If you work in general practice, you’ll know that some days feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle… on a treadmill. We’re expected to deliver excellent patient care, manage teams, stay compliant, keep morale up, and still find time for “strategic planning.” PCN and Practice Manager Tom Hewitt explains how just two areas quietly make or break a practice...

1. Having a solid, up‑to‑date policy system
2. Making sure you’re not leaving money on the table through missed income opportunities

They’re not glamorous topics. They’re not the things we dream about during coffee breaks. But they’re the things that reduce stress, keep the CQC happy, and make life smoother for the whole team.

And I want to show you why — with a real‑life example I’ve seen in practices.

Case Study: The Policy System That (Almost) Broke the Practice

A few months ago, I was working with a local practice. Lovely team, great patient feedback — but policies? They had them scattered across:

• A shared drive
• Multiple personal desktops
• A filing cabinet
• The old practice manager’s email account (who had left in 2019)

Right before their CQC visit, the practice was in full‑blown panic mode — policies scattered everywhere and no one quite sure what was up-to-date.

Then the inspector asked:

“Can I see your business continuity plan?”

Cue a painful 20‑minute hunt that ended with IT digging a file out of the abyss.

They weren’t doing anything wrong — just buried under the volume of documents practices are expected to manage.

So, they switched to a proper centralised system like FPM Core. Within weeks, the manager said:

“For the first time, I’m not dreading CQC.”

That’s what a good policy system does — it gives you your confidence (and your time) back.

Our market leading compliance software FPM Core lets you know who has read what policies, and when, so you are always up to date with compliance - click here to book your demo today

Diversifying Income Without Burning Out Your Team

It’s no secret that the traditional funding model isn’t enough anymore. But diversification doesn’t have to mean piling on more services.

Sometimes it’s simply:

✔ Getting PA drugs claims right
✔ Offering private medicals more consistently
✔ Reviewing travel vaccine charges
✔ Improving reconciliation processes
✔ Maximising enhanced services you already deliver

The Hidden Income Stream So Many Practices Miss: FP34D

Let’s talk money — because most practices are tightening their belts right now.

FP34D claims for personally administered drugs are one of the most common areas I see income slipping through the cracks.

One practice discovered they were missing around £9,000 a year, simply because:

• Vaccines weren’t coded properly
• Claims were rushed at month-end
• New staff had no FP34D training
• No one reconciled BSA payments

This isn’t about creating more work. It’s about getting paid properly for the work you already do.

Small improvements. Huge impact.

Click here to chat with Helen about your FP34D Training needs