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GP Partnership Disputes: Why Money Is Rarely the Real Problem
Dr Clare Sieber joins Katie Collin on Beyond the Balance Sheet to discuss GP partnership disputes and conflict within Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Clare is a practising GP and CEDR-accredited mediator, bringing an understanding of both the working relationships and business responsibilities involved in general practice.
The conversation explores why money, workload or a particular decision may trigger a disagreement, while the underlying difficulties concern trust, communication, values or the future direction of the practice. It also considers the role of governance, the position of practice managers and when mediation may help.
Watch the full episode
Beyond the Balance Sheet · Katie Collin with Dr Clare Sieber
Published 27 August 2026 · 40 minutes 29 seconds
Key message: Getting on well is not the same as being well governed.
What sits beneath GP partnership disputes?
A disagreement about money can be the point at which a deeper difficulty becomes visible. Partners may have different expectations of one another, different priorities for the business or different views about where the practice should be heading.
Katie and Clare explore the early warning signs of partnership conflict and why financial pressure can expose tensions in an existing relationship. The discussion encourages partners to consider both the immediate disagreement and the working relationship in which it has developed.
Partnership agreements and due diligence
The episode connects good governance with the importance of keeping partnership agreements up to date. Getting on well matters, but it does not replace a shared understanding of how the partnership will operate.
That theme also extends to joining a partnership. Due diligence needs to consider the people, their values and their expectations alongside the finances. Understanding who you are going into business with is an important part of understanding the partnership itself.
For further reading, Clare’s article explains why a GP partnership agreement matters.
The difficult position of practice managers
Katie and Clare also consider the position practice managers can find themselves in when partnership relationships become strained. The discussion broadens the focus beyond the partners themselves to the people involved in keeping the practice running.
For practice managers, the episode offers a perspective on the relationship and governance issues that can sit behind an apparently operational disagreement.
PCN governance and neighbourhood working
The conversation extends to PCN disputes, including governance and financial transparency. It also explores the impact of neighbourhood working on existing relationships.
These themes raise questions about how practices make decisions together, understand shared responsibilities and develop a common purpose. Clare explores these issues further in why PCN disputes can be difficult to resolve.
When mediation can help
Katie and Clare discuss what mediation involves and when it may be useful. For partners or practices experiencing conflict, the episode provides an introduction to considering mediation as a way of working through the issues.
For a related perspective, Clare explains how GP partnership mediation can support a negotiated exit, as well as helping partners explore whether they can continue working together.
About General Practice Mediation
General Practice Mediation supports GP partners, practices and PCNs in resolving disputes constructively and confidentially.
If your PCN or practice is facing governance or relationship challenges, you can book a free 30-minute consultation at a date and time convenient for you.
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