Kernow Health Community Interest Company, owned by local GP partners, has secured funding from NHSE for an IT-based system to help practices efficiently book locum GPs as part of a ‘virtual practice’, or ‘chambers’, called Peninsular Medical Chambers.
To date, other locum chambers around the UK have been set up and run by locum GPs, and this marks a departure from this traditional model by being overseen by local GP partners.
Peninsular Medical Chambers
Project leader Dr Alex Burns said there were “always workforce pressures in the health service” but he hoped the project, which will be piloted in the next few weeks, would make the “best use” of the doctors Cornwall already has. “We’re starting the ‘beta’ phase in May and will be fully up and running by August, and any GP who’s keen can join.” Dr Burns stressed that there’s been “really good political buy-in” from local practices.
