Primary Care Direct in pole position at health conference

Kiran Johnson of DKJ Support Services at the Yorkshire Practice Management Conference.

A BUSINESS from East Yorkshire which works to transform lives internationally with its health and justice programmes joined other members of a pioneering initiative at a conference and exhibition which brought together more than 100 health practice managers from across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Agencia, based at Hessle, showcased the work of Primary Care Direct at the Yorkshire Practice Management Conference, which focused on taking a partnership approach to tackle the challenges facing the health sector.

Kiran Johnson of bid management specialist DKJ Support Services – a founder member of Primary Care Direct – represented the partnership at the event, which took place at Rudding Park Hotel near Harrogate.

The conference was sponsored by fellow Primary Care Direct members Capsticks Solicitors and Lloyds Bank, and other exhibitors included property specialists Apollo.

Kiran said: “We set up Primary Care Direct because we heard from practices across the Humber area that they would like to have one place to access their business support from. We used our contacts to expand Primary Care Direct into a consortium which works nationally with GPs, federations and local medical committees.

“At the Yorkshire Practice Management Conference, practice managers came to us to find out about what we can do to support their businesses and help them develop. The issues they are facing include mergers, acquisition, tendering for services. Some of them are not aware of the opportunities and others need help with the bidding process.

“Other members of Primary Care Direct also attended and we will work with them to follow up on the enquiries from the event and increase awareness of the unique nature of our work.”

Ian Crompton, Head of Healthcare at Lloyds Bank, said: “At these events we get a better understanding and we learn more about what’s going on. I go to a lot of conferences which discuss practice issues and practice management and it gives us an idea of what’s happening at the coal face.

“Small businesses, which is what practices have become, can be quite lonely places for the business owners but through our connections we can pull together conferences like this, put people in touch with each other and genuinely bring some support to general practitioners.”

Lisa Geary, head of the Real Estate team in Capsticks’ Leeds office, said feedback from delegates indicated they really benefited from sharing ideas with colleagues at the event and from receiving professional guidance on how to run their businesses to be able to face the challenges ahead.

She added: “The support offered to practice managers to enable them to stay ahead of the curve and operate in a businesslike way is variable. Those missing out on support, networking and training opportunities are more likely to suffer because there is competition from other providers for some of their services. They have to be sharp and aware of what is happening locally and nationally to be able to create viable business models.

“The conference was all about bringing together practice managers to debate current issues regionally and nationally and look at evolution through collaboration. The delegates found it invaluable to be in a room with so many other practice managers who are the people pushing forward with business planning. The benefit for the businesses was that exposure to the decision makers.”