Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Accepted
Paragraph: 128
General practice needs headspace and back-office support for service improvement and PCN success.
Conclusion
With general practice currently in crisis it is important that GPs are given the headspace that they need to work differently and improve services, or the potential advantages of new Primary Care Networks will not be realised. Giving GPs time to focus on improvement projects is an important component of this, but so too are important back-office functions like HR support and data analytics.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the importance of giving GPs headspace and back-office support, detailing plans for Integrated Care Systems to implement Fuller stocktake recommendations, providing digital tools and funding through a new delivery plan, and launching a National General Practice Improvement Programme.
Paragraph Reference:
128
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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.