GP FederationPatient viewpoint

What is a FederationFederations are groups of general practices that come together

to share responsibility for functions that can include:

•Ensuring sustainability of local General Practice

•The provision of extended care for patients with long term conditions

•The development of new forms of out of hours care

•Training and education

•Peer review and clinical governance

•Sharing clinical expertise to provide additional services to patients

•Sharing back office support eg telephone answering / administrative support

Structure• Number of different options - varies according to the

purpose of the federation.

• Number of legal options defined by law / NHS pension rules - (limited liability partnership, a community interest company, or limited company).

• Governance arrangements require a formal approach where the federation is assuming contracts for collective service delivery across practices.

• Will typically comprise a joint management team funded by constituent practices with a board of governance elected by GPs and their teams.

Why FederatePressures in primary care

•Constrained funding growth / altered funding streams

•Workforce pressures / premises

•Rising patient expectations

•Competition and procurement law

•New medical technologies / IT developments

•Undertaking clinical commissioning

•Rising prevalence of chronic disease / ageing population

Local developments• Collaborative working in the locality to co-

ordinate flu vaccinations to patients in nursing & residential homes

• Enhanced framework to support patients in Nursing & Residential Homes - East and North Herts CCG

• Community anti-coagulation clinic

• North Herts locality - 12 practices agreeing terms to federate

12PointCare Ltd

• North Herts locality federation

• Project board of six agreed - covering business planning, clinical governance, engagement.

• Supported by all 12 practices

• Covering 110 000 population

Initial Aims• To provide NHS health checks to >45 year old

population.

• To provide enhanced GP support over the Winter period (winter pressures money available from the CCG)

• To support education and retention of staff

• To maintain viable local GP services

• To work with local stakeholders to improve care provision in North Herts

What does this mean for you as a patient?

• Maintain and improve Local General Practice

• More local services

• Better access to high quality care

• Continue to support sustainable primary and secondary care service locally