The Halfway Point

🎙 General practice has always evolved, but the pace of change has never been greater. As practices navigate partner retirements, workforce pressures, Primary Care Networks, federations and the growing focus on neighbourhood working, strong governance and the right legal foundations have become more important than ever. In this episode of The Halfway Point , Ben Scorer is joined by Alison Oliver ,...

🎙 Change has always been part of general practice. But for many Primary Care leaders, the pace and scale of change has never felt greater. In this episode of The Halfway Point, Ben Scorer is joined by Danielle Hann , Director of GPMplus , to explore what effective leadership looks like in an environment shaped by workforce pressures, financial challenges, digital transformation, neighbourhood work...

🎙 Conferences, networking events and training sessions are often viewed as a day away from the practice. But are we overlooking their true value?   In this episode of The Halfway Point , Ben Scorer is joined again by James Bowman to explore why networking remains one of the most important professional development opportunities for those working in primary care. Drawing on their recent experiences...

🎙 In this episode of The Halfway Point podcast, Ben is joined by Locum PM’s own and experienced IPC Nurse expert Steph Bouckley to explore why effective Infection Prevention Control in general practice is never a one-person job. Bringing together both the operational and clinical perspectives, Ben and Steph discuss why Practice Managers and IPC leads must work together to create safe, compliant, a...

🎙️ The NHS App is now a key part of the digital front door to primary care. But while many practices are promoting it, are patients actually using it, and are practices making the most of what it can offer?   In this episode of The Halfway Point, Ben is joined by fellow Locum PM Director and NHS App Ambassador, James Bowman , for a practical conversation about how practices can move beyond simply...

🎙️ In this episode, we explore what modern general practice really means in today’s NHS.   We’re joined by Andy King from Unity Practice Solutions, who brings over 25 years of experience across primary care, from Practice Manager to Managing Partner, and now supporting practices, PCNs, and federations through complex change and quality improvement.   Together, we move beyond the usual buzzwords to...

🎙️ Rota management in general practice is often one of the most time-consuming and frustrating parts of the job. Spreadsheets, last-minute changes, gaps in cover, and the constant balancing act between demand and capacity.   In this episode of the Halfway Point Podcast, we explore how practices can move from chaos to clarity when it comes to workforce planning.   We’re joined by the team behind Te...

🎙️ In this episode, we explore what neighbourhood health looks like in action, through a live example from Nottingham City Place-Based Partnership . We’re joined by Michelle, Phillip and Jez to talk through a collaborative project bringing digital health checks directly into community settings using the SISU Health Station.   We discuss the local need driving the work, how the project was supporte...

In this episode of The Halfway Point , we are joined by Richard Stoddart from Redmoor Health to explore how GP practices can move beyond simply being present on social media to using it as a meaningful tool for patient engagement. With increasing demand on Primary Care and a growing expectation for clear, accessible communication, social media is more important than ever. However, many practices s...

Phones ringing off the hook, queues building from 8am, and teams doing their best to keep up. Sound familiar? In this episode, we explore how virtual receptionist technology is starting to ease that pressure, supporting practice teams to manage demand more effectively without losing the human touch. We are joined by Dave Mills, Head of Health & Care at Think Healthcare , who brings decades of...

In this episode, Ben is joined by Mark Widgery from MedLink to explore how smart technology is transforming patient monitoring and recall processes in general practice.   In this episode, we dive into the growing pressures facing practices managing long-term conditions, and why traditional manual searches are quickly becoming a major bottleneck. The conversation unpacks how automation can streamli...

In this episode of The Halfway Point , we are joined by James Bowman, Director at Locum Practice Manager, to break down the NHS Neighbourhood framework and what it really means for GP practices and Primary Care leaders.   There is a lot of noise around “Neighbourhoods” at the moment, but what does it actually look like in practice. Is this just another layer on top of PCNs, or a genuine shift in h...

Sometimes the best thing a Practice Manager can do for their practice is step away from it… if only for a weekend!   In this special episode of The Halfway Point , Ben is joined in person by Practice Manager Jennie Dock, whilst attending a PM Away Weekend. Alongside fellow PMs, we spent a weekend together, creating space to connect, reflect and recharge away from the day-to-day pressures of Primar...

In this episode of The Halfway Point, we take a closer look at something every GP practice talks about but not everyone feels confident about. Significant Event Analysis, or SEA. Joined by Jermaine and Tom from MyPracticeManager, Ben explores what we really mean when we say we are “doing an SEA” and why the process is far more valuable than simply completing a form for governance purposes.   The c...

CQC inspection does not have to mean sleepless nights and last-minute folder reshuffles.   In this episode of The Halfway Point, Ben is joined by Kiran Johnson from DKJ to talk about preparing for CQC the calm way. Together, they explore why inspections still trigger anxiety across NHS Primary Care, what inspectors are actually looking for, and how to build simple, year-round systems that reduce s...

In this episode of The Halfway Point , we are talking about something every Practice Manager is thinking about right now. Money!   Joined again by Tracy Dell, co-founder of Locum Practice Manager ( LPM ) and an experienced NHS Primary Care leader, we explore practical ways to generate more income and reduce unnecessary spending without compromising quality or burning out your team.   We talk about...

Feeling overwhelmed in your practice management role? This episode highlights the simple yet powerful self-care checks that practice managers often overlook, yet are crucial to sustainable success. Discover how to identify burnout risks before they hit crisis level, and learn practical steps to boost your well-being, productivity, and sense of control.   In this episode, Ben and Tracy unpack the o...

Are practice managers burning out because they're taking on too much responsibility alone? Discover how collective leadership and smart outsourcing can transform your workload and your well-being. In this eye-opening episode, Tracy Dell, co-founder of Locum Practice Manager , shares insights from her work across NHS practices nationwide. She reveals the key patterns she’s observed, practice manage...