Next week marks a milestone for practice management teams across the country.
The Institute of General Practice Management has been invited to give oral evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee as part of its scrutiny of the Health Bill. On behalf of our members, we will be giving oral evidence alongside representatives from across the health and care system to share the perspective of practice management teams working at the heart of general practice.
This invitation is significant, not because it recognises the IGPM as an organisation, but because it recognises the importance of the work carried out every day by practice management teams across the country.
For many years, policy discussions about general practice have focused on clinicians, contracts and structures. Yet every change, every reform and every new initiative ultimately relies on people who can implement it. Practice management teams lead organisations, support multidisciplinary teams, manage resources, oversee estates and digital transformation, support workforce development, maintain governance and ensure services continue to operate safely and effectively for patients.
In short, practice management teams are the people who turn policy into practice.
The Health Bill contains proposals that could have a significant impact on the future organisation and delivery of healthcare. As Parliament considers these changes, it is essential that decision makers hear from those responsible for making services work on the ground.
Our evidence will focus on the practical realities of implementation, the opportunities and challenges facing general practice, and the importance of recognising operational leadership as a critical part of delivering successful NHS reform.
Importantly, we want to ensure that the evidence we provide reflects the experiences, concerns and aspirations of practice management teams working across the country. We have emailed every IGPM member to ask for their input and their feedback. if you are not a member, and you’d like to ensure your voice is heard, please do join us.
This is not just an opportunity for IGPM to be heard. It is an opportunity for Parliament to hear the collective voice of practice management teams.
We know that the future of the NHS will depend not only on good policy, but on effective delivery. General practice sits at the heart of communities, and practice management teams sit at the heart of general practice.
