Practice manager Val Hempsey has been sole partner of the Bridges Medical Practice since June 2006.
She was speaking at the RCGP’s annual national primary care conference, ‘A Fresh Approach’, in Edinburgh today.
She employs another four salaried doctors as well as the retainer who does three sessions a week.
Ms Hempsey said that the arrangement came about after the retainer asked to work at the practice after locuming there.
‘The only stumbling block was that the deanery said, as a retainer, she would have to have a supervisor.
‘As I had been involved in the VTS scheme they approved me as her educational supervisor.’
The prospect caused Ms Hempsey some concern, she said, but has worked well.
It did not involve clinical supervision, she added.
‘She has peer support from the other GPs for that. I was a bit worried at first but, from a management perspective, I felt very comfortable,’ said Ms Hempsey.
Although she acknowledged it was unusual to have a non-clinician as sole partner of a general practice, Ms Hempsey said the model was successful.
‘After 30 years in the NHS I feel I deserve to be there,’ she said.
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