GP Federation Patient viewpoint What is a Federation Federations 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 Federate Pressures 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