NEWS DIGEST


Report highlights causes behind GP “crisis”


GP CONSULTATIONS have increased by 15 per cent over the past five years which is three times the growth in GP numbers, according to new research on the extent of the “crisis” facing general practice. A report by the Kings Fund –


Understanding pressures in general practice – found a 13 per cent growth in face-to-face consultations and a 63 per cent growth in telephone consultations, which is “contributing to stressful and highly pressurised working days for GPs”. The biggest increase in consultations


was among patients over 85 (up 28 per cent), who are more likely to have more than one chronic condition. Using other members of the primary care team to triage and manage minor illness may ease demand for the practice overall but it also means that GPs tend to see the most complex cases, requiring more than a 10-minute appointment. The report also concluded that the move


to transfer patient care closer to home has not been coupled with the equivalent transfer of resources to primary care, again increasing the pressure on GPs. Over 30 million patient contacts from 177


practices where analysed in the research along with trends in GP recruitment and retention. The authors conclude that general practice is at risk of “falling apart” unless significant additional investment is accompanied by greater recruitment and new ways of working that build on current good practice. RCGP Chair Dr Maureen Baker, commenting on the report, said: “NHS England’s recent General Practice Forward View provided long overdue recognition of the essential role GPs and our teams play in keeping the NHS sustainable and safe for patients. But it was also an acknowledgement of the devastating impact of a decade of chronic underfunding for general practice. “It is vital that the pledges of increased funding and support for general practice… are put in place as quickly as possible.”


● HI-TECH FUNDING FOR SCOTTISH DENTISTS Grants worth £350 are being awarded to Scottish dental practices as part of plans to reduce paper and make greater use of technology. Practices can use the funding


6


Dispute over weekend death rates in hospital A NEW study from the University of Manchester has found that fewer patients


in England die after being admitted to NHS hospitals at the weekend compared to during the week, which is contrary to the prevailing government view. The study conducted by the Centre for Health Economics concluded that the death


rate following hospital admissions at the weekend is higher only because the number of patients admitted is lower than during the week and tends to be those more seriously ill. Publication of this research in the Journal of Health Services Research and Policy is significant in that NHS plans to extend hospital seven-day services are based on research showing that the rate of mortality is higher amongst patients admitted to hospital at the weekend compared to those admitted during the week. It has been assumed that this is due to reduced availability of senior staff and diagnostic services in hospitals at weekends. Previous studies considered the overall number of patients admitted to hospital but the Manchester researchers also looked at patients attending A&E departments between April 2013 and February 2014. It found that similar numbers of patients attended A&E each day at weekends and weekdays but hospitals admitted seven per cent fewer patients at the weekend and these tended to be “sicker patients”. Looking at deaths in hospital within 30 days of admission the study demonstrated that the mortality rate was higher at weekends among direct admissions due to the proportionately greater reduction in admissions relative to deaths. Professor Matt Sutton, who led the research, said: “Hospitals apply a higher


severity threshold when choosing which patients to admit to hospital at weekends – patients with non-serious illnesses are not admitted, so those who are admitted at the weekend are on average sicker than during the week and more likely to die regardless of the quality of care they receive. As a result, the figures comparing death rates at weekends and weekdays are skewed. “The NHS has rushed to fix a perceived problem that further research shows does


not exist.”


to buy an e-signature pad or for the purchase of other computer equipment though not for ongoing maintenance costs. Practices seeking more detailed advice are advised to contact the IT facilitator for their NHS board.


● END-OF-LIFE CARE VARIABLE A Care Quality Commission report addressing inequalities in end-of-life care has found that one in three CCGs surveyed has not assessed the end-of-life care needs of their local


populations. The report calls for action to ensure equal access to high quality, personalised care at the end of life, regardless of factors such as location, diagnosis or social circumstances. Access at www.cqc.org.uk.


SUMMONS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24