Latest articles

Latest Medeconomics articles

How to boost uptake of online patient access to records

There are several benefits of providing online access to records, but how can practices increase uptake among their patients?

GDPR: Advice on data protection officers

Information governance specialist Amy Ford answers questions from practices about appointing data protection officers in light of the GDPR.

Guide to practice accounts

Our guide to the annual accounts will help partners and practice managers better understand the practice's finances and how to use this information as a business tool.

Guide to practice accounts: The income and expenditure account

This shows the practice's profit for the year and should be set out in a standard format to provide an easy-to-read summary of practice income and expenditure. By Sue Beaton.

What is included in a set of accounts?

Chris Howe explains what your annual accounts should contain to reflect the practice's financial performance and to be useful as a management tool.

Using the accounts as a financial planning tool

Receiving the annual accounts from the practice accountants is a useful prompt to take stock of the practice's financial performance. By Luke Bennett.

Guide to practice accounts: The partners' working capital

GP partners need to keep money in their practice to fund its day-to-day activities. This working capital is shown as 'net current assets' in the accounts. By Barry Rigby.

Guide to practice accounts: How profit is allocated to the partners

Practice profits are normally divided into two categories - a top slice from income earned by individual partners and the remainder, the pool of profit in which all partners share. By Liz Densley.

Guide to practice accounts: The balance sheet

This is one of the most important statements in the practice accounts, showing how the practice is being funded and how it is using its funds. By Seamus Dawson.

Guide to practice accounts: Analysis of income and expenditure

The various practice income and expenses categories should be itemised in the annual accounts so that you can track profits and investigate why they are rising or falling. By Simon Gray.

How does the national data opt-out programme affect practices?

Medeconomics explains the national data opt out and provides details of resources for practices.

Extended hours access enhanced service 2018/19

A summary of what is involved in the extended hours access ES for England.

What are practices' contractual obligations on e-referrals?

As part of the 2018/19 GP contract it will be a contractual requirement for practices to use the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) for all referrals to first consultant-led outpatient appointments from October 2018.

Learning disabilities enhanced service requirements 2018/19

A summary of what is involved in the learning disabilities health check scheme ES for England.

How practices should deal with subject access requests

The BMA has updated its guidance on subject access requests in light of the GDPR. Medeconomics provides a summary.

GDPR checklist

What should practices be doing to ensure they comply with the GDPR? Including links to useful resources.

How to protect your practice from fraud

Accountant Laurence Slavin highlights some examples of fraud in general practice and offers advice on how to prevent them occurring in your business.

Details of 2018/19 GP contract for England

A summary of changes to the GP contract for 2018/19, with links to key guidance.

Alcohol-related risk reduction GMS contract requirements

It is a contractual requirement for practices to identify newly-registered patients who are drinking at increased or high-risk levels. Patients identified as at risk should also be screened for depression