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People challenge

Ideas listing

20 Ideas
71 Votes
35 Comments
41 Participants

How can the primary care workforce be recognised, supported and developed as part of ‘one workforce’ so that it contributes to delivering more integrated models that improve population health?



 

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Offer various models of primary care

The traditional model of general practice suits most of people, however, the people that it does not suit tend to be the ones who most need access to healthcare e.g. people experiencing homelessness where the average life expectancy is 45 for men and 43 for women compared a national average of 79 and 83 respectively.  People that struggle to call first thing in the morning due to problems with drug dependence, sleep issues caused by compounding traumas in their lives etc.  People...

0 Score
Comments 0

Integrating primary, community and secondary workforce

Best MSK Health programme at NHSE/I looking at how we can integrate MSk specialist roles at the front door in primary care, with community physio services and musculoskeletal triage services. Looking to capture data on system and patient benefits in terms of numbers of appts, prescriptions, onward referrals, diagnostics and conversion rates in secondary care. Whole system/ICS planning around workforce to maximise the benefits of FCP roles and the wider primary care workforce such as health...

1 Score
Comments 0

Include Optometry into the discussions.

There needs to be a greater understanding of the whole primary care workforce to include Optometry and Optical practice. In much of the country the Optical Workforce is an underutilised resource by the NHS. Moving towards an Optometry First model of care where most eye conditions could be monitored, assessed, and managed in Primary care would help patients and GP practice workflows. Allowing us to build better relationships with Social Prescribers, Community Falls Team, Stroke Team, Nursing...

1 Score
Comments 0
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Proactive workforce management

Within an ICS, there could be collaboration to ensure that the primary care workforce is maximised across the area. For instance, might there be incentives to attract colleagues into roles in nearby areas where there are shortages? How about looking to see where the most pressing workforce needs are and take positive steps to address these. Say for instance there is a shortage of practice nurses. It's quite likely that in that area there will be a number of nurses who have left the...

2 Score
Comments 0

Rediscover PCN purpose with multiagency teams

PCNs promised to bring together primary, community and social care teams (NHS, VCF and independent sector) to work in a highly collaborative and coordinated way.  To make this happen, time and focus is needed for coordinated planning, relationship building, aligned contracts = clarity of shared purpose.  It is possible but we're not there yet.  

0 Score
Comments 0
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Collaborate, Integrate & Innovate

We need to work together across teams/sectors - which is much more than sending an email/ MST meeting/ chatting to your 'mates'. We need to share the workforce and train everyone as a generalist so they can flex to meet the needs of patients and systems.  We need to integrate, and that means we need to make sure sides align to the idea of 'one workforce' this is challenging as different T&Cs, thresholds, processes and governance. Have dedicated time to think and plan for innovation,...

0 Score
Comments 0

Responsibility of ICS towards Primary care people

There is a lot of talk of one workforce within People plan and people promise. However we know that the current offers do not extend as far to those working within Primary care. The independent contractor status/employer responsibility towards employer is stated as the reason but this is having an impact on recruitment and retention and well being  of staff across primary care. The challenges across this field range From:  lack of standardised terms and conditions to  lack of equitable...

4 Score
Comments 0

Primary Care workforce lead roles in every system

From my recent experience as a primary care workforce lead, the role is needed across every ICS along with the support of clinical workforce leads too.  The role should be looking at the whole primary care workforce  across General Practice, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry and how this can be aligned with the wider ICS workforce. There needs to be much stronger alignment with HEIs/HEE/Trusts for the whole ICS workforce supply, including increasing training placements in primary care...

8 Score
Comments 6

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Communication will span all of the challenges but we must not underestimate the amount of communication needed to create and sustain change. In larger organisations they have comms teams, however, in primary care, this resource is not taken into consideration in the same manner.  I'm not suggesting a centralised comms team because informal and formal channels exist and should remain but it's about each organisation making the effort and taking the time to introduce, induct and embed...

2 Score
Comments 3

Everyone's baby is no one's baby

A lack of ownership for the new roles is an issue. This has made embedding frustrating in some areas resulting in high staff turnover.  Firstly we need to clarify who is supposed to take responsibility for staff? Everyone's baby is no one's baby. Is this the NHS, CCG, PCN, Employer? If no one is taking full responsibility why is that?. When you work in a hospital you are  clear who your employer is and who takes responsibility for you. The story is not same for some staff in General...

5 Score
Comments 5
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