17 February 2011

GPs lack clarity and understanding of how the new public health systems – health improvement, health protection, health services – will come together under the reformed NHS, according to a new report released today.

The NHS Alliance, QIPP Right Care Team, and NHS Solutions for Public Health have published the findings from a national summit exploring the relationship between GP consortia and public health, and their shared role in improving health and wellbeing.

The report states that there is an urgent need for frameworks and information for GP consortia regarding the new public health systems. These need to provide clarity on respective roles and responsibilities, and options for access to public health support and skills.

Dr Ken Aswani, lead of the Waltham Forest Federated GP Consortium and executive member of the NHS Alliance, said: “These emerging, very different, new systems will cause initial confusion and there is an urgent need for rapid local education over the new structures and how they will work at local level as GP commissioning starts to get real.

“There are tremendous opportunities to make the new system work for the benefit of patients and public, with local systems that deliver improved health outcomes and better value health care.  To make it work will required patience, education, developing shared understanding, flexibility and partnership at local level.”
 
Key findings:

  • The agenda, systems, approach are all new and require a new response – simply responding as we have done in the past will not work.
  • There is confusion, and a lack of knowledge amongst GP colleagues over the new public health systems being established for each domain – health improvement, health protection, health services – what it means for them and how they can access public health support and skills.
  • Delegates were unanimous in their view that GP consortia, to be fully effective, will need access to the advice and support of public health professionals to help make decisions about best use of resources, based on best evidence and value for money.
  • There was considerable agreement about the role of public health in supporting health improvement and health services commissioning; whilst being unclear about GPs role in health protection e.g. emergency planning.
  • A major concern emerging from the report is that the pace of change will outstrip the need for developing clarity over key elements of the interrelationships between the new public health system and GP consortia. As Sir Muir Gray, Director of the QIPP Right Care team, points out, “There is a short window of opportunity to put this right. Let us not miss the opportunity.”

More information about the Colloquium Report

  • For press enquiries and interview requests, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.org or call Ana Paula Nacif on 07772756674, or sam.hemmant@sph.nhs.uk or call 07733177251.