The RCGP has issued a toolkit to help GP practices improve their care planning procedures for patients with long-term conditions.
The document – published today – looks at the results of a pilot in diabetes patients run by Diabetes UK and looks at how it could be applied to other conditions. Click here to download the full document.
The pilot in 50 GP practices found introducing care planning helped engage patients in their own care and improved the way they approached the care of patients.
The RCGP claims that better care planning in general practice could improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital admissions, A&E attendance and medication use.
Professor Nigel Mathers, vice chair of the RCGP, told Pulse the college would be focussing on supporting practices to have better systems of care planning, including appointing a college lead.
He said: ‘Patients tell us that they want us to do more to support their own self care. Over 90% of people with LTCs say they are interested in being more active "self-managers".'
‘[This toolkit] will provide guidance for GPs and practice staff to better support patients to self care, control their treatment and improve their quality of their
Dr Isabel Hodkinson, a GP in Tower Hamlets and the diabetes lead for the local area, also praised the job satisfaction which comes from care planning with patients.
