Everyone thinks they are on the side of good.

Oct 1 contract changes: online REQUESTS not online BOOKING. Gov says one thing, media go off and writes what they want. When headlines promise booking, GPs get the heat, patients feel misled, and the bar for Wes jumps higher than he intended. 😬

Oct 1st contract changes: Given all the hoops and hurdles practices have had to put in place to keep general practice moving, I’m not saying I called it in March. But Wes is due his Question Time moment, just like Tony.

I speak with GPs nationwide. Two camps keep coming up: 1) recruit more GPs 2) grow the wider team and protect GP time for complex care. Which camp are you in?

I speak to retired GPs and the pattern is obvious. They miss the patients, not the job. Not the grind, the tick boxes, or holding a service together on a shoestring. Most stayed as long as they could, then hit eject for their own sanity. There is a warning here for all of us.

You know something has gone badly wrong when your kids’ state primary school starts asking parents for donations. What’s next? McDonald’s sponsoring rulers, Amazon logos on the jumpers, or Tesco buying the naming rights to the school?

I gave up on perfect balance. I work in seasons. Pick the season, lean into it, and stop punishing yourself. Decide before life decides for you.