There is growing concern about the potential risks associated with the long-term prescription of dependence forming medicines (DFM), for example, opioids and gabapentinoids and benzos z drugs. These medications have limited therapeutic value and are associated with harm. Because of this, we have produced a Top Ten Tips: Dependence Forming Medications for general practice teams, which outlines the key issues to consider when prescribing DFMs.
The RCGP is inviting entrepreneurial GPs with innovative commercial ideas the meet unmet needs in the NHS and general practice to join the RCGP Innovators Mentorship Programme (IMP). Through the programme, the College will provide support to accelerate the innovations and professional development in non-clinical skills that are essential to be a successful entrepreneur. Professor Martin Marshall, Vice Chair of the RCGP, explains more.
Over the past two decades, there has been a huge amount of confusion regarding HRT. We now have clear, evidence-based guidelines available to ensure women have individualised care and treatment for their perimenopause and menopause. Dr Anne Connolly, RCGP Clinical Champion for Menstrual Wellbeing, and Dr Louise Newson, GP and Menopause Specialist, summarises the benefits of HRT with respect to the literature.
The full report of the 3D study on multimorbidity, the largest ever trial of an intervention to improve care for people with multimorbidity, involving 1,546 patients, has been published. Professor Chris Salisbury, Professor of Primary Health Care, Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, who led the study, discusses the findings of the report.
The RCGP has partnered with NHS England, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the British Geriatrics Society, to produce a ‘Mental Health in Older Practice Primer’ to support primary health care teams recognise, diagnose and manage mental health problems in older people. Dr Liz England, RCGP Mental Health Clinical Champion and Dr Nadia Llanwarne, RCGP Clinical Support Fellow for Older Adult Mental Health, explain more.
GPs have been using free prescribing and patient safety reports from the RCGP and CPRD as evidence for CQC inspections and the Quality Outcomes Framework. All general practices can sign up to receive the next set of report due in spring.
In February 2019, Marie Curie and the Royal College of GPs launched the Daffodil Standards, a new way to help GP practices across the UK improve support for people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones. Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, RCGP and Marie Curie National End of Life Champion, outlines why the standards are needed.
As the Sepsis Clinical Priority Project comes to a close , we’re hosting a 'Creating A More Sepsis-Aware Primary Care' webinar to discuss the strategies we’ve been developing to support practice sepsis leads, clinicians and reception staff. We’ll also explore how practices can assure they are providing safe care for deteriorating patients with the illness.
Clinical Advisers Programme allows GPs with expertise or interest to influence outcomes of clinical guidelines and projects by participating in a variety of initiatives. The work is diverse and can range from reviewing documents for consultation to yearlong commitments developing new guidelines.
Personalised care and social prescribing are core to the NHS policy agenda for future healthcare delivery. These are, however, not new concepts in drug and alcohol services, where a community focus has been embedded into support for nearly 70 years. Dr Deena El-Shirbirny, RCGP Clinical Support Fellow for Person-centred Care explains more.