A new report, setting out the views of the public on the future of primary care services in London has been published. Download the report here.
More than 100 members of the public, NHS staff and those working in social care, took part in a series of deliberative workshops commissioned by NHS England London and the five London Integrated Care Boards, allowing participants to engage with the issues facing primary care, hear from experts and give their views on the future of primary care services.
The workshops examined people’s views on potential for change and improvement in key areas, including initial access to healthcare services, triage and prioritisation, team-based working in healthcare and ‘onward and proactive’ primary care services.
The main recommendations included:
- More convenient appointment booking, reduced waiting times and more flexible options like remote consultations and the option to choose remote or in-person appointments
- Investment in simple, easy-to-use, standardised digital access to services and using AI, but it should be rigorously tested and evaluated
- Informed patient choice of where to go and who to see for treatment and consideration of travelling times and patient transport
- Strong support for integrated neighbourhood teams, with access to shared data, and for teams to be tested in more deprived areas of London.
The insights captured in the report will feed into local, Integrated Care Board and regional strategies, bringing the public’s experiences and expectations into the heart of future policy design and service transformation for the region and into the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England’s large scale Change NHS engagement exercise to co-develop a 10 Year Health Plan.
Dr Katie Coleman, Islington GP and Primary Care Clinical Director at NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board said:
“We know primary care is incredibly valued by our residents and with demand high, we’re busier than ever before. Around 52 million primary care appointments take place in London each year, so it is essential that primary care services work effectively for everyone.
“We are committed to listening closely to the voices of our diverse, local communities to ensure we are delivering safe, high-quality healthcare services that meet their needs. We welcome the feedback from this report which provides valuable insights and recommendations that will be pivotal in helping shape the future of primary care in North Central London as well as the rest of the country.”