Case studies
The case studies here demonstrate some positive examples of the NHS delivering improved high quality care in a number of different settings across the country.
They provide some context and background to the challenges being faced by the NHS and the solutions developed to ensure better, cost effective outcomes for patients and the public.
- Navigating care at scale releases 37 GP hours a week – Ipswich, East
- GPs see 83 per cent reduction in dealing with incoming paperwork – Bridge House Medical Centre, Midlands and West
- Practice releases 700 inappropriate appointments a year – Aylsham and Reepham Surgeries, East
- Reorganised working environment releases over 40 hours a week of practice team’s time – Trafford Health Centre, North
- Active signposting frees up 80 inappropriate GP appointments a week – Waterside Medical Centre, Midlands and West
- A more sustainable general practice for the future – South Warwickshire GP, Midlands and West
- 26 days of practice nursing time released a year – Tinkers Lane Surgery, South West
- Releasing time for more effective consultations
- GP’s admin workload significantly reduced
- Practice saves one day a week of GP time through better management of patient correspondence
- Developing a practice reception team
- Building capability for quality improvement across a GP federation
- One career, endless opportunities – what it means to be a GP today
- As general practice evolves, clinical pharmacy expands
- GP is at the cusp of significant developments – and nurses should be part of that
- Being a GP and trying to solve patients’ problems is a privilege
- The physician associate will see you now – new role to assist patients in primary care
- GPs moving to England from overseas: revamped scheme eases transition
- My career in general practice opened up a world of possibilities
- There’s never been a better time for GPs to return to the NHS
- The evolution of general practice: broader networks, multi-disciplinary teams
- General Practice Development Programme – Productive General Practice Quick Start – Releasing time in general practice – Bury CCG, North
- General Practice Resilience Programme – Friends Road Medical Practice, London
- General Practice Improvement Leader Programme – a participants experience
- Quality Improvement Facilitation Programme – participants compilation
- Improving Access with My Healthcare, Midlands and East
- Improving Access with physiotherapy
- General Practice Improvement Leader’s Programme
- Using improvement tools learned on the General Practice Improvement Leaders’ programme
- General Practice Resilience Programme – Practice A, Midlands and East
- General Practice Resilience Programme – Practice B, Midlands and East
- General Practice Resilience Programme – Gainsborough, Midlands and East
- General Practice Resilience Programme – St Peters’ Medical Centre, South
- Vulnerable Practices Programme – St Lukes Primary Care Centre, Midlands and East
- Promoting Self Care at The Symphony Programme, South
- New Models of Care – The Symphony Programme, South
- New Models of Care – Livewell South West, South
- New Models of Care – The Blackdown Support Group, South
- New Models of Care – Ryalls Park Medical Centre, South
- Vulnerable Practices Programme – Pioneer Medical Group, South
- Promoting Self Care at Claremont Medical Practice, South
- 10 High Impact Actions making a difference at – Beacon Medical Group, South
- Improving Access with an Urgent Care Team at Beacon Medical Group, South
- Building resilience in General Practice – St Austell Healthcare, South
- New Models of Care – The Symphony Programme, South
- Clinical Pharmacists in Wallingbrook Health Group, Devon, South
- Clinical Pharmacists in Norwich, Midlands and East
- Improving Access with group consultations for diabetes in Slough, South
- Improving Access with Physio First, West Wakefield, North
- Improving Access with practice based paramedics in the South Kent Coast, South
- Improving Access with Primary Care Navigators for dementia, Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group Gateshead, North
- Improving Access with the Rotherham social prescribing service, North
- Improving Access with Cornwall Pathfinders project, South
- Improving Access with Practice health champions, Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group, Gateshead, North
Lessons learnt from Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund – wave one pilots
In October 2013, the Prime Minister announced a £50 million Challenge Fund to help improve access to general practice. The Challenge Fund is designed to test innovative ways of providing primary care services. Of the 254 expressions of interest received for the Challenge Fund, 20 pilot sites were selected across the country; covering 1,100 general practices and 7.5 million patients.
The papers below are series of ‘innovation showcases’ designed to highlight the successes of the 20 pilots.
Innovation showcase series
Pace of implementation (showcase one, February 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots which have been effective in implementing extended hours at pace.
Using technology to improve access (showcase two, February 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots who have been effective in developing innovative technology – enabled access and solutions.
Successful patient engagement (showcase three, March 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots which have been effective in engaging their patient population.
Successful practice engagement (showcase four, March 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots who have been effective in engaging practices and their staff.
Collaboration in delivery (showcase five, April 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots which are in collaboration with other providers to deliver primary care services.
Very large scale pilots (showcase six, June 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots who are delivering at very large scale, across diverse geographies with multiple CCGs, many practices and with a large patient population.
Effective leadership (showcase seven, July 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots which have demonstrated effective leadership.
Enhanced use of specialist nursing staff to reduce pressure on GPs (showcase eight, December 2015) – This paper focuses on pilots which are making enhanced use of specialist nursing staff.
Improving access for specific patient groups (showcase nine, January 2016) – This paper focuses on pilots which have focused on improving access for specific patient groups.