General practice sits at the interface between health and social care, and can in the right circumstances play a vital role in working with patients, social care professionals and other to join up service and improve outcomes. The RCGP is undertaking ongoing policy work to explore the relationship between GPs and social care, and has produced two case studies providing examples of joint working that have led to benefits for patients:
- GPs in Sheffield have been leading on the delivery of proactive, coordinated healthcare to care home residents through a Locally Enhanced Service (LES) first set up by NHS Sheffield in 2008. Download the Sheffield LES case study [PDF]
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GPs in Taunton, Somerset, have played a central role in delivering a multi-disciplinary approach to helping people who have recently received treatment in hospital to retain the best possible quality of life in their own homes. Download the Taunton re-ablement case study [PDF]
Draft Care and Support Bill
In England the RCGP is engaging with policy makers on the proposals contained in the draft Care and Support Bill currently being considered by a Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee.
Further to a press release outlining the RCGP’s initial response, in January 2013 the College produced a briefing for Parliamentarians outlining our views on the draft Bill.
Download the RCGP’s Parliamentary Briefing on the draft Care and Support Bill [PDF]
RCGP Vice Chair Professor Nigel Mathers gave oral evidence to the Joint Committee on the Care and Support Bill on 23 January 2013. A recording of this session can be viewed below:
Key points the College has made about the Bill’s proposals include: