An ICB has reversed its decision not to fund a training course for GPs due to lack of money for their retention, following pressure from the profession.
BMA GP committee England deputy chair Dr David Wrigley, a GP in Carnforth, north Lancashire, shared a piece of communication on X which said that Red Whale update training for GPs this year would not be funded, ‘due to lack of ICB funding for GP retention activities’.
The training, delivered by medical education provider Red Whale, involves latest clinical guidance, a leadership element and other resources, but would only be open to advanced clinical practitioners, including nurses, AHPs and pharmacists, according to the communication.
Dr Wrigley said that this was ‘a gut punch’ to GPs in Lancashire and Cumbria and added that practices are struggling to recruit more GPs and now ‘can’t even guarantee CPD’, the training that keeps GPs up to date on clinical guidance.
Other GP leaders also condemned the move, saying it was ‘disgraceful’ and ‘pathetic’.
Now Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has told Pulse that the funding for the course will continue and apologised for ‘any confusion or concern caused’.
It said that a funding meeting has taken place and the ICB decided to issue an updated statement on the situation.
Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB’s chief operating officer Craig Harris clarified that the communication shared on X by Dr Wrigley ‘was not published by the ICB’ and added that the funding for the course will continue.
He added: ‘The ICB recognises that general practice teams value this training and I am pleased to confirm that it will continue.
‘The ICB has also continued to invest in the primary care training hub, recruitment, retention and workforce development schemes. We apologise for any confusion or concern caused.’
Commenting on the U-turn, GPCE’s Dr Wrigley said: ‘This is a welcome move from the ICB, which has now agreed to continue funding this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for GPs in Lancashire and South Cumbria. It is a shame that it took a social media campaign and media work to make a change occur.
‘While it’s a relief that the decision has been made, it’s a reminder of how close we came to losing vital support. Questions still remain as to why it was thought acceptable that GPs had to be excluded in the first place however and I hope this decision marks a shift towards valuing the role of GPs going forward, and the vital work that we do.’
At the beginning of the year, NHS England announced it would end two schemes designed to retain GPs through professional development, a decision which disappointed GP leaders.
Why would this ICB cause such confusion and concern in the first place? Are they not paid to be clear about these matters?