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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: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0917-Covid-19-Enhanced-Service-ES-Specification-v.2-4-December-2020-1.pdf Each practice participating in the programme has to be part… Read More

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. The NHS deployment of a COVID-19 vaccine builds on the tried-and-tested rollout plans for influenza vaccine, which is deployed every autumn. With NHS trusts kick-starting the vaccination… Read More

Is the incorporation of primary care networks helpful?

First published in Practice Management in November 2020 Justin Cumberlege from specialist healthcare law firm Hempsons, provides some guidance on incorporating a primary care network Incorporation is the formation of a legal entity (most commonly a company) by a group of individuals, and it is registered at Companies House and… Read More

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. While it does not change the… Read More

Supply and demand in the time of Covid

With a busy flu vaccination season, surgeries have had to juggle supplies with unprecedented demand In ordinary circumstances surgeries, without a wholesale dealers license, are not permitted to share vaccines amongst themselves. Though in the past the MHRA has issued an exemption allowing this. The… Read More

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… Read More

PCN companies – subcontracting restrictions relaxed

We are increasingly being asked by PCNs to advise on whether they can form companies to carry out network activities. This is an attractive option as it means that some or all of the liabilities arising from network activity can be passed on to an entity with limited liability… Read More

Network Contract DES – Amendment

NHSE has now published an amendment to the network contract DES for 2020/21.  The amendments include the following: The clinical lead under the Enhanced Health in Care Home service may be a non-GP clinician with appropriate experience of working in care homes. Although please note that this has to be agreed… Read More

Discrimination claims when recruiting

First published in Practice Management in September 2020 Jon Pearce from specialist healthcare law firm Hempsons warns of inadvertent discrimination when recruiting which could result in a claim The Black Lives Matter campaign has brought to the public’s attention the degree of discrimination still prevalent in our society, and a… Read More

Clinical Director – How well do you understand your role?

If you are a Clinical Director, have you considered getting some training? Hempsons has developed a Clinical Directors Masterclass.  We offer a half day online training session with Clinical Directors to assist them in understanding their roles and responsibilities and how they fit into the governance of the PCN. The… Read More