Workforce Programme

What does CHE aim to achieve?

In line with the NHS’ high impact action around developing the team, the over-arching aim in CHE is to broaden the capacity and capability of the primary care workforce in order to reduce demand for GP time, and connect the patient directly with the most appropriate professional.

What has been achieved by CHE to date?

• Three newly qualified GPs have been recruited, they have led on our quality improvement programme. They have also received mentorship to support retention within the membership.
• Big uptake of the medical assistants training to upskill non-clinical staff and provide support to clinicians. Clinical time was saved in practices and roles have been sustained through ongoing project management and quality improvement support.
• Support for practices in education, training and recruiting allied health professional roles, such as pharmacists and physician associates.
• Several senior non clinical roles to support the federation have been embedded into the team. These include a quality improvement facilitator and project manager to support the wider scope of work across the federation.

What are CHE’s current initiatives?

• Further training to upskill non-clinical staff in all CHE member practices. These include cancer awareness and difficult conversations training sessions to increase knowledge and reduce variation in patient satisfaction.
• Workforce optimisation through EZ Doc training. Clerical staff upskilled to support GP’s administrative workload and develop workforce resilience.
• Continued support for practices around physician associate recruitment from an experienced CHE member practice physician associate.

What are CHE’s future initiatives?

• Enablers for a new PCN workforce. Establishment of peer support networks and standardised suite of recruitment and clinical governance documents which will enable access to a new shared workforce.
• Further training for non-clinical staff around active signposting to ensure patients are signposted to the most appropriate source of help or service.
• Recruit five newly qualified GPs to increase capacity.