The NHS is looking to tailor a new draft primary care strategy in order to transform general practice, community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry in the south east of England.
Developed by the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), the draft sets out the ambition to integrate primary care services and bring local health and care partners closer together.
“To achieve this we have developed three priorities,” explained BOB ICB’s primary care director, Dr Abid Irfan. They are to:
- Improve access so non-emergency patients can get same-day care
- Develop proactive and personalised care in the community for patients with complex needs
- Prevent ill health by sharing data on local health needs with partners in the community
Non-complex same-day care services will be improved by ensuring patients are triaged more efficiently and put in touch with the right people, ultimately helping GPs focus on patients with more complex needs.
Those with more than one health condition will receive personalised care from a combination of multi-disciplinary teams and GPs. The multi-disciplinary teams will consist of consultants and nurses who will be supported by care navigators, physiotherapists, as well as the social and voluntary care sector.
Prevention efforts will focus first on cardiovascular disease – the local health service will do this by using data to tackle smoking, obesity and high blood pressure.
“In addition, we will need to make better use of digital tools and premises to allow us to work differently. And we need to have measures in place to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.”
The draft strategy also sets out plans to expand use of the NHS app, provide more training to pharmacists, support the national roll-out of the minor eye conditions service, and investigate the viability of mobile dental units.
BOB ICB has launched a survey to further inform the strategy and ensure it is relevant to local needs.
Dr Irfan added: “We thank people for sharing their views and experiences about primary care services since we launched our engagement last November. However, we urge the public to read our draft strategy and take part in a new survey so we know our ambitions to transform primary care have their understanding and support.”
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