Fundholding in Northern Region: practice managers' views.

Area of Science:

• Health Management
• Primary Care Services

Background:

• General practice fundholding was a UK National Health Service (NHS) initiative.
• Fundholding aimed to give general practices more control over their budgets for certain services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of practice managers regarding their roles within general practice fundholding schemes.
• To assess the impact of fundholding on practice managers' relationships, involvement, and perceived costs and benefits.

Main Methods:

• A self-completion questionnaire was distributed to practice managers and general practitioners in 30 fundholding practices in the Northern Region.
• Data were collected in June 1993 from first-, second-, and third-wave fundholders.

Main Results:

• Practice managers reported an increased workload due to fundholding responsibilities.
• No significant tensions were observed between practice managers and clinicians regarding these changes.
• Fundholding primarily enhanced the support functions of practice managers without altering established authority structures.

Conclusions:

• General practice fundholding expanded practice managers' roles and workload.
• The initiative did not disrupt existing relationships or authority dynamics within practices.
• Practice managers' roles evolved to support, rather than fundamentally change, practice operations.