Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2002): National Health Service - Primary Care Services - UK
BEWARE THE PITFALLS OF CHOICE
J. Shapiro
Health Service Journal, vol. 111, Dec. 13th 2001, p. 20
Pinpoints two key differences in the organisation of primary care between the UK and Australia/Canada. In Australia and Canada GPs work on a fee for service basis and patients are not registered, whereas in the UK they are paid in a capitation basis and patients are registered. The fee for service model leads to increased GP activity and costs, without any evidence of public health improvement.
GPS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS: APPRAISAL AND REVALIDATION
A. Rughani
British Journal of Health Care Management, vol. 7, 2001, p. 450-453
Personal Development Plans (PDPs), appraisal and revalidation will be the components of GPs continuing professional development. Using the personal development plan as the core of continuing professional development allows clear links with appraisal and revalidation to be made. GPs would then engage in one unified process rather than three separate ones. PDPs have been shown to be implementable and educationally sound if GP tutor support is provided. A model based on the PDP shows how tutors can continue to provide support for the PDP whilst keeping education at the heart of appraisal and revalidation.
HOMEWARD BOUND
D. Thorne and S. Jeffery
Health Service Journal, vol. 111, Dec 13th 2001, p. 28-29
Establishing a community acute and rehabilitation team for stroke patients has reduced the length of inpatient stay from 23 to eight days, without adversely affecting outcomes. The numbers of GPs referring directly to the community stroke team exceeded expectations, avoiding accident and emergency admissions. Establishing good inter-agency agreements was crucial to the success of the project.
WHY PCOs SHOULD STOP DOCTORS PRESCRIBING
M. Young
Primary Care Report, vol. 3, Oct. 2001, p. 46-47
GP prescribing is wasteful and increases the drugs spend in the NHS. Proposes that primary care organisations should support pharmacist prescribing to reduce costs.
WILL PRIMARY CARE EVER CONQUER THE HEALTH DIVIDE?
M. Pownall
Primary Care Report, vol. 3, Oct 2001, p. 9-11
Outlines background government policies for reducing health inequalities such as employment, education and community development initiatives. Goes on to discuss the role that primary care might play through the explicit public health brief of the new Primary Care Trusts.