We explore the realities of working in a general practice in a remote rural area of northwest Scotland, highlighting the unique geography, distances from hospital care, and the way these factors shape clinical work, patient access, and continuity of care. Andy Vickerstaff, the practice manager for Aultbea and Gairloch Medical Practice, describes how long travel distances profoundly influence decisions about referrals, out-of-hours provision, and the breadth of services the practice must offer - including roles that extend beyond medicine into social support and immediate care. He contrasts their experience during and after the pandemic with more urban practices, noting how telephone consulting became embedded, while video consulting (NHS Near Me) never fully took off locally. Accessibility remains strong in their setting, avoiding the pressures for access to care seen in larger practices and enabling a high degree of continuity, particularly in palliative and end-of-life care. The discussion also examines digital systems, AI, and the need for better national guidance. Andy describes using AI tools like Copilot for administrative tasks - including translating and summarising complex foreign medical records - which he sees as transformative. We rue the demise of SCIMP, once a key Scottish body providing authoritative guidance on coding and information management. Andy argues that with all Scottish practices moving to Vision, there is a major opportunity to re-establish centralised, consistent IT and coding guidance to avoid a fragmented approach across 14 health boards. Finally, he reflects on practical IT challenges for independent practices, identifying primary care finance and payroll systems - especially NHS pension processing - as an area urgently in need of a modern digital solution. Aultbea & Gairloch Medical Practice Primary Care Informatics – formerly known as SCIMP Guide to Scotland's North-West Highlands: where to stay, places to visit and great walks Culture: Beard, sandals, stethoscope Medics of the Glen (needs STV account) Will ye gang tae the Highlands, Leezie Lindsay Donald Where's Your Troosers

In this episode, we speak with Dr Sam Patel, National Programme Lead for the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) Programme, to explore Scotland’s progress toward replacing paper prescriptions with a secure, end-to-end electronic system. Sam explains the legal and technical foundations required to make the transition — from implementing advanced electronic signatures compliant with UK and EU standards, to the key legislative amendments for the programme. We discuss how Scotland’s infrastructure differs from England’s EPS “Spine” system and how the new approach, built on the National Digital Platform, will need to support national identity verification, secure messaging, and audit capability across GP and pharmacy systems. Looking ahead, Sam outlines the project’s timeline, challenges, and expected benefits. The first pilot sites are targeted for late 2028, following the appointment of a delivery partner and integration with new GPIT and pharmacy systems. We discuss the enormous potential for reducing admin time, improving patient convenience, and creating better repeat-prescribing processes — all while ensuring those who are less digitally enabled aren’t left behind. We also touch on moves towards a consolidated medication record, ECS replacement and the Digital Front Door plans for Scotland. About the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP)    DPDP Animation NHS Scotland National Digital Platform (NDP) Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (legislation.gov.uk) Electronic Communications Act 2000 Community Pharmacy Scotland SNUG – Scottish National Users Group   Queries and comments to: alex.defranco@phs.scot Agenda for SNUG Virtual Conference        Register here

In this episode, we discuss the Scottish Cardiovascular DES designed to reduce heart-related deaths by tackling population-wide risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Professor James McCormack suggests a greater focus on shared decision making with patients,  arguing that the common 10% risk threshold used to trigger treatment is an arbitrary figure that often fails to clearly define what the risk actually entails. He contends that most guidelines can overlook the individual. With years of experience of teaching how to explain and apply evidence, using humour, he advocates for a foundational shift toward a patient-centred model, where treatment decisions are made with patients, not for them. The conversation explores how to put this philosophy into practice. Risk calculators such as ASSIGN and QRISK should not be used as diagnostic dictators, but as educational tools to start a conversation. He is highly critical of using terms like "pre-diabetes" or "high risk," which can cause patients to vastly overestimate their danger and create unnecessary anxiety. The solution is clear communication: using visual aids and explaining absolute benefits - for instance, a statin might change a 10% risk to 7 or 8% over a decade. By moving away from rigid protocols and chasing fluctuating measurements, clinicians can reduce patient fear, build trust through shared decision-making, and ultimately rediscover a more enjoyable and effective way to practice medicine. National cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and risk factors toolkit GP Evidence – fantastic site for GPs interested in shared decision making and using patient decision aids, created by Dr Julian Treadwell Complete BS Medicine podcast list – includes the Contented Clinician podcast ASSIGN v2 Cardiovascular calculator PEER simplified Cardiovascular Decision Aid NICE guidance on shared decision making James McCormack YouTube videos The Surrogate Battle - is lower always better? You can subscribe to the SNUG podcast on the following platforms: SNUG podcast on Apple podcasts      SNUG podcast on Spotify Any feedback or comments are welcome via email: alex.defranco@phs.scot    www.snughealth.org.uk 

In this “emergency” podcast we focus on the major announcement that One Advanced has acquired the Vision system, bringing long-awaited clarity after months of uncertainty following INPS’s administration last December. Dr David Cooper and Dr Bill Martin, co-chairs of SNUG, discuss the relief this brings to Vision practices, staff, and NHS teams who had been left in limbo. They reflect on the resilience shown by Vision’s workforce during this challenging period and explore the practical implications for practices now facing rapid transitions. While some EMIS users had quietly hoped for a different outcome, the contractual and financial reality meant that finding a buyer for Vision was the most feasible path forward. The conversation also explores the potential benefits and risks of having a single supplier for both Vision and Docman 10, including opportunities for better integration but also concerns about market competition and innovation. While the migration will be demanding, with practices needing strong change management and training, practices will be supported by trainers and facilitators through the process. Ultimately, the mood was one of cautious relief: challenges lie ahead, but GP IT Re-Provisioning can now move forward after a prolonged period of uncertainty. OneAdvanced completes the purchase of INPS Vision assets Voltage Control—“Change Management for Dummies SNUG Registration - SNUG Hints and Tips Day 2025

At the SNUG Members’ Day, a workshop featured Dr. Keith Mercer discussing his practice’s migration to the Vision IT system, in an interview with National Facilitator Manager Dawn Ellis. PreparationThe team used checklists, spreadsheets, and searches to prepare for the move from EMIS. Keith and the Practice Manager dedicated around 10–12 hours to data mapping, alongside routine work. Staff completed short e-Learning modules on the Vision training system and benefited from early adopter on-site training. Migration & Go-LiveDuring migration, the practice offered urgent appointments only and kept patients informed. EMIS was still used for appointments and prescriptions, while clinical notes went into DACS before transferring to Vision. On go-live day, staff relied on trainer support. Controlled drug prescriptions were quickly added to Vision, and others were scanned into Docman. Post-Migration & OutcomesThe first few weeks were challenging, with staff adapting to Vision and experiencing mental fatigue. Issues included printing prescriptions and Med3s, learning Vision Tasks, and setting up Mail Manager. However, the practice now appreciates Vision’s efficient search, recalls, and modular layout. Keith advises that practices allocate plenty of time for training and preparation and not to underestimate the effort involved in the transition but concludes Vision does have some good functionality, such as better prescription and record-searching capabilities, and stresses the importance of adequate staffing and additional support during early migration stages. NSS GP IT site   EMIS to Vision GP Practice toolkit (only accessible via SWAN) Process and preparation PPT – detailed overview of process at practice level with overview of Vision  (only accessible via SWAN) Vision 3 Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians Cegedim Learning Zone General Practice: Progress since the 2018 General Medical Services contract: Paragraph 50: “The Scottish Government acknowledges that Primary Care data and the infrastructure to support it is inadequate and has said that improving this situation is a priority”. Johnny Logan: what’s another year  

In this episode we hear from some system suppliers who were exhibiting at the recent SNUG Members’ day. Numed’s Simon Healy explains how their ECG, spirometry and blood-pressure devices can integrate with a GP system, Caitlin Collins and Elliot Shaw from Microtech discuss Surgery Pod, a self-service computer system that captures blood-pressure, height, weight and lifestyle data in the waiting room. Eleanor Rafe from Accurx reports that some Scottish practices are now using its two-way messaging and booking-link features to cut phone traffic and provide asynchronous chats. Sharon Hanley and Dani Henderson from X-on Health describe its Surgery Assist chatbot—which begins by texting callers in the phone queue a link to an online symptom-checker and local service sign-posting—with the Surgery Connect cloud telephony platform that shows patients their real-time queue position and offers automated callbacks. And, finally, Rick Thompson from One Advanced describes their new AI agents which could work inside Docman 10: one summarises long discharge letters, another suggests SNOMED codes, and their forthcoming UK-hosted large-language-model (One Advanced AI) which will let clinicians query clinical records in both Docman, and Vision for a summary of entire patient records – once the Information Governance agreements are in place, of course. Imagine a new world in which practices could use integrated devices, smart telephony and trustworthy AI to relieve the 8 a.m. rush, ease the increasing administrative and cognitive load, provide new and smarter ways of working and reclaim clinical time… SNUG Members’ Day video links (SNUG Membership needed) NHS England Guidance on the use of AI-enabled ambient scribing products in health and care settings Ambient Voice Technology AI checklist for clinicians (Dr Gandalf eGP Learning video) Feedback or comments are welcome: alex.defranco@phs.scot    www.snughealth.org.uk 

Estonia vs. Scotland Dr Steve Baguley is a consultant in Sexual Health & HIV and has been Chief Clinical Clinical Digital Officer for NHS Grampian since 2010. This episode features a discussion in which he compares Estonia's effective digital health system, which requires providers to submit care summaries to a central repository, enabling seamless data sharing and full transparency for citizens (who can view their records and audit access), and Scotland’s NHS, which struggles with fragmented IT systems and unfulfilled promises, failing to meet its 2017 pledge for citizen data access by 2020. There have been significant delays in GP IT Re-provisioning, electronic prescribing  and other digital transformation efforts. AI in Healthcare - Opportunities & CautionsSteve also discusses the role of AI in healthcare. He highlights ambient scribe technology as a major breakthrough for reducing clinician administrative burden while maintaining documentation quality. However, he strongly advises caution regarding AI tools like ChatGPT for direct clinical decision-making. For critical applications, he recommends a dual-AI verification system to enhance safety and reliability. Steve argues for a pragmatic, needs-based deployment strategy for AI tools (such as ambient scribes and Microsoft Copilot), prioritizing specific use cases and user requirements. Spending time where it counts – an AI strategy for Health & Social Care in the North of Scotland 2023-27 Health and social care - data strategy: 2024 update - progress and priorities Interesting times for Scottish GP IT (Peter Cairns blog) There's only one team in Tallinn

We have an interview this month with Dr Margaret McCartney, a Glasgow GP, broadcaster, and writer, who discusses her journey into media, the current challenges faced in general practice, and her views on technology, evidence-based medicine, and contemporary healthcare issues. Margaret shares how her media career began rather unexpectedly and gives some insights into her media engagement. She expresses significant frustration with outdated IT systems in Scottish general practice, in particular the current version of Docman, and argues for improvements and suggests integration of beneficial AI technologies could alleviate some of the administrative burdens. The conversation also covers broader healthcare themes, including the application of evidence-based medicine, highlighting the necessity for doctors to interpret guidelines flexibly, and consider patient-specific contexts and complexities. Margaret discusses the application of shared decision-making, including some situations when this may not be appropriate, the implications of fragmented healthcare teams for continuity of care, and the ethical dimensions of assisted dying, advocating caution against expanding medical powers without adequately considering vulnerable populations. Additionally, the discussion touches on concerns regarding social media's impact on young people's mental health, recommending evidence-based approaches to address negative influences effectively. Margaret McCartney Wikipedia page   MedicsVoices: Holding medicine to account The Contented Clinician podcast series BBC Radio 4 Naked Week podcast   BBC Radio 4 Inside Health Adolescence: what teen boys really think of girls, influencers and porn – Guardian Today in focus podcast Atul Gawande: Being Mortal   Frontline TV Documentary Written submission by Dr Margaret McCartney to the UK Parliament's Public Bill Committee regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Registration and Programme for the 2025 SNUG members’ day on May 29, 2025 at Westerwood Hotel

Lexacom began as a simple audio recorder program created by former GP , Dr Andrew Whiteley, originally devised to save time by sending recordings across a network to a secretary. Over two decades, the company has grown organically, serving over 60% of GPs with its digital dictation, transcription, and speech-recognition solutions. In this episode, Dr. Whiteley describes how this developed. Lexacom is now expanding its feature set beyond traditional dictation, focusing on secure cloud-hosted platforms, sophisticated speech-recognition designed for medical terms, and dynamic workflows that tailor letters, reports, and consultation notes to individual practices. A key new focus is the integration of ambient AI, which captures and processes everything said during a GP consultation, then automatically produces a structured note. This enables clinicians to focus on patients rather than data entry. Additional modes can transform dictated text into patient-friendly wording or code it into existing clinical systems. Dr. Whiteley emphasizes patient confidentiality and data security, noting that all data remains encrypted on UK-based servers. The latest version of Lexacom also offers mobile app functionality for home visits, offline work, and seamless syncing, reflecting the company’s continued commitment to developing efficient, user-driven solutions for clinicians. Lexacom website Video demo of Lexacom Echo (GP Templates YouTube video) Lexacom Guide: Brief Review for General Practice (Dr Gandalf YouTube video) Star Trek Voice First Computer

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Professor Roger Neighbour, former GP and past president of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). We discuss how AI-powered tools like Heidi Health and Clinitalk are providing new opportunities for GPs and GP trainees. We discuss: The impact of AI scribes on GP consultations - are they are a game-changer? The benefits and risks of increased use of AI in consultations – will this enhance clinical decisions or deskill doctors? Training implications – can AI provide useful real-time feedback to trainees? The balance between transactional (efficiency-focused) and relational (patient-focused) medicine. “There’s a kind of schism developing between the transactional ways of conducting general practice and the relational ways. I can see that AI could be extremely useful in a transactional consultation to make sure that the actual clinical business got transacted efficiently and effectively …but if we have too great a reliance on that, it could potentially lead to an erosion or possibly an abandoning of some of the other human values, things like kindness, empathy, thoughtfulness, and the cultivating of a personal relationship with patients. And, if AI is sold on the basis of it will save you time, you don't need to write notes anymore, then something is at risk there…” Our conclusions? AI scribes can reduce the administrative burden, but we must ensure they do not remove the “thinking” process in consultations. AI may help reduce clinical errors and help standardize best practices but must be integrated carefully into workflows. AI tools like Clinitalk offer real-time educational feedback, helping trainees develop consultation skills. A significant risk for the future of GP consulting may be an over-reliance on AI, leading to a loss of skills like empathy, intuition, and relationship-building. BJGP Editorial: yesterday’s man? (By Prof Roger Neighbour) Consulting in a Nutshell: A practical guide to successful general practice consultations before, during and beyond the MRCGP AI Scribe compared in General Practice eGPlearning YouTube video comparing  Kiwipen Tortus Anima and Heidi Health. Clinitalk Website Clinitalk: AI Empowered GP Training (Prof Anwar Khan)  WilmslowGP YouTube video Clinitalk: Demo, Security & Pricing  (Dr Nic Boeckx)  WilmslowGP YouTube video Any feedback or comments are welcome via mail: alex.defranco@phs.scot    www.snughealth.org.uk 

Dr Chris Weatherburn discusses his productive year, focusing on maintaining a work-life balance and the value of effective habits and shares insights on managing innovation responsibly within healthcare, advocating for new technology to be implemented safely. Reflecting on challenges in the GP IT landscape, he expresses confidence in overcoming uncertainties surrounding the future of the Vision system and emphasizes adaptability to change, citing the resilience and camaraderie of the GP community as key assets in navigating potential transitions. We discuss resilience, humour, and the satisfaction of patient interactions in general practice. Chris underscores the joy and impact of face-to-face consultations compared to remote methods, advocating for person-centred care despite rising pressures in Primary care. Sharing book recommendations like A Path Through the Jungle by Steve Peters, Unlock Charisma by Vanessa Van Edwards and Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, he offers insights into managing stress, maintaining curiosity, and achieving intrinsic motivation. Chris also touches on AI tools like Storm Genie and their implications for accuracy and truth in knowledge sharing. He concludes with personal reflections on avoiding news for well-being, recommending podcasts like Sliced Bread, and recounting his enjoyment of dancing! Chris Weatherburn’s website Feel-Good Productivity: Ali Abdaal - Summary Unlock Charisma: Vanessa Van Edwards Cues Book Summary Storm LLM: Putting AI to the Test—Is It Accurate? Sliced Bread podcast on BBC Sounds Chris and Caroline salsa in Blackpool Storm Eowyn: Glasgow shuts down due to red weather warnings

We ponder the dramatic news that INPS has gone into administration and catch up on First Minister’s questions before our main discussion with Dr Colin Brown, a retired GP and now Healthcare Informatics Consultant. Colin takes us through the evolution of GP computing systems and reflects on the challenges of implementing technology in healthcare, recounting the early adoption of Gpass, the main GP system in the 1980s and 90s. He highlights its limitations, including frequent breakdowns and outdated infrastructure, and the attempts to modernise it in the F3 group’s efforts to redesign it with dual databases and a central server, which ultimately faced technical and logistical hurdles. The shift to off-the-shelf commercial systems in Scotland, the complexity of integrating systems across NHS sectors, and the overarching challenges of interoperability are key themes. In the latter part of the discussion, the potential of wearable health devices is explored, focusing on their utility for monitoring activity levels, sleep patterns, and even early disease detection. Colin highlights a German national initiative using over half a million wearable devices to gather public health data. He advocates for leveraging this type of data for predictive analytics and better clinical insights, emphasizing the need for accuracy and meaningful interpretation. The conversation also touches on the cautious adoption of AI, with specific examples like digital scribes for consultations, and raises concerns about over-reliance on technology without adequate supervision. Colin concludes by expressing optimism for modular, interoperable platforms to address these longstanding issues, stressing the importance of veracity and utility in health data. First Minister’s questions from Thursday, 19/12/24 (at 46:34) from Broadcasting Scotland Everyday data for COVID-19 from mHealth devices: The PAIDUR framework by Colin Brown. How many steps a day are enough? Preliminary pedometer indices for public health The history of Gpass Inside a Santa Claus academy

In this episode, we discuss migration to the Vision system for EMIS users in Scotland, focusing on key aspects of preparation. Some advantages of the new hosted environment include automatic backups, improved access to clinical systems across multiple sites, more collaborative working, and the ability to use non-medical prescribing with barcoded scripts. Vision Anywhere provides a secure backup system, and offers offline access to patient records, and can be used for home visits. Preparatory steps for migration include the management of non-DM&D drugs, addressing unissued acute scripts, and understanding the Vision system's "Preferred Pharmacy" approach. The migration process involves a structured pre-go-live period with data validation, training, and familiarization with the Vision interface and functionality. GPs are encouraged to complete training, utilize the trial system for their practice, and familiarize themselves with system basics. Transferring methods of working can start now, as users understand how they need to use the new system, re-build data entry templates, appointments, recall and messaging systems. We speak to Dawn Ellis, one of the IT Facilitation Managers working with the NSS GP IT Re-provisioning Team, about how practices, and GPs in particular, can start to approach preparation for migration. We also hear from Dr Mark Kirk, of the Avon Practice in Lanarkshire, which is the first practice to have completed the migration from EMIS to Vision, about how he feels about the move. By accessing the NSS GP IT practice toolkit and actively engaging in available training resources, GPs can effectively adapt to the new system, ensuring improved efficiency and minimizing potential anxieties associated with this significant change. Detailed notes from this podcast discussion with Dawn Ellis NSS GP IT site   EMIS to Vision GP Practice toolkit (only accessible via SWAN) Process and preparation PPT – detailed overview of process at practice level with overview of Vision  (only accessible via SWAN) Vision 3 Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians Cegedim Learning Zone It will all be alright in the end… Any feedback or comments are welcome via email: alex.defranco@phs.scot    www.snughealth.org.uk 

Dr Beth Kerr, a GP in the Scottish Borders, discusses her involvement in digital dermatology on this month’s SNUG podcast. She explains her role as a clinical lead in the development of a digital dermatology pathway in collaboration with the Centre For Sustainable Delivery (CFSD). The project is part of the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) Pathway  and aims to address the significant backlog in dermatology care across Scotland by implementing a streamlined process for GPs to send triage-quality images with referrals via a secure app. This app, integrated with the SCI Gateway referral system, allows images to be taken and uploaded directly to the National Digital Platform without storing data on personal devices. The project was developed in response to the increasing demand for dermatology services, with long waiting times and unfilled specialist posts posing significant challenges. The digital solution, allows GPs to easily attach images to referrals, reducing the need for patients to wait for face-to-face appointments. Beth highlighted the app's benefits, such as faster treatment, better allocation of resources, and the flexibility for GPs to use their own devices. Training resources, including videos and virtual sessions, are planned to ensure smooth adoption across Scotland. Evaluation of the project’s impact will be ongoing, with regular reporting on key performance indicators to measure success and guide further development. Centre for Sustainable Delivery    Introducing the Centre for Sustainable Delivery video Developing a national Digital Dermatology Pathway  Video The Scottish Health Technologies Group's assessment of Store and Forward Teledermatology for triage of primary care referrals. Teledermatology Register for this year’s SNUG conference    Traditional Scottish Ceilidh Band

In this month’s episode we visit Dumfries and Galloway, the latest stop in our trip around the regions. We speak with Dr Neil Kelly, a familiar voice on the SNUG podcast, and discuss life in the South of Scotland and how things are going with preparations for GP system change, how the local project team and facilitators have become  confident in managing the change, and the importance of supporting staff during the transition.  Neil has reduced his GP leadership workload and developed a new interest in farming, but still has plenty of reflections on the evolving nature of general practice, the increase in telephone consultations, the occasional trivia of eConsult requests and why video consultations haven't taken off. We discussed some of the difficulties with integrating systems like digital dictation, ECGs, and spirometry into the new IT environment, due to budget limitations. He’s impressed by Heidi Health, which shows promise in saving time through note-taking and digital dictation, and also discusses the potential benefits of Digital Dermatology, with his practice being one of the early adopters. Neil remains optimistic about the future of general practice in Scotland, contrasting it with the more corporate approach in England. He points out the positive impact of additional support staff like pharmacists, mental health nurses, and the importance of having GPs handle complex tasks. Despite fears of GPs being replaced by other practitioners, Neil believes GPs remain highly efficient and cost-effective. Listen to the end for some wine and book recommendations! Travel Scotland guide to Dumfries and Galloway Things to do in D&G Advice for beginning farmers The Wine Society The Partisan – a book review Now I’m a farmer – The Who

In this episode, we speak to Dr Hannah Allen, a GP with extensive experience in digital health and AI. She discusses her current role with Heidi Health, who developed Heidi, an AI-driven tool designed to assist clinicians. Hannah explains that her interest in Heidi was sparked by its potential to impact healthcare at scale, driven by the needs of clinicians and developed by a doctor. Heidi was originally aimed at enhancing pre-consultation processes but evolved into a comprehensive AI assistant that supports clinicians during and after consultations by automating tasks like note-taking and document generation. This evolution was influenced by a growing appetite for innovation in healthcare, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for efficient, tech-driven solutions. Hannah details how Heidi functions in a clinical setting, describing it as a tool that transcribes consultations and automates the creation of clinical notes and other documentation. This allows clinicians to focus more on patient interactions rather than administrative tasks. She notes that Heidi is customizable, adapting to individual clinicians' preferences in how they document and manage patient care. The tool’s ability to accurately transcribe and generate structured notes has been widely appreciated, with users reporting significant improvements in workflow efficiency and reduced stress. Additionally, Hannah touches on the importance of data security and compliance, explaining that Heidi adheres to GDPR and NHS standards, with robust measures in place to ensure patient data is protected. She also mentions ongoing efforts to integrate Heidi more deeply with GP systems, which would further streamline its use in clinical practice. Heidi website     Resource Centre     Medical use cases Dr. Tom Kelly, CEO & Co-founder @ Heidi introduces Heidi v2.0 UCSF Grand Rounds: Generative AI in Healthcare: Is This our Hemingway Moment? Diagnosis: Teaching, Measuring, Innovating Info matters podcast: Artificial intelligence in health care: Balancing innovation with privacy Any feedback or comments are welcome via email: alex.defranco@phs.scot    www.snughealth.org.uk 

In this episode, we meet Dr Peter Cairns, who is a GP in Wester Hailes Medical Practice, in Edinburgh, and a clinical advisor to the Digital Directorate in Lothian. He mentions his involvement in the Edinburgh Community Link Network, his blog "Primary Care Crunch," and his musical hobbies. Peter discusses a currently mixed picture in general practice, highlighting some improvements in workforce pressures but also challenges like local resource issues and population growth. He reflects on the complexities of system changes in the NHS, emphasizing the need for meaningful data integration and digital transformation to improve quality in Primary Care. We hear about the experiences of practices in Lothian who have moved to the new hosted Cegedim system. Peter expresses cautious optimism about the future, with the planned move to Vision Anywhere and a variety of new plug-ins offering potential improvements in coding, data quality and workflow efficiency. He stresses the importance of high-quality Primary Care and the need for better data usage to support resource allocation and improvements in patient care. He offers a few practical tips for improving general practice, focusing on the importance of better coding, and an incremental approach by practices to their use of DACS. DataLoch Primary Care Crunch blog What’s the point in worrying about Quality in Primary Care…if nobody takes the BMA Workload Guidance seriously? DACS! ATTACK! The future is (probably) digital but which ‘digital front-door’ stacks up for your needs? 2023 The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The First March Out Sunshine on Leith – the Proclaimers The West Lothian Question part 1 (UFO) Top 20 attractions in Lothian

In this episode, we shift our focus from GP IT Re-provisioning to another major change for practices: the upgrade from Docman 7 to the cloud-hosted Docman 10. We've previously discussed Docman's vital role in document management and the GP2GP system for records transfer. Docman is indispensable for handling the influx of results and letters we receive daily. However, like everything else, it’s about to undergo an upgrade across every practice in Scotland. At our recent SNUG Members’ day, Judith Milligan from National Services Scotland outlined how the initial practices were selected for the move to Docman 10 and highlighted the NSS GP IT website as a resource. Today, we hear from the One Advanced Healthcare team, who presented at the SNUG virtual members day. We'll hear from Greta Henderson, Programme Lead for Docman 10 migration; Dianne King, Head of Training and Education; John Galvin, Deployment Manager; and Paul Chenoweth, Senior Training Consultant. Paul demonstrates how Intellisense can streamline filing, using a hospital discharge letter as an example. Prepare for the transition over the next 2 years, as 900 practices in Scotland adopt Docman 10. Access to an e-learning portal and Familiarization environment will be provided shortly before a practice upgrades, but you can also visit the NSS GP IT site now (via a SWAN connection) to see a video demo of Docman 10. Subscribe to the SNUG podcast on Apple or Spotify to stay updated. OneAdvanced Document Workflow National Services Scotland GP IT page (SWAN connection)  NSS GPIT Document Management site - with Docman 10 video (SWAN connection) SNUG Virtual Members’ day videos 2024 (SNUG membership needed) Changes – David Bowie Boris forgets his photo ID

In this episode, we feature a discussion with Dr. Bob Lunan, a GP from Marnock Medical Group in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Bob shares his journey in managing a growing patient population, expanding from 12,500 to over 18,000 patients. He discusses the challenges and successes of integrating new practices, especially during the pandemic. Bob provides insights into the implementation and evolution of the digital triage system AskMyGP. He explains how his practice adapted the system to manage patient demand effectively, balancing online and face-to-face consultations. Bob also highlights their approach to chronic disease management, emphasizing the importance of both online and in-person reviews to ensure comprehensive care. We cover the changing landscape of general practice, discussing how online consultations have shifted patient expectations and also the importance of maintaining hands-on training for new doctors. We consider the move to Vision from EMIS in Ayrshire, the anticipated challenges and some of the proactive steps practices can take to prepare. If you are interested in joining SNUG for support and resources during GP system change, please contact Alex De Franco at alex.defranco@phs.scot. Marnock Medical group AskmyGP About Kilmarnock Tripadvisor: explore Kilmarnock Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror (When We Collide)

In this episode, we meet Emma Lynas and Dr Satya Raghuvanshi, to discuss how Accurx has evolved from a clinical decision support tool for antibiotic prescribing into a comprehensive communication platform for healthcare professionals and patients, facilitating various communication needs, such as sending SMS messages, conducting remote consultations, and managing patient enquiries. It is in 98% practices in England, and has been integrated with the new Vision system for Scotland, and can be used as a tool for total triage as well as for messaging. Accurx’s features include SMS messaging, structured data capture for patient consultations, and collaboration tools for healthcare teams. The platform is able to adapt to different care settings and patient preferences, offering a digital-first approach while supporting traditional communication methods. We discussed potential concerns about overwhelming healthcare practices with increased demand, how to minimise this, emphasizing Accurx's focus on supporting practices in managing their capacity effectively, and also a phased implementation approach, tailored to each practice's readiness and needs, along with the support provided by implementation and support teams. Accurx for Primary Care   Accurx on X. Accurx YouTube channel How to send a pathway to a patient How to send a Florey questionnaire to a patient Accurx: a quick summary of total triage Ivy Medical Group: How an Accurx total triage model has helped staff and patients Register for the SNUG Virtual Members’ Day 2024 Any feedback or comments are welcome via email: andrew.mcelhinney2@nhs.scot or alex.defranco@phs.scot You can subscribe to the SNUG podcast on the following platforms: SNUG podcast on Apple podcasts    SNUG podcast on Google podcasts   SNUG podcast on Spotify