1 November 2012

Sessional GPs an Untapped Resource for CCGs

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are being encouraged to ensure they include sessional GPs more effectively in their developments, in order to provide the very best services for patients.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are being encouraged to ensure they include sessional GPs more effectively in their developments, in order to provide the very best services for patients, in a project report from the RCGP.

The project, conducted by the RCGP and funded from the Department of Health, included a survey which found that many CCGs do recognise and value the contribution sessional GPs can make to commissioning. However, much more could be done to enhance and utilise sessional GPs’ potential, particularly during the early part of their careers,  to improve all round confidence.

The survey’s findings form part of a project report, Sessional GPs in Commissioning, which includes a number of recommendations for CCGs, and examples of best practice from CCGs which have already recognised that sessional GPs are an untapped resource.

There was also evidence that many CCGs could not access a reliable contact list for sessional GPs, who therefore may not be notified of employment opportunities and commissioning developments. The report therefore recommends that sessional GPs put their names forward to their CCG to ensure that they are included in information cascades from the CCG, and that CCGs work with local practices and sessional GP networks to keep these up to date. Other recommendations include:

  • More educational events for sessional GPs to increase engagement and commissioning skills; and career development, essential for succession planning
  • Identify and capitalise on the skills of the wider practice team
  • Identify resources to support the creation of local sessional GP support networks
  • Formal agreement that sessional GPs who work regularly within a CCG should be able to stand for board level roles.

Professor Amanda Howe, RCGP Honorary Secretary, led the project and is a co-author of the report. She said: “Many CCGs are trying to include sessional GPs within their work plans, and there are many sessional GPs who are active within commissioning. Nevertheless, there is still much more than can be done to maximise sessional GP input to commissioning work and workforce, and to reduce levels of variation in their inclusion”.

“Health services need to adapt to reflect the changing demographics of the population and the needs of their patients. They also need to adapt to the changes reflected in their workforce. The rise of the sessional GP as a substantial and important constituent of the primary care workforce has been ongoing for more than a decade. The increasing number of GPs working outside the traditional partnership model brings a new set of challenges to maximise their potential contribution to all aspects of general practice.”

The report, which include the survey’s findings and a full list of stakeholders, can be found at www.rcgp.org.uk/sgpc

ENDS

Further Information

RCGP Press office - 020 3188 7575/7576
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes:

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 46,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.