Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Deferred
Paragraph: 93
National continuity of care measure required for all GP practices by 2024.
Conclusion
NHS England should introduce a national measure of continuity of care to be reported by all GP practices by 2024. The new measure should be based on existing models such as the Usual Provider Continuity Index and the St Leonard’s Index of Continuity of Care and in the short term should be based on measuring either continuity delivered by a named GP (in pooled list practices) or by a personal GP (in personal list practices). The measure should be reported quarterly at practice, Primary Care Network and Integrated Care System level as well as nationally.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation but discusses existing and upcoming organisational support initiatives for Primary Care Networks and practices, including digital tools, care navigation training, and the National General Practice Improvement Programme, rather than committing to a national measure of continuity of care by 2024.
Paragraph Reference:
93
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Accept. The Department accepts this recommendation. The Fuller stocktake also noted the importance of organisational support, and made a recommendation to Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to co-design and put in place appropriate infrastructure and support for all neighbourhood teams, including HR, data, and estates management. All 42 ICSs have signed up to implement the recommendations made by the stocktake. The Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care includes organisational support offers for Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and practices. NHS England will provide all practices with the digital tools and care navigation training for Modern General Practice Access, and fund transition cover for those that commit to adopt this approach before March 2025. This will be complemented by the training and transformation offer in the new National General Practice Improvement Programme, available to all practices. There is also existing and upcoming organisational support via PCNs—for example the funded Clinical Director role, and additional funding for Leadership and Management —and upcoming work via implementation of the Fuller Stocktake, to offer support and expertise to Integrated Care Systems. Current examples of at-scale working, such as integration with community or acute trusts, or the establishment of federations, involve the support of practices through shared back- office functions. This has been shown to bring additional benefits such as using data for population health management and preventative care. Some areas may wish to go further and consider whether working at scale could be beneficial in their local circumstances. GP Partnership