication cites local examples and evidence that large-scale general practice is delivering significant positive results across London. Benefits include:

A developed workforce – new training, support systems and roles for current team members, and new specialists, like clinical pharmacists, joining the workforce.

System partnerships – built by an empowered workforce that speaks with a collective voice, and that integrates its work within the rest of the system.

Economies of scale – efficient creation of policies and procedures, combined purchasing power, and more.

Better quality improvement – thanks to collaboration among the members of a Primary Care Network or other team.

Greater resilience – by sharing back-office functions, pooling team members and developing business intelligence systems

More consistent and accessible care for patients, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team with the combined skills to meets their specific needs ensuring the right care at the right time.

Great care for life, from a joined-up, sustainable, high-quality, local network. This is thanks to new models of care and Integrated Care Systems with deep links to communities and a perspective that takes into account the whole population.

The framework recognises that practices across London are at different stages of collaboration and guidance is being shared on how to start, build upon or enhance collaboration locally. Providers and commissioners will be able to identify their levels of maturity and guidance to assist them

Guidance, templates and resources for GPs, practice staff and stakeholders are available on the Healthy London Partnership Transforming Primary Care website.

Best regards

XXXXX