General practice the most cost-effective part of the NHS
– RCGP launches second Darzi factsheet
GP care for a whole year costs less than a
single day’s hospital admission and a face to face consultation
with a GP costs less to the NHS than an outpatient appointment,
accident and emergency, and ambulance calls.
These are some of the facts demonstrating the
real value and cost effectiveness of general
practice highlighted by the RCGP in the second of its series
of factsheets on Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS.
The series provides the RCGP viewpoint on key
issues affecting patients and primary care outlined in the
review. The first focused on polyclinics, and over the coming
weeks the College will also be publishing information on health
inequalities and care for patients with multiple
conditions.
Common themes running throughout are the
importance of the doctor-patient relationship, personal care,
continuity of care and the high levels of satisfaction with general
practice among patients.
The College also highlights its own solution
to the future of the NHS in its document, The Future Direction
of General Practice: A Roadmap published last
September which proposes “federations” of GP practices working
together to provide increased services and deliver improvements in
patient care.
Dr Maureen Baker, RCGP Honorary Secretary,
said, “Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS is the current
priority for GPs. We hope our factsheets will keep patients,
health care professionals, politicians, policy makers and the
public up to date with the issues relevant to their care and best
interests.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
Media enquiries should be directed to
press@rcgp.org.uk or 020 7344 3129 /
07885 958 632 (out of hours)
The Future Direction of General Practice:
A Roadmap – www.rcgp.org.uk/roadmap