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Social Care Newsbrief autumn 2021
Read the autumn 2021 Social Care Newsbrief.
New Hempsons Southampton office
Announcing the opening of our fifth UK office.
Make your merger magic – not manic
The last 12 months has seen practices working much more closely together to respond to the pandemic and to deliver the network contract DES in PCNs. Many practices, having seen the benefits of closer working, are now considering merging. In this article, Alison Oliver outlines some of the key issues to consider if you are thinking about merging with one or more other practices.
Do you want to change or leave your PCN? Have you reviewed the 2021-2022 Network Specification?
If you are thinking of changing PCNs, leaving your PCN or opting out of the Network Contract DES, you must inform your CCG by 30th April at the latest.
Administration after incorporation
Kirsty Odell, Associate and Georgina Hall, Paralegal at specialist healthcare law firm Hempsons explain what you need to do once you have incorporated a company.
Primary Care – the impact of the White Paper
The main thrust of the paper is to put ICS (integrated Care Systems) onto a statutory footing, and provide the statutory foundation for the reforms which are a progression of the Five Year Forward View (which was published 7 years ago now) and the NHS Long Term Plan published in 2019.
Contract changes for 2021/22 announced
NHS England issued a letter on 21 January 2021 summarising changes to the GMS contract for 2021/2022. Ongoing uncertainty arising from the pandemic means that there will need to be further changes to the contract in the course of the year.
What type of company should our PCN be?
Justin Cumberlege, from specialist healthcare law firm Hempsons, provides some guidance on the type of company you may want for your primary care network and whether a community interest company might be right for you.
Are you licensed for your COVID Vacs sites?
Finding appropriate venues to give the COVID-19 vaccinations has resulted in some creative thinking as to places where this can be done.
Checked your Covid-19 Collaboration Agreement?
With the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme by general practice starting next week, practices need to agree the terms on which they will collaborate to deliver the programme in accordance with the vaccination enhanced service specification
Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment and the importance of Consent
With several potential vaccines for COVID-19 in development, the positive news concerning those in development has been welcome following the second national lockdown.
Is the incorporation of primary care networks helpful?
Justin Cumberlege from specialist healthcare law firm Hempsons, provides some guidance on incorporating a primary care network
Incorporation of GP practices – what the NHS may require
GP practices wanting to incorporate will be considered in line with new guidance issued by the NHS. GP enquiries about incorporating their practices or forming PCN companies have risen in part driven by the added liability created by PCNs and other "at scale" providers.
What you need to know about new partner incentive payments
The NHS New to Partnership Payment Scheme (N2PP) provides funding to encourage clinicians to take on partnership roles in GP practices. In this article, Alison Oliver (a partner at Hempsons) runs through the main features of N2PP and summarises some key considerations for both the practice and for a new partner joining a practice.