We are so back

The Beat is your source for all the latest private GP news. Sorry for the long silence: it’s been 20 months since issue #8. Here’s what’s been happening in private general practice.

The latest

1. A new clinical record system built for private GPs. Jump EHR is now available to UK private practices, and it was built specifically for private general practice: SNOMED-coded notes, prescribing checked against dm+d, letters to the patient’s NHS GP via MESH, private e-prescribing through SignatureRx, and booking and invoicing in the same record. It also offers a structured migration from Semble and a 14-day free trial. See the Jump EHR profile, or compare it with other options in our guide to Semble alternatives.
2. The Private GP Forum has a new home. We’ve rebuilt the site so it works properly on a phone. 118 guides have been checked against primary sources such as the CQC, GMC and HMRC, each with a “Last reviewed” date, and they now note where the rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There’s also a free 90-day Launch Pack for anyone setting up.
3. Weight-loss medicines have become a private-sector service. The Health Foundation estimates that around 2.4 million people in the UK are taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, and that NHS prescriptions make up less than 10% of the total. Most private prescribing runs through online providers. With private GP consultations now around 13% of all GP consultations, according to LaingBuisson, the question for many practices is whether a supervised, face-to-face weight management service belongs in their offer. Our guide to choosing which services to offer is a good starting point.

Worth reading

• How to start a private GP practice: the whole route in eight steps, with honest timings.
• Private GP pricing and break-even: one sum tells you how many appointments a month you need.
• Your first CQC inspection: evidence checklist: what to have ready from day one.
• Your emergency drugs cabinet: including why holding even one box of midazolam may need a Home Office licence, which takes six months or more.

What’s next

The Beat will come out monthly: the news that matters to private GPs, one practical answer and a few guides. Tell us what you’d like covered: just reply to this email. Replies come to hello@theprivategpforum.co.uk, and we read every one.

Thanks for sticking with us.

The Private GP Forum team

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