About GP Practice Ally
GP Practice Ally (GPPA) is a unique professional development network, supporting over 1,900 members across 75% of practices nationwide.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower practice managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead improvements in primary care. Through access to expert resources, specialised training and a vibrant peer community, we help them drive positive change in healthcare management.
Our Vision
​Our vision is a deeply connected network of GP practices, fully equipped to deliver efficient, high-quality patient care. Through our innovative online membership platform, we provide timely updates, valuable resources, and practical training, while fostering peer support and meaningful connections. Our annual Summit and in-person training programmes further strengthen these community bonds, promoting collaboration and learning.
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Free Membership
Our free membership provides access to an active community forum, comprehensive guides to State Schemes, and essential updates on General Practice developments - information not easily accessible before GPPA was established.
Premium Membership​
​For those seeking enhanced resources and support, our Premium membership offers an expansive range of practice management tools. These include practical guides, customisable templates such as employee handbooks and contracts, and webinars that provide in-depth insights. Designed to streamline operations and increase efficiency, these resources empower practice managers to implement sustainable improvements and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of General Practice.
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Website Design & Maintenance
In addition to our membership benefits, we specialise in creating and maintaining bespoke websites for GP practices. These tailored sites improve patient access and streamline practice operations with custom forms, practice policies and regularly updated patient resources, ensuring a seamless experience for both patients and staff.
Allies combine or unite resources with each other for mutual benefit.
This is what we are all about at GP Practice Ally, combining the collective wisdom in the community to navigate change and sharing practical resources to benefit everyone. Our community welcomes not just practice managers, but also GPs, practice nurses and practice administrators as we understand that the practice management role is fulfilled by many different people across the country.
Our Story
In 2018, Rachel Bothwell unexpectedly stepped into the role of managing her family’s GP practice due to her father's illness. Over the next few years, she guided the practice team through a period of unprecedented change and uncertainty. This included navigating a generational shift due to the sudden absence of both the senior GP and practice manager - her parents - as well as pandemic-induced upheaval. In the face of increasingly complex responsibilities and limited guidance, Rachel recognised a critical need to elevate practice management and enhance patient care in Ireland.
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Driven by her passion for coaching and development, Rachel founded GP Practice Ally (GPPA) to address these challenges. Her vision centres on the principles of connection, collaboration and support, cultivating a community of confident, empowered practice managers. She has made peer learning a cornerstone of GPPA's approach, recognising the powerful impact that shared experiences and collective insight have on fostering professional growth and resilience. Through this, she has built a supportive community where practice managers can thrive and continue to develop their skills.
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Rachel’s leadership was recognised with the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Lincoln Recruitment Specialists Early Career Awards 2024, for her strong community-building, commitment to her business values, and for handling and overcoming adversity. She was also named runner-up for Startup of the Year in the 2023 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards.
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At the heart of her work is a belief in the vital role of effective practice management in the future of primary care. Rachel is dedicated to ensuring practice managers feel valued and supported, helping them thrive and make a meaningful impact across the primary care landscape.
OUR VALUES
Community First
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We love to feel connected.
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We put our community at the heart of everything we do because we believe that we all thrive through connection, collaboration and support.
Be Kind
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We love to be kind.
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We believe in fostering an environment where everyone is kind and considerate, friendly and generous, open and helpful, because we believe that every act of kindness has a ripple effect.
Build Confidence
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We love to feel confident.
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We believe in building confidence and equipping people with practical tools and support so that they can develop trust in their own judgement, skills and capacity to impact change.
Stay Curious
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We love to learn.
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No one has it all figured out, so we believe in embracing a beginner’s mindset, asking relentless questions, exploring new ideas and digging deeper to uncover the opportunities for transformation and growth.
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“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.”