Rethinking access to general practice: it’s not all about supply
Health Foundation – 5th March 2024
This long read is the first in a series of outputs from a collaboration between the Health Foundation and researchers at The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute. The project draws on the candidacy framework to inform a more holistic understanding of general practice access issues.
Further information – Rethinking access to general practice: it’s not all about supply
Supporting patients who stammer or who are dysfluent
STAMMA – 2023
STAMMA, a UK charity for people who stammer and their allies, conducted a survey in 2023 of their members’ experiences when making a general practice appointment. The published results highlight some of the difficulties that can be experienced when contacting their GP team, particularly by telephone. A leaflet has been produced to help GP practices to improve interactions with people who stammer, reducing potential health inequalities and leading to better experience and health outcomes for patients.
Read the report – Supporting patients who stammer or who are dysfluent
Exploring innovation in GP Practices
BMA – 2023
What can we learn from innovations in general practice?
Despite current contractual, financial, and capacity constraints, GPs are innovating in different ways to deliver high-quality care and attract and retain staff.
In this collection of case-studies, we explore how eight GP providers around the country are implementing innovative models, from improving access to a wider range of services for patients to effective chronic disease management.
Read the Report – BMA report on innovation in general practice.
Remote services in general practice: who needs to be trained in what, when and how?
Nuffield Trust – 29th December 2023
This study aimed to identify core competencies, training needs and learning methods for general practice staff providing remote services and consultations.
Read the study – Remote services in general practice: who needs to be trained in what, when and how?
Who’s who in General Practice?
National Institute for Health and Care Research | https://doi.org/10.3310/nihrevidence_61223
This NIHR Evidence Collection brings together research for general practices and Primary Care Networks to help them maximise benefit from new roles and the growing diversity in their staff, and could be used by practices to help patients and the public understand the changes they are experiencing in primary care.
Full detail: Who’s who in General Practice? Research can help practices introduce new roles
Primary care provider collaboratives: what you need to know
NHS Confederation – 15th December 2023
An in-depth look at primary care provider collaboratives.
Read the Briefing – Primary care provider collaboratives: what you need to know
Doing more for less? Analysis of the experience of primary care networks in socioeconomically deprived areas
This report explores the impact of national policies on PCNs in more deprived areas, using analysis of workforce and funding data, and interviews with PCN leaders about their experiences | The Health Foundation
Primary care networks (PCNs) were established in England in 2019, bringing together general practices into local groups to provide additional services to patients. Backed by extra funding, PCNs were expected to recruit new staff, deliver additional appointments and new services, and work to improve health and reduce health inequalities.
PCN leaders broadly welcome additional staffing and report that PCNs have enabled better collaboration between local general practices and links with other local services. But leaders also felt funding does not reflect the additional workload of caring for patients in deprived areas. Many spoke of challenges engaging patients facing multiple social and economic barriers to good health. In some cases, recruiting and retaining PCN staff in deprived areas was difficult.
PCNs in areas of high deprivation need funding that meets the greater needs of their populations. But with the right long-term resources, stability and organisational support, PCNs could represent an important route for addressing local health inequalities.
Patient safety boost as medical associates to be regulated
via Department of Health and Social Care
Physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) will soon be regulated by the GMC, improving patient safety and supporting plans to expand medical associate roles in the NHS to relieve pressure on doctors and GPs. The government will lay legislation to allow the GMC to begin the process of regulating medical associates.
The GMC will set standards of practice, education and training, and operate fitness-to-practise procedures, ensuring that PAs and AAs have the same levels of regulatory oversight and accountability as doctors and other regulated healthcare professionals. The regulations will come into force at the end of 2024.
Full detail: Patient safety boost as medical associates to be regulated
Building the economic case for social prescribing
National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP)
NASP has published 13 evidence publications to date which suggest that social prescribing can reduce costs and pressure in the health care system. Recognising the urgent need to demonstrate the health economic benefits of social prescribing, NASP commissioned a rapid scoping review of 19 studies on the economic impact of social prescribing and 7 studies on the impact of social prescribing on health service usage.
- Social prescribing can save money and findings from studies using 5 different methods show that social prescribing can have a positive economic impact
- Studies suggest that social prescribing schemes can deliver between £2.14 and £8.56 for every £1 invested
- Social prescribing can reduce pressure on the NHS, this includes reduced GP appointments, reduced hospital admissions and reduced A&E visits for people who have been referred to social prescribing
- More research is needed to access better data and demonstrate benefits more clearly
Briefing: Building the economic case for social prescribing
Full report: Building the economic case for social prescribing
The cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults
Tufts, J. et al. | The cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults: a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care data | BMC Primary. Care 24, 245 (2023) | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02196-1
The economic impact of managing long COVID in primary care is unknown. We estimated the costs of primary care consultations associated with long COVID and explored the relationship between risk factors and costs.
Based on an analysis of 472,173 patients with COVID-19 and 472,173 unexposed individuals, the annual incremental cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID was £2.44 per patient and £23,382,452 at the national level. Among patients with COVID-19, a long COVID diagnosis and reporting of longer-term symptoms were associated with a 43% and 44% increase in primary care consultation costs respectively, compared to patients without long COVID symptoms. Older age, female sex, obesity, being from a white ethnic group, comorbidities and prior consultation frequency were all associated with increased primary care consultation costs.
The costs of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults are substantial. Costs are significantly higher among those diagnosed with long COVID, those with long COVID symptoms, older adults, females, and those with obesity and comorbidities.
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