Podcast – Practice Index – Contracts, Costs & Care: Challenges Facing GP Practices

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to discuss the financial challenges currently facing general practice. Together they highlight how inadequate core contract funding and rising inflation are leaving practices unable to cover the real costs of staffing and operations. They also examine the upcoming October contract changes, considering how these may heighten patient expectations around appointments and access, while creating practical challenges for practices working across both digital and analogue systems. Finally, they reflect on the uncertainty surrounding the future of general practice, stressing the importance of safe staffing levels, staff wellbeing, and the urgent need for honest conversations with government about funding and expectations to secure the sustainability of primary care. Introduction (00:09)  Practice Index (00:43) changes to the contract since it was first agreed.. (01:21) Funding.. (05:47)  Have take home profits gone up in practice? (07:42) Uncertainty for practice, uncertainty for staff and insufficient funding.. (09:03) Increase in patient expectations (13:37)  What's different from what was available on the 1st of April? (15:17)  Do you think there's a chance the wording will get changed (18:41)  What's your advice? (23:00) The new contract.. (25:21)  To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here. For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.