How to Ask Your Practice to Fund a PM Advisor
Working with PM advisors can be a powerful way to develop your skills, build resilience, and tackle challenges more effectively. However, getting approval for funding can sometimes be tricky—particularly if you’re not sure how to position your request. This article aims to help you articulate the value of PM advisory support, whether you’re the budget holder yourself or need to request funding from partners or practice managers.
1. Why PM Advisors Matter in a General Practice Setting
Improved Patient Care: Enhanced communication, leadership, and stress-management skills can translate into better patient outcomes and experiences.
Boosted Team Morale: PM advisory guidance often leads to better collaboration and fewer conflicts.
Personal and Professional Development: Tailored support helps you build on strengths and address specific areas for growth.
Long-Term Savings: Investing in staff can reduce turnover, decrease errors, and foster a more efficient practice.
By highlighting these benefits, you demonstrate that PM advisors are not merely an individual expense; they’re an investment in the overall health and effectiveness of the practice.
2. Framing the Funding Conversation
When asking for financial support, clarity is paramount. Whether you are a budget holder writing an FYI email or an employee seeking approval, your request should spell out:
What You Want:
The number of PM advisory sessions.
The cost per session.
The total investment.
Why You Need It:
Specific challenges or goals you want to address.
The expected benefits to you and, by extension, to the practice.
The Return on Investment:
How the PM advisory support will help solve current problems, improve processes, or deliver better care.
Any anticipated time- or cost-savings that may result.
3. Addressing Concerns About ‘Needing Help’
It can feel vulnerable to ask for paid PM advisors. You might worry that it signals you’re not able to do your job. In reality, everyone has different experience levels, skill sets, and areas of opportunity for growth. Seeking targeted support from PM advisors is a proactive way to enhance your capabilities—no different from a CPD course or medical education session.
Reassure others (and yourself) that:
PM Advisory Is an Enhancement: It’s not a remedy for incompetence; it’s a tool to help you excel.
Adaptation is Essential: Healthcare is constantly evolving, and PM advisors support you in staying agile.
Positive Impact: A small investment in professional development can lead to significant improvements in your performance and well-being.
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4. Turning Overwhelm into a Positive Development Opportunity
Sometimes you may seek PM advisors because you feel overwhelmed or underprepared for certain pressures—patient volume, administrative tasks, or leadership demands. While it can be hard to admit you’re struggling, practice managers and GP partners will often understand.
Instead of viewing this as a weakness, frame it as:
Strategic Intervention: You recognise a challenging environment and want to develop strategies to improve it.
Forward-Thinking: Investing in solutions now prevents burnout and more costly problems in the future.
Culture of Support: By seeking PM advisors, you’re showing that you value professional development and are proactive about your own wellbeing—traits that benefit the entire practice.
5. Sample Email Templates
Below are two examples of how you might structure your email requests—one is an FYI for budget holders who can approve their own spending, and the other is a request for funding from a partner or manager.
5.1. FYI Email (Budget Holder)
Subject: PM Advisory Sessions – Professional Development Plan
Hello [Name/Team],
I wanted to let you know that I plan to undertake professional PM advisory sessions to enhance my [leadership/communication/time-management] skills. Here are the details:
Number of Sessions: 6 (one per month)
Cost: £150 per session
Total: £900
I believe these sessions will help me:
[Key Benefit 1 e.g., “Improve efficiency in managing staff rotas”]
[Key Benefit 2 e.g., “Develop strategies to handle workload and reduce stress”]
Ultimately, this is an investment in ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality patient care while maintaining a positive work environment. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards, [Your Name and Position]
5.2. Funding Request Email (Non-Budget Holder)
Subject: Request for PM Advisory Funding – Enhancing My Effectiveness in [Role]
Dear [Practice Manager/GP Partner Name],
I hope you’re well. I’m writing to request funding for a series of PM advisory sessions that I believe will greatly benefit both my professional development and the practice. Here is the outline:
Number of Sessions: 6 (over the next 6 months)
Cost: £150 per session
Total: £900
I anticipate the sessions will help me:
[Key Benefit 1 e.g., “Improve my organisation skills to handle patient queries more efficiently”]
[Key Benefit 2 e.g., “Develop a proactive approach to stress management, which will reduce my time off and improve morale”]
By investing in my professional growth, I’m confident I’ll be able to contribute more effectively to the team and patient care. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing any details or concerns you may have.
Kind regards, [Your Name and Role]
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6. Final Thoughts
Securing funding for PM advisors within a GP practice environment doesn’t have to be daunting. By presenting a clear rationale, outlining tangible benefits, and acknowledging that personal development is a strength rather than a weakness, you pave the way for a positive conversation. Remember to keep your communication concise, polite, and results-focused.
Key Takeaways:
Demonstrate why PM advisors matter: better care, better teamwork, better retention.
Be transparent about costs and expected benefits.
Reframe vulnerabilities as proactive problem-solving.
Highlight return on investment for the practice.
With a clear plan and thoughtful presentation, you increase the likelihood that your practice will understand—and ultimately fund—your PM advisory journey.