The future of NHS primary care should focus on integration not fragmentation

In some parts of England, there are proposals to divide NHS primary care services. NHS England’s strategy aims to separate patients with “same-day” acute care or with “simpler” medical issues from patients with more complex, long term needs. The aim is to allow general practitioners (GPs) to primarily focus on the latter group of patients.12 While this approach appears superficially to be a rational solution to manage escalating workload in general practice by diverting some patients to be managed elsewhere, it also raises substantial concerns about the potential unintended effects. This proposed division of work undermines a comprehensive and integrated care approach in primary care, and will hinder ongoing health management and preventive care of patients.A key strength of general practice lies in its holistic approach to caring for patients and providing continuity of care. GPs’ comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health history, including long term conditions, lifestyle, and psychological…
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