The General Practice Podcast

Where are neighbourhoods taking general practice, and what does this mean for Primary Care Networks? In this episode, Ben is joined by Ceri Chaplin, Managing Partner at Hereford Medical Group, and Robert McCartney, Partner at Hempsons, to discuss the latest NHS England neighbourhood proposals and what they could mean for practices. They explore the changing role of PCNs, funding and locally enhanced services, governance, relationships between practices, and why now is the time for practices to prepare for what comes next. What exactly is a neighbourhood? ( 00:27 ) How different areas are approaching neighbourhoods ( 02:13 ) What does the NHS England consultation tell us? ( 04:14 ) Funding, contracts and potential risks for practices ( 05:15 ) Are neighbourhoods simply the next stage of PCNs? ( 07:05 ) What could changes mean for practices and PCN funding? ( 09:07 ) What should practices be doing now? ( 15:20 ) Governance, incorporation and preparing for new contracts ( 16:33 ) The challenge of difficult PCN relationships ( 18:00 ) Why practices need to act now ( 20:20 ) Should practices respond to the consultation? ( 20:43 ) The opportunities neighbourhood working could bring ( 21:32 ) Shifting care into primary and community care ( 23:02 ) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

This week, Ben is joined by Katie Collin, Partner at Ramsay Brown, to discuss NHS England's consultation on Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts and Multi-Neighbourhood Provider contracts. They explore what the proposed contracts could mean for GP practices, PCNs and federations, including the potential impact on funding, governance and locally commissioned services. Katie explains the different contract options, whether PCNs should consider incorporation, and the potential role of federations and collaboratives as MNPs. The discussion also looks at the opportunities and risks of shifting more services into primary care, and why strong governance, transparency and financial planning will be essential as neighbourhood working develops. With the consultation still underway, Katie shares her thoughts on what practices and PCNs should be considering now. Introduction (00:08) The NHS England consultation on neighbourhood provider contracts (00:30) Why the consultation is a positive step for general practice (00:51) Single Neighbourhood Provider contracts: what do they mean for GPs? (03:57) PCN DES vs a local variation: understanding the options (05:47) Could locally commissioned services move through PCNs? (08:39) The financial implications for GP practices (09:00) What the IIF taught us about collective funding (11:01) Why PCN governance could become more important than ever (13:40) Should PCNs consider incorporation? (15:29) The benefits of incorporation and stronger governance (15:57) What are Multi-Neighbourhood Providers (MNPs)? (18:16) Could MNPs create new opportunities for general practice? (20:18) The risks of following the funding into primary care (21:38) How can federations and collaboratives fit into the new model? (23:37) Why governance and transparency will be critical (25:06) What should PCNs and practices do next? (26:03) Visit Katie on Linkedin here , or email Katie directly here . Visit the Ramsay Brown website here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

Integrated neighbourhood working has been talked about for years, but what does it actually look like when it's put into practice? In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Bobby Pozzoni-Child, Director of Partnerships and Transformation for the Buckinghamshire Primary Care Provider Collaborative. Bobby explains how Buckinghamshire has evolved from a GP Provider Alliance into a truly integrated primary care collaborative, bringing together general practice, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry to create a stronger collective voice and deliver better care. If you're interested in neighbourhood health, integration, system leadership or the future role of primary care, this episode offers practical lessons from a system that's already making it happen. Introduction (00:08) Why Buckinghamshire expanded beyond general practice (01:29) Bringing GPs, pharmacies, dentists and optometrists together (02:41) Creating a stronger voice for primary care across the system (04:31) Why neighbourhood working needs relationships and delivery (06:05) How Buckinghamshire is turning collaboration into action (08:01) Building neighbourhood teams and local leadership (10:23) Keeping practices engaged as neighbourhoods grow (11:45) Delivering measurable results through integrated working (14:27) How attitudes towards primary care are changing (16:49) From planning neighbourhoods to delivering care (18:51) Why Bucks isn't waiting for national contracts (20:57) Lessons learned from leading system-wide integration (22:40) Why expanding to wider primary care was the right move (25:59) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back Robyn Clark and Ed Kennedy to discuss the new "return to good" inspections, how they differ from previous CQC visits, and why many practice managers feel these are now effectively practice manager inspections. Ed shares his first-hand experience of being among the first practices inspected under the new approach, while Robyn discusses the wider concerns being raised by practice managers across the country. Together they explore the benefits, challenges and practical steps practices can take to prepare, as well as the growing recognition of practice managers as leaders within the NHS. The new CQC inspection model explained (02:31) Ed's experience of being one of the first practices inspected (04:27) Why these are becoming "practice manager inspections" (05:43) The benefits and limitations of the new approach (07:07) Can practices improve their CQC rating? (07:52) Why inspector consistency remains a major concern (11:45) The increasing pressure on practice managers (14:23) Practical advice to prepare for a CQC inspection (16:18) Key compliance areas inspectors are focusing on (17:08) What to do if you disagree with your inspection report (21:45) Practice managers influencing national NHS policy (22:41) How the role of practice manager is gaining national recognition (24:18) Listen back to a Practice Index – Navigating CQC Inspections with Confidence feating Kay Keane here . 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 .

What does it take for general practice to lead system transformation rather than simply respond to it? In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Dr Sunaina Khanna and Dr Imran Zaman to discuss how they have built a unified leadership model that is helping shape neighbourhood health across one of England's largest Integrated Care Systems. Starting with a collaborative response to winter pressures, they explain how GP leaders came together to create the GP Partnership Board, giving general practice a stronger voice in system decision-making while developing services at scale. They share the practical lessons they've learnt about building trust, securing buy-in from practices, working alongside community providers, and creating leadership that is focused on delivery rather than representation alone. The conversation also explores how general practice can prepare for the future NHS landscape, why working at scale matters, and the importance of demonstrating value through action. Whether you're a GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director, practice manager or system leader, this episode offers valuable insights into building collaboration, influencing change and strengthening the role of general practice within neighbourhood health. Introduction (00:09) How winter pressures sparked a new model of GP collaboration (01:26) Using population health to redesign services at scale (03:20) Building multidisciplinary teams around neighbourhood health (05:59) Why Birmingham & Solihull created the GP Partnership Board (08:25) Winning practice buy-in through delivery, not persuasion (11:39) Balancing uncertainty with opportunity in the changing NHS (13:10) Evolving towards a 24/7 general practice leadership model (16:22) Making general practice easier for the system to work with (17:33) Building stronger partnerships across community services (19:30) Why every area needs a unified GP leadership voice (22:19) Practical advice for creating collaboration at scale (25:30) Learning by doing and proving what works (28:30) Final reflections (29:36) Contact Sunaina directly via email here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

The Carr-Hill formula sits at the heart of GP funding, yet few people fully understand how it works, or the impact it can have on individual practices. In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Matt Jones, GP Partner in Cardiff, who has spent years investigating the formula after discovering significant funding differences between seemingly similar practices. Drawing on Freedom of Information requests, published papers, and detailed analysis, Matt explains why Carr-Hill remains such a controversial issue and why a long-awaited review could have major implications for general practice. Together they explore how the formula's different indices interact, why some practices can lose out by hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, the role of deprivation and fixed costs, and how funding inequalities can affect workforce capacity, patient access, and sustainability. Matt also shares his thoughts on what meaningful reform could look like and why greater transparency is essential if practices are to understand the challenges they face. Introduction (0:09) How did you become interested in the Carr-Hill formula? (0:19) What prompted your research and submissions to the Welsh inquiry? (1:05) Why is understanding Carr-Hill so important ahead of the current review? (1:54) Is the problem really about deprivation, or is it more complex than that? (2:45) Which parts of the formula have the biggest impact on funding? (3:18) Why are some of the formula's deprivation measures now outdated? (4:12) How do the different Carr-Hill indices compound to create large funding gaps? (6:14) Do practices actually know their Carr-Hill scores? (7:49) How large can the funding differences between practices be? (8:43) Why do funding inequalities become harder to fix over time? (10:17) What happens if the formula is adjusted to better reflect current deprivation? (11:31) Does Carr-Hill underestimate the fixed costs of running a GP practice? (12:42) Why does the age and sex index potentially exaggerate funding differences? (13:24) How do fixed costs reduce clinical capacity in lower-funded practices? (14:27) What changes could make the funding model fairer? (15:50) Should national pay uplifts be separated from the Carr-Hill formula? (16:59) Why are funding inequalities continuing to grow? (17:57) What does this mean for access targets and patient care? (19:18) Could funding be based on workload instead? (20:24) What would Matt like to see from the Carr-Hill review? (22:11) Why transparency around funding matters for practices and patients (22:50) Closing thoughts (24:11) Read Matt Jones' paper here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

The proposed Single Neighbourhood Provider Contract could significantly reshape how services are commissioned and delivered at neighbourhood level, but with many details still to be confirmed, PCNs are being faced with important decisions now. In this episode, Ben Gowland is joined by Robert McCartney, Senior Associate at Hempsons, to discuss what we know so far about the SNP Contract, the growing focus on neighbourhood footprints, and how local PCN DES variations could provide opportunities for PCNs to begin implementing change without waiting for national guidance. They explore the practical steps PCNs can take to strengthen their position, including leadership, governance, incorporation, and service redesign. Robert shares why proactive PCNs may be best placed to influence the future of neighbourhood working, maintain control of local services, and demonstrate their ability to lead change across their communities. Introduction (0:08) What are PCNs and practices asking for support with right now? (0:41) Why are some PCNs preparing for the future while others are taking a wait-and-see approach? (1:25) What impact are funding changes having on PCNs and workforce planning? (2:46) What is the Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) Contract? (4:09) How could neighbourhood footprints affect PCN boundaries and membership? (6:01) Can multiple PCNs work together under a neighbourhood model? (7:44) Does collaboration increase the risk of another organisation holding the contract? (9:13) What do the new PCN DES local variations mean for practices? (10:39) Could local DES variations reduce the need for an SNP Contract? (11:11) What opportunities do local variations create for service redesign? (13:47) How do local variations differ from the SNP Contract? (14:50) What should PCNs be doing now to prepare for the future? (17:44) How can proactive leadership help PCNs retain influence and control? (19:58) What practical steps should PCNs take to implement neighbourhood working? (20:36) Do PCNs have the leadership and management capacity needed for change? (22:18) Is incorporation necessary to prepare for the SNP Contract? (23:55) When does setting up a company make sense for a PCN? (24:17) Can federations provide an alternative to incorporation? (26:20) How long does incorporation take and what are the common mistakes? (27:56) Visit the Hempsons website here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this episode of the General Practice Podcast, Ben is joined by Dr Sian Stanley, GP Partner, PCN Clinical Director and Health System Transformation Leader to explore how general practice can play a central role in reshaping urgent and community care. Sian shares the story behind a GP-led urgent treatment centre collaborative in West Essex, bringing together primary care, community services, the acute trust and wider system partners to redesign patient flow and reinvest savings back into local services. This is a fascinating discussion about practical system leadership, collaboration, and the future role of general practice in NHS transformation. Introduction (0:09) Tell us about your roles (0:23) Tell us about the urgent treatment centre and why it's unusual for primary care to lead it (1:38) How does the funding and profit-sharing work within the collaborative? (3:27) Is the hospital involved in the collaborative? (4:42) How does making "left shift" tangible help bring practices on board? (6:15) Is it difficult balancing system leadership with representing practices? (7:16) How do you reassure practices and keep them engaged? (7:50) What is the relationship with the acute trust and how has it developed? (10:04) What impact has the loss of ICB funding had on these roles? (11:28) How do you see the provider collaborative developing? (12:23) Is there nervousness about acute trusts becoming too powerful in community care? (13:47) How do you stop general practice becoming an extension of the acute trust? (15:01) How are you tackling the "substitution effect" around hospital admissions? (17:55) Are you starting to see shared savings models work in practice? (21:14) How did you build influence and get a voice at the table? (23:48) Closing reflections (26:24) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to unpack the realities of the 2026/27 GP contract and what it means for general practice. Claire & Robyn share practical insights into how practices are managing rising expenses, the limitations of current funding allocations, and the increasing challenge of balancing demand with limited resources. They also reflect on wider system issues, including the sustainability of general practice, the risks of shifting workload without adequate funding, and the growing tension between policy expectations and operational reality. Introduction & Sponsor (0:09) Immediate Impact of Contract Changes (2:00) Capacity & Access Funding Changes (9:30) Barriers to Recruitment & Delivery (10:30) Advice & Guidance Changes (17:16) Referral Management & System Pressures (19:09) QOF & Childhood Immunisations Update (24:23) Support Available via Practice Index (26:42) 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 .

In this week's episode, Ben is joined by Dr Sarah Coope, former GP, mediator and CEO of Wild Monday, to explore one of the most challenging aspects of working in general practice - conflict. Sarah shares why conflict is both inevitable and, when handled well, a positive force within teams, particularly in high-pressure environments like general practice and PCNs. The conversation explores why unresolved conflict is so common, how workload and system complexity contribute, and why avoiding difficult conversations can often make things worse. The episode also highlights the emotional toll of conflict, the importance of psychological and emotional safety, and why one-to-one conversations are often more effective than large group discussions. Finally, Sarah discusses the support available for leaders, including coaching, peer networks and structured development programmes. Introduction (0:07) Why conflict is common in general practice (1:15) The impact of pressure, workload and system complexity (2:27) Avoiding conflict and why it can be harmful (4:02) The emotional toll of conflict (5:14) Handling personal conflict and strong emotions (8:50) Expressing how situations feel (11:00) One-to-one vs group conversations (12:36) Structuring the conversation: HiFIVE model (13:50) Challenging assumptions and narratives (15:05) The final part.. (20:06) Summarising the HIGH5 framework (22:43) Supporting leaders with conflict (23:03) Visit the Wild Monday website here . Access the HiFive model here . The Shapes Academy Toolkit can be found here . Access the How To Lead Without Rescuing webinar here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

Ben recently joined Tara Humphrey from THC Primary Care on The Business of Healthcare Podcast, to explore what lies ahead for primary care, the importance of strong relationships in leadership, and what recent GP contract developments mean for Primary Care Networks and neighbourhood-focused approaches. Interested in hearing more from Ben and Tara? Join them at PCN Plus LIVE 2026 on Wednesday 22nd April 2026, where they'll be focusing on how deeper collaboration, locally driven innovation, and bold thinking can shape the future of healthcare delivery. Visit the website here to learn more or secure your place. Introduction (00:55) "Make it easy to work with you" (05:28) Being intentional vs organic in networking (07:56) Writing emails that get responses (09:56) The GP Contract: first reactions (11:41) Are PCNs at risk? (19:10) Moving from discussion to action (24:19) PCN Plus Live 2026 (25:19) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back to the podcast Peter Maynard, Executive Partner at Horfield Health Centre and Ceri Chaplin, Managing Partner at Hereford Medical Group. Following the publication of the 2026/27 GP contract, they discuss the headline changes and what they could mean for general practice. While the announcement highlights new investment, the reality for practices may be more complex, with funding pressures, operational changes and unanswered questions about how the proposals will work in practice. The conversation explores the implications for practice finances, workforce recruitment, PCNs, advice and guidance, performance management and quality frameworks, alongside the practical challenges managers face when implementing national policy locally. As always, the details still need to emerge, but this episode provides an early perspective on the potential risks, opportunities and uncertainties facing general practice over the next year. Introduction (00:49) Initial reactions to the GP Contract (01:17) Funding and the headline investment (03:10) Capacity and Access funding changes (06:39) Changes to ARRS funding (09:44) The future of PCNs and neighbourhood working (11:12) Advice and Guidance becoming core work (13:44) Increased expectations and performance management (17:58) QOF changes and obesity management (21:10) Childhood immunisation targets (22:57) What happens next? (24:31) 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 .

In this week's episode, Ben is joined by Dr Freddie Charrington, GP Partner at Phoenix Health Group in Tetbury, to discuss the growing financial challenges facing dispensing practices, and how the practice transformed its dispensary from near break-even to sustainable profitability. Freddie shares how he unexpectedly became dispensary lead soon after becoming a partner and was tasked with determining whether the service should continue at all. Working alongside his dispensary team, family members and a data scientist, Freddie developed 'Dispensary Market', a tool that compares drug prices across multiple wholesalers, helping practices make smarter purchasing decisions. Freddie also explains how the tool has expanded beyond his own practice, remaining free for GP practices while helping improve both profitability and medication availability across dispensing sites. Introduction (0:08) Freddie's background and becoming dispensary lead (0:20) Why dispensing practices are under financial pressure (1:21) Rural challenges and workforce pressures (2:27) Discovering the true dispensary finances (3:07) Identifying purchasing inefficiencies and drug margins (4:01) From spreadsheets to building a solution (4:45) Developing Dispensary Market (5:27) Expanding wholesalers and improving margins (6:30) Implementing change with the dispensary team (7:21) How the platform works in practice (8:24) Why drug prices change constantly (9:24) Real-time pricing and system design (10:10) Early results and product evolution (10:44) Lessons in change management and user adoption (11:44) Rolling out to other practices (13:23) Keeping the platform free for GP practices (14:43) What is 'Dispensary Market' and how to access it (15:08) Uptake and current usage (16:11) Balancing GP work and running the platform (16:21) Supply chain benefits and stock availability (17:06) Closing reflections (18:10) Check out the 'Dispensary Market' website here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to explore why appraisals are a vital part of staff development in general practice, and how to make them meaningful rather than just a tick-box exercise. They discuss whether 'appraisal season' is helpful or whether reviews should be spread throughout the year, how to structure objectives so they align with wider practice goals, and why appraisals should never contain surprises. The conversation covers practical tips on preparation, 360° feedback, handling difficult conversations, and setting SMART objectives that genuinely support both individual growth and organisational strategy. The episode also explores the unique challenge of appraising practice managers, the benefits of a four point scoring system, and how digital tools like the Appraisals Manager within the Practice Index Hub can streamline the entire appraisal cycle, from scheduling and documentation to tracking objectives and progress. Introduction (0:09) Practice Index Appraisals Manager: what it offers (00:35) Is there such a thing as 'appraisal season'? (01:25) Why appraisals should never contain surprises (02:15) Formal appraisals (03:10) Aligning individual objectives with practice strategy (04:00) Setting meaningful objectives (and how many to set) (06:30) Using SMART objectives effectively (08:30) The importance of preparation and pre-appraisal questionnaires (10:30) 360° feedback and gathering wider perspectives (11:30) Avoiding difficult conversations, and why you shouldn't (13:45) A practical structure for giving constructive feedback (14:45) Rethinking scoring: why move from five points to four? (16:50) Documenting objectives and tracking progress digitally (18:20) Who appraises the practice manager? (19:15) Using the IGPM appraisal toolkit (20:30) Accessing the HR package and Appraisals Manager in the Hub (23:30) Episode summary and close (24:30) Book an HR Package demo here To access the IGPM Appraisal Toolkit, join IGPM here. 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 .

In this episode, Ben is joined by Catherine Pope, Professor of Medical Sociology at Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, to explore how access to general practice really works in practice and what happens to appointment systems over time. Drawing on over 30 years of research and findings from a recent study, the discussion examines the sustainability of different access models, the legacy of initiatives such as Advanced Access, and why practices continually adapt systems to manage demand. The episode explores the limitations of top-down, standardised and digital first solutions, the impact of access systems on patients, reception teams and clinicians, and why variation is often necessary to meet the needs of local populations. The conversation also highlights patient experiences of navigating access, the risks of diversion and looping between services, creative approaches such as the 'Phones and Ladders' game to illustrate access challenges, and the case for more patient-centred, locally adaptable models that prioritise need, continuity and sustainable general practice. Introduction (00:08) Your recent study on access to general practice (01:00) Did you find that practices were able to sustain the benefits of new access systems? (04:04) Have practices managed to stick with the changes they made over time? (09:41) Does this impact sustainability, because eventually people stop doing it? (13:39) 'Phones and Ladders' (15:30) Should access start with local population needs? (19:28) Are current access outcome measures too crude if they focus only on waiting times? (22:05) If people want to access the research or learn more, where can they find it? (24:33) Visit the 'General Practice: Innovation, impact and sustainable change' research here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In the first episode of 2026, Ben is joined by Dr Zalan Alam, General Practitioner, Director of Medical Education and GP Partner, to explore Rochdale's selection as a site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) and what this means in practice for general practice and PCNs. The discussion focuses on improving patient journeys, particularly for frail patients and those in the last year or 1,000 days of life, by strengthening connectivity between primary care, community services, hospices, ambulance services and acute trusts, using standardised frailty assessments, shared care plans and tools such as the Greater Manchester Care Record. The episode also covers targeted neighbourhood working in Rochdale South, the importance of peer leadership and measurable impact for frontline practices, and what comes next as the programme moves from planning into delivery, with an emphasis on locally adaptable models rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Introduction (00:08) Why Rochdale was selected for NHIP (00:29) Population, PCNs and deprivation (01:22) How the programme is structured (02:42) Early priorities and patient journey focus (03:35) Targeting Rochdale South as a proof of concept (05:33) Connectivity gaps and 'lightbulb moments' (06:25) How neighbourhood working operates in practice (07:03) Standardising care plans and frailty pathways (08:40) Using data to identify priority cohorts (10:07) Shared tools, shared vision (12:01) Impact on PCNs and general practice (14:09) System-level integration and why it works in Rochdale (16:12) Moving from planning to delivery (17:42) Measuring impact and managing expectations (18:40) Learning from other NHIP sites (19:13) Reflections & next steps (20:26) Listen to Zalan's previous podcasts 'Innovative intermediate care' here and 'Integration working in practice' here . Contact Zalan via email here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this episode, Ben is joined by Judy Oliver from Oliver & Company to discuss the role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in healthcare and general practice. Judy explains why the voluntary sector is essential yet often misunderstood. She explores how social prescribing and asset mapping can better connect patients with non-clinical support, highlights successful collaborative models such as the Bromley by Bow Centre, and discusses the challenges VCSE organisations face around funding and visibility. The conversation focuses on practical ways PCNs and practices can work more effectively with local voluntary groups, move towards neighbourhood-based care, and take simple next steps to build meaningful partnerships that improve patient outcomes. Introduction (00:08) The Voluntary Sector in General Practice (00:22) What does VCSE mean? (02:23) Does it deliver real benefit? (03:21) How have PCNs worked with the voluntary sector? (05:22) How to find what's available in your area (07:40) Finding the right people (10:22) From PCNs to neighbourhood working (15:01) Next steps (18:18) Getting in touch (19:47) Visit the Oliver & Company website here , or contact Judy via email here , or Charlotte here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we're joined by Claire Houston from Practice Index, Paul Gordon from Atomos, and ​James Gransby from Azets to break down what the latest budget really means for general practice. We explore how tools like the salary calculator and benchmarking manager can support smarter decision making as practices respond to rising costs. They also look closely at how these budget changes affect personal finances, from the withdrawal of personal allowances for high earners to the long term impact of frozen tax thresholds. With insights on NHS pensions, future tax considerations, and the importance of revisiting financial plans, this episode offers straightforward guidance to help practice teams and individuals stay confident, informed, and financially resilient. The Budget (00:08) Benchmarking Manager (02:28) Reactions to the budget (03:30) What should people be doing differently now? (07:55) NHS Pension (09:09) What will be different? (10:58) Increase in the National Living Wage (14:27) The Carr-Hill formula (16:31) The timeframe (19:25) Other changes.. (20:34) ISA changes.. (21:37) Final thoughts.. (24:16) To book your free Benchmarking Manager demo, click here or to access the Salary Calculator, login here . 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 .

In this solo episode, Ben explores how PCNs can transform their role within the local healthcare system by taking the lead in organising neighborhood meetings. Moving beyond the limits of bilateral conversations, Ben explains how these gatherings can unite stakeholders, such as ambulance trusts and mental health services, to drive collaboration, set shared priorities, and influence the direction of neighborhood healthcare planning before formal mandates take shape. With practical advice on starting small, building trust, and fostering genuine partnership, this episode offers tips for PCNs ready to step up as proactive leaders shaping the future of their communities. Introduction (00:09) Neighbourhood meetings (00:30) Convening the neighbourhood meeting.. (02:24) Why does Ben think it's a good idea? (03:14) Argument against.. (10:00) How do I convene a neighbourhood? (14:00) Key takeaways (20:20) For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .

Can AI truly transform how patients access healthcare? In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Hannan Chaudery, Chief Technology Officer of GP Triage, to explore how autonomous AI is reshaping patient care across the NHS. Hannan explains how GP Triage's innovative system prioritises appointments based on clinical urgency, easing the pressure on receptionists and clinicians while improving patient outcomes. With the NHS now requiring online consultations, GP Triage's AI powered triage is leading the way in managing surging demand efficiently and effectively, and adapting seamlessly to the needs of each individual practice. Introduction (00:08) Autonomous AI triage (00:18) Are requirements increasing demand? (01:08) More about Dr Hannan Chaudery.. (02:02) More about GP Triage Ltd.. (02:58) The tools learning (05:42) The risks.. (06:35) Your tool doesn't make mistakes? (07:59) Giving patients the choice (08:53) Evolving your tool over time (12:29) The accuracy of the tool (13:26) Coverage in England and beyond.. (14:48) Implementing change.. (15:40) How do you define success? (17:34) Online vs telephone (20:22) How it all works and what it costs.. (22:00) What's next? (24:31) Visit the GP Triage website here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here .