I hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend, even though it may now seem a distant memory!

Despite the long break, we’ve been busy preparing for our Management in Practice Event to be held in London on 5 September and our news desk has been buzzing.

Commenting on the fact that private firms may step in to cover GP surgery’s out-of-hours care, Neelam Ben-Haque from London said: “Instead of nannying the public, the money should be spent on re-educating them. The government has raised people’s expectations to ridiculous levels.” Do you agree? Let us know.

New in this week, a study shows that every year more than 13 million patients miss their GP appointments. Should patients who fail to turn up be struck off the patient register or should they be fined? Share your thoughts.

The Department of Health is in hot water again, defending its decision to give nurses prescribing powers, saying it does not compromise patient safety. Do nurses at your practice regularly refresh their prescribing skills? How is prescribing shared between nurses and GPs? Email us, we want to know!

Also this week, a new survey found managers think a lack of supervising skill can turn a manager into a bully. Are some people simply not suited to being a manager? What do you think? Does your practice have a bullying awareness scheme?

New in our personal practice section, our practice manager is struggling to get younger patients interested and involved in the GP practice. Car boot sales just don’t cut it! Do you struggle with the same problem at your practice? Tell us all.

Finally a little reminder – next week is our London Management in Practice Event on 5 September at the Business Design Centre in Islington. It’s still not too late to register.

The hectic lifestyle of a practice manager often means your personal training gets sidelined. But the Management in Practice London event is designed especially for you. Recognised by the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) and supported by the RCGP and AMSPAR, you can add up to seven hours towards your continuing professional development (CPD).

The day will be kickstarted with a keynote speech from Professor Gerry McSorley, President of the IHM. It’s too good an opportunity to miss!

I really hope you can make it.

Until then, have a great week!

Stuart Gidden
Supervising Editor