CERGAS Seminar "Reforming primary care in England: Challenges and opportunities"
This presentation offers an overview of the policy changes in primary care in England (United Kingdom), highlighting both challenges and opportunities in this evolving landscape. I will start by examining policy shifts that have impacted the commissioning (health planning and purchasing) structure and workforce composition. I will explore key policy initiatives and focus on primary care networks (groups of general practices serving a population of 30-50,000 population) and the scheme enabling the network to recruit and fund new roles to create multidisciplinary teams, including pharmacists, paramedics, physiotherapists, and social prescribers. I will examine the different employment and deployment models of these new roles and their impact on GPs, staff, and patients, particularly the significant issue of increased GP workload due to the need to supervise these new roles. The presentation will also touch upon the policy of expanding the role of community pharmacies in patient care as a means of reducing pressure on general practices, examining factors that facilitate and inhibit its implementation. I will conclude by considering the future policy direction of the new UK government towards integrated neighbourhood teams.
Speaker:
Dr Imelda McDermott is a social scientist with over 15 years of experience in health policy research. She has a broad and deep understanding of the health system in the UK, having led research in this area. Her main area of research is in primary care policy, specifically workforce and commissioning. She has a strong publication record and regular engagement with policymakers. She currently leads research projects and evaluations funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and NHS England. She has worked as a core member of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funded Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System in England.
Social media accounts: @hippomanc and @imcdermott.bsky.social
Link zoom:
https://unibocconi-it.zoom.us/j/91424172617?pwd=AjR3Y39N2sYO43U2QHtqvcdBRp4qiO.1