Patient online services can support informed decision-making and collaborative problem-solving with the healthcare team, improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for people managing diabetes mellitus.
The latest RCGP CPRD Quality Improvement data reports have just been distributed to practices across the UK. They give practice-level feedback on prescribing anti-psychotics and anti-depressants to patients with learning disabilities and or autism.
The College recently recognised Dr Sue Goodfellow from West Quay Medical Centre in Barry, Wales with a Bright Ideas Award for her work to improve patient services through co-production with patients at her practice. The practice provides online access to clinical advice to for all appointments to ensure patients with the greatest health need are seen first, with the right health care professional.
In 2018, the College recognised GP, Dr Muhammed Akunjee, from West Green Surgery in the Haringey area of North London with a Bright Ideas Award for ProActiveGP Virtual Clinic, a system which makes contacting patients more efficient, automated, and safer.
RCGP Medical Co-Directors, Dr Imran Rafi and Dr Matt Hoghton, have been working in the RCGP Clinical Innovation and Research Centre (CIRC) for over eight years in various roles. As they leave their current roles they reflect on their time with CIRC.
"We know thresholds to diagnose and treat some conditions have shifted down –resulting in hazardous side effects and little, if any, improvement for the patient." Dr Margaret McCartney, RCGP Clinical Support Fellow for Values and Evidence, discusses the College's ambitions to prevent overdiagnosis.
“I’m a person with diabetes not a diabetic patient." Dr David Paynton, RCGP Clinical Champion for Person-centred care, explores the shift in thinking as modern medicine re-balances itself responding to the challenge of working with people rather than doing to patients.
NHS England has introduced patient safety directives to improve Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) care, including resources tailored to primary care teams, developed by the national campaign to raise awareness of kidneys, ‘Think Kidneys’.
The RCGP recently awarded a patient with a High Impact Bright Ideas Award for innovation in primary care. Shirley Bull, the first patient to win the award, was recognised for a new approach which uses behavioural psychology to reduce missed appointments at her practice in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
Dr Rachel Marsden, Clinical Support Fellow for the RCGP and Health Education England Sepsis Clinical Priority reflects on the third National Sepsis Summit for the project, which took place in November. The summit raised awareness of sepsis amongst GPs and launched a guidance booklet on the illness for GPs, produced in partnership with Health Education England.