Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

the minimum standards set out by the PCT, agreed with the Local MedicalCommittee and explicitly stated in the PMS contracts. General Medical ServicesContracts (GMS) will also be expected to achieve the minimum standards required bythis approach.Where practices fall below these standards, timeframes for improvement will beagreed, and time limited support for improvement will be provided in certaincircumstances. Following this, if a practice fails to improve to the required standard,the PCT will:- limit the practice‟s opportunities to deliver extended services, until acceptablestandards are achieved for universal services- re-commission the service or services where performance continues to be belowthe agreed standard beyond the agreed timescale for improvement.2.2 Variable standards of practice managementPractices require good management skills to ensure robust business and clinicalsystems are in place; for instance, in order to target services at particular groups ofpatients, practices must have highly effective call and recall systems which aresupported by good data recording. There are currently 15 of our 54 GP practiceswho score less than 90% of the possible achievement points in the organisationaldomain in QOF.Looking ahead, general practice is likely to need an increasingly high standard ofpractice and business management. In recognition of existing variability and thefuture potential requirements, the PCT will work with local practice managers tocreate an advanced practice manager development programme which is accreditedwith a local University. This will help Dudley to grow its own cadre of the nextgeneration practice managers, who will have the top-level skills likely to be requiredfor general practice in the coming decade.The PCT will also work jointly with local practice managers to develop a mentoringscheme. This will provide sessional support from a highly experienced practicemanager to work alongside staff in a practice, which wishes to develop its systemsand staff skills further.2.3 Primary Care Continuing Professional Development (CPD)General Practice within Dudley has historically had access to a comprehensiveeducation programme provided by the PCT. Traditionally a large number of practiceshave made best use of the training available but there are still practices who do notparticipate in training. A training needs analysis is underway to inform how we canbetter commission training to meet the needs of all practices within Dudley. This willresult in more innovative ways of delivering training supporting practices who alreadyengage but also reaching those who currently do not.A local primary care Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme will bedeveloped which provides opportunities for multi-disciplinary groups of staff to learntogether on priorities arising from this strategy, including:179