A total of 17 CCGs have more than £2m remaining funds available between them for general practices to access by the end of the financial year, an investigation by Management in Practice’s sister website Pulse Intelligence has found.
The funding is what is left of budget allocations devolved to CCGs by NHS England to support primary care development in 2019/20, including GP Forward View (GPFV) funding streams such as practice receptionist training and GP retention schemes.
Practices can potentially bid for outstanding money for 2019/20 within the next three weeks.
The information comes from responses to Freedom of Information requests sent to 191 CCGs. Out of a total of 161 responses, 17 CCGs reported having some remaining funds in NHS England schemes.
Most of the remaining unallocated funds are badged for key GPFV initiatives used to support training for reception and clerical staff, adoption of online consultation systems, practice resilience and retention of GP staff.
The full list of CCGs with funding available is detailed on the Pulse Intelligence website, where you can see a breakdown of the schemes and available funds for each.
While CCGs may flag up these kinds of funding opportunities to their member practices, local GP leaders say practices should consider approaching their CCG to ask about any uncommitted funds.
Dr Dean Eggitt, GP partner in south Yorkshire and medical secretary at Doncaster LMC, said: ‘It is worth making a habit of contacting your CCG in the early new year to ask if there is any available underspend to apply for.’
To find out details on remaining 2019/20 funds, go to Pulse Intelligence to see which CCGs have funding and how much is available at each, as well as expert tips on securing a last-minute bid for funds and how to access specific GPFV funding schemes.
Pulse Intelligence is an information service for GPs and practice managers in England, providing unique and insightful financial tools to help practices make more money and operate more efficiently.
Sign up for a 30-day free trial at www.pulse-intelligence.co.uk
