New GP Federation launched in Shropshire
More than 50 GP practices across Shropshire have joined forces to launch Shropshire’s first GP Federation in a bid to save tens of thousands of pounds and improve patient care.
The GP Federation for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin was launched by GPs and practice managers, at Shrewsbury Town Football Club.
Dr Russell Muirhead, chairman of the federation said this would allow practice staff to dedicate their time to the practice and delivering care rather than spending an increasing amount of time on administrative tasks.
He said every practice across the county had joined the not-for-profit federation as they all wanted the same outcome - “to ensure the patients receive the best care and service”.
He said: “The federation will bring expertise a range of support services that allow practices to focus on delivering more care closer to home which should result in tens of thousands of pounds in savings which means the money saved will be reinvested into the practices and into services for the benefit of the patient.
“Most importantly it will be the patients who see and feel the improvement to their local health care services.”
Described as a “huge culture change” for GP practices, Dr Muirhead said the federation, based at Shropdoc head office on Longbow Close in Shrewsbury, would offer one point of contact with the Clinical Commissioning Groups for services and enable staff to care for patients rather than spending hours on such tasks as negotiating contracts or sourcing a particular product or service.
Ian Winstanley, Chief Executive Officer of Shropdoc and acting CEO of the Federation, said GP practice budgets across the UK were being reduced but hoped the work of the federation would enable practices to enhance their services despite the NHS financial position.
Craig Wallace, manager of the GP Federation for Shropshire and Telford, said money saved would be re-invested in the local health economy which was crucial for its future.
“Some GP practices are looking at a 20 per cent deficit in income so therefore the federation will act as a support network to ensure the patients get the service they deserve,” he said.
The federation will bid for local services put out by the clinical commissioning groups or public health and if successful the federation would offer such services to all practices within the federation. One service already being run by the federation is Help 2 Slim.
Services which could be shared under the federation include receptions, telephony triage and virtual back office administration and support.
Federation staff could help practices to save money on insurance packages and vaccines through bulk buying arrangements being negotiated by Caradoc Medical Services.
GP federations across the UK have won contracts worth millions of pounds to offer community services such as diabetes care in the community.
