Alliance Bite Size No. 7 Jan 2025
Welcome to the first Alliance Bite Size for 2025 - an update from the Dorset General Practice Alliance which aims to provide a brief overview to all our member practices on how the Alliance is continuing to support you.
This year the Alliance will continue to represent your voice in general practice and form a new formal Community Interest Company due to launch in the next few months.
What else are we doing this year?
🤝 Collective Action: The Alliance continues to work with the LMC and the ICB around elements of the national collective action and this included developing an interim solution for funding the shared care activity in general practice. A more detailed and longer-term proposal is in development for the new financial year as well as a review of all LES contracts. Further information will be discussed with practices at our membership events.
📚 Wellbeing Training for Staff: The Alliance Staff Wellbeing Survey in 2024 highlighted the need for additional training and wellbeing support for staff. The Primary Care Training Hub secured funding for additional training for the Alliance, and we will be providing a number of workshops to support staff in managing their own wellbeing and dealing with conflict.
These include Take a Break: A Workshop on Staying Well at Work and Home: for pharmacist, AHPs and nurses working in general practice, hosted by Dr Tamsin Betts. Book now Take A Break Training - Cobham's - 25th February 25 and Take A Break Training - Shire Hall - 18th March 25
Virtual training. Developing Positive Relationships with Patients & Colleagues- Virtual training
After the successful face-to-face training workshop with Emma Hackett in November, we will be offering virtual sessions on Developing Positive Relationships with Patients & Colleagues in the coming months. Dates and the booking form will be shared soon.
2025 Membership Events
Shaping Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in Dorset - Wednesday 15th January 1-5pm
The Alliance co-hosted this event with Dorset Healthcare NHS, and it was a great success with a huge turnout. Attendees explored the potential of INTs in bringing together everyone who cares for or supports a community, clarified what these teams could look like, and paved the way forward for the people of Dorset. The team-building activities were both fun and engaging, fostering collaboration and a shared vision for the future.
Spring Membership Event ‘Celebrating Success & Sharing Ideas in General Practice’ - Wednesday 12th March 1-5pm
Cobham’s Sports & Social Club, Merley Park Road, Ashington, BH21 3DA. Our Spring Membership Event will celebrate our achievements and success in general practice and PCNs and is an opportunity to showcase and highlight a range of successful strategies, great ideas and innovations. We are inviting all practices and PCNs to participate and to use this event as an opportunity to let others know what works well and how your ideas can be replicated across Dorset. Book your space here Spring Membership Event Tickets
Don’t forget our upcoming monthly Membership Webinars via Microsoft Teams
January 22nd 1-2pm and February 19th 1-2pm
For all meeting/event dates, please visit our website: Alliance Annual Planner
Surveys
A Dorset survey about Self Care for people living in Dorset. The Alliance would like to understand what the public may need in addition to the services provided by GP Practices to help them take more care of themselves so that their health and wellbeing is maintained and even improved.
Take the Survey HERE Last chance to have your say, the survey closes on 21st January.
Other News: Free Office Furniture
There is an opportunity for free office furniture from a company (Prime PLC) who have just bought the old Magna Housing Association building in Dorchester. This company wishes to donate furniture to public sectors/charities in the local area. If you are interested, please email for more information - Michelle.Robinson@primeplc.com
Dorset Practice Manager Meetings
The Alliance is now supporting Practice Managers as well as PCNs and have increased their bi-monthly face-to-face meetings to monthly and added an additional venue in Dorset.
🌿 Making General Practice More Sustainable
You asked for ways to go green, and we delivered! We held a successful Green Membership Event, sharing key insights and actionable steps to make general practice more sustainable. Alongside this, we launched the Green Guide to support practices on their eco-friendly journey. Click this link to find out more and access the full guide
NHS Forest Team
NHS Forest offer a fantastic selection of trees (starting in bundles of 10), including broad-leafed and fruit varieties, with stakes, guards, and mulch mats—completely free, thanks to Defra funding.
Our Nature for Climate and Trees funding ends in March 2025, so take advantage of this opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for healthcare sites and support the NHS’s Net Zero strategy. Tree planting on healthcare sites - NHS Forest
Please do get in touch with the Alliance if you need any further information by email dorsetgpalliance@dorsetgp.nhs.uk or visit the website Dorset GP Alliance