In this episode of freemeup in Practice, James explores one of the biggest hidden drains in General Practice — misalignment. When the wrong people do the wrong work, GPs drown in admin, staff feel underused, and patients face unnecessary delays.

Through real case studies — from duplicated diabetic reviews to underused pharmacists and referral bottlenecks — James shows how shifting tasks safely, trusting your team, and embedding care navigation can unlock extra GP capacity without adding clinics or staff.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot signs of misalignment in your practice.

• Practical steps to delegate with safety nets.

• How to sustain alignment through culture, clarity, and trust.

• The emotional payoff when everyone works to the top of their role.

👉 Challenge of the week: Identify one area of misalignment in your practice, shift it for two weeks with a clear safety net, then review it with your team.

If you want support in spotting patterns or embedding systems that last, that’s what James does at freemeup SOLUTIONS.

Follow, review, and share the podcast with colleagues — and keep showing what happens when the right work lives on the right desk.

In this episode of freemeup in Practice, James Johnstone kicks off the second mini-series, Making It Work, by exploring how small, practical changes can deliver big results for your practice.

Drawing on real practice stories, James shows how silent drains — from repeat prescribing queries to clunky meetings — can quietly bleed away time, money, and morale. He explains why saving money isn’t always a saving, how to avoid the false economy trap, and why empowering your team with quick wins is one of the simplest ways to ease pressure and create momentum.

Expect case studies, medical metaphors, and practical steps you can implement tomorrow — like quick-wins boards, fifteen-minute Fridays, and two-week trials. Plus, James shares a cautionary tale about what happens when inefficiencies are left untreated.

Whether you’re a GP partner, practice manager, or part of the wider practice team, this episode will help you spot where the gains are hiding and start building efficiency into your everyday routine.

Listen in to discover how to:

• Spot silent drains before they become crises
• Turn small fixes into lasting wins
• Build momentum without major projects

Episode 2: The P&L as a Mirror (Even If You Don’t Have One) Part of the Foundations First mini series

In this episode, we’re handing the mic to your practice’s P&L—the profit & loss statement—and exploring what it really has to say. Is it calmly guiding you with clarity? Or quietly warning you from a drawer you haven’t opened in months?

James dives into:

• What a P&L really is—and why it’s essential for every GP practice • How to read beyond the numbers and hear the stories they’re telling • Common blind spots (like locum drift and drawings creep) • Real-life anecdotes from practices who learned the hard way • How to create a “P&L Lite” with zero jargon and no fancy software • Reflection prompts to help partners ask better questions • Practical ways to embed financial culture into everyday leadership

Whether your accounts are live in Xero, Excel or on the back of a whiteboard, this episode will help you listen more closely to the financial mirror you already have—and shape a more proactive rhythm in your partnership.

💡 Especially relevant for practice managers, GP partners, and leadership teams looking to go beyond “feelings” and lead with confidence.

#GPleadership #PracticeFinance #PandLClarity #freemeupInPractice