NHS primary care trust

The context

Across the UK there has been significant concern over prescription waste and spending - both in terms of unused prescriptions and the use of branded drugs as opposed to cheaper generic ones. Practice Medicine managers have been recruited into some PCT's GP practices in order to help them review prescribing and monitoring practices and bring down costs. These jobs are filled by a wide variety of people, for example people with nursing and pharmaceutical backgrounds, receptionists and administrators.

The need

GP practices are small businesses. They are owned and run by busy GPs who often "rule the roost". Challenging and influencing how drugs are prescribed and monitored can be a difficult job particularly for non medical or pharmaceutical staff. The need was identified to increase their confidence, influencing skills and behavioural understanding of the practice medicine managers so that they can drive change in practice.

The solution

Working with all the practice medicine managers from across the PCT to strengthen the support network by:

• exploring in depth the group dynamics in team workshops
• sharing issues, concerns and best practice between practice medicine managers
• increasing understanding of how they and others "tick" using psychometric tools such as MBTI
• developing strategies for influencing and working with GP's and practice managers

The outcome

Confident practice medicine managers who are now making a significant contribution to reducing unnecessary or inappropriate prescription spend.