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Quarter of CCGs begin to implement ‘time for care’ GP practice changes

GPs in a quarter of CCGs have begin to implement changes to their practice as part of NHS England’s ‘time for care’ scheme.

The scheme, which was launched as part of the GP Forward View in 2016, was given a fund worth £30m – of which £8m was spent in its first year.

The programme pledged to free up around 10% of GPs’ time through ten ‘high impact actions’, which include offering phone and online consultations, cutting DNAs, improving GPs’ ‘personal productivity’, partnership working and social prescribing among other areas.

NHS said some 48 CCGs have begun implementing changes, with a further 128 in the planning stage.

An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘In 2016/17 £8m of the £30m fund was spent and spend continues in line with the commitment laid out in the GPFV.

‘The Time for Care programme continues to grow; as at 31 March 2018 there are 94 schemes covering 176 CCGs. 

‘Support is provided to move through planning and engaging practices, to implementation.

‘Currently 48 of those CCGs have completed planning and are now engaged with practices in implementing changes within the practice.’

A spokesperson for the BMA said they have received mixed feedback from GPs on the time for care scheme, adding that there needs to be more evaluation of what’s needed in order to establish whether or not the scheme is delivering on its aims and providing value for money.

They added that the BMA plans to look into the schemes further and determine how their members are experiencing them.

NHS England’s 10 High Impact Actions

  1. Active signposting – online portal and reception navigation
  2. New consultation types – telephone, e-consultations, text message, group consultations
  3. Reduce DNAs – easy cancellation, reminders, patient recording, read-back, reporting attendances, reduce ‘just in case’
  4. Develop the team – advanced nurse practitioner, physician associates, pharmacists, medical assistants, paramedics, therapists
  5. Productive work flows – matching capacity and demand, efficient processes, productive environment
  6. Personal productivity – personal resilience, computer confidence, speed reading, touch typing
  7. Partnership working – productive federation, community pharmacy, specialists, community services
  8. Social prescribing – practice based navigators, external service
  9. Support self care – Prevention, acute episodes, long term conditions
  10. Develop QI expertise – leadership of change, process improvement, rapid cycle management, measurement

Source: NHS England’s General Practice Forward View