Is it really all good in the hood for GPs?

Ahead of the Government’s 10-year plan, Dr Margaret Ikpoh questions the role and implementation of neighbourhood services, and what this could mean for GPs

As we all await with bated breath for the Government to unveil its 10-year healthcare plan, a renewed focus on ‘neighbourhood services‘ is taking centre stage. These locally rooted models aim to integrate care more closely within communities, shifting more services out of hospitals and into primary and community settings.

On paper, the vision is compelling – closer care, stronger collaboration, and a more holistic approach to health. But for those of us working in general practice, the key question remains: Is this evolution truly empowering, or is this just another chapter in an ongoing cycle of reform?

This ‘left shift’ approach into community, as well as last week’s announcement that funding formulas need to address inequalities in areas of deprivation are welcome. However, the ‘right shift’ approach will see whether this will truly be transformational. That is: the proof will be in the pudding. Will this new plan improve satisfaction and perception of GPs in our end users (patients and communities )?

Each shifting sand of general practice delivery has promised progress, but frequent restructuring risks destabilising the very system it aims to strengthen.

Neighbourhood teams could offer a real opportunity – if they are designed with general practice at the heart. The information we have been drip fed thus far, suggests that size matters. However, we know that in general practice one size does not fit all. If these changes dilute the role of the GP, or burden practices with poorly coordinated transformation, we risk undermining continuity and trust in patient care.

Because no matter how healthcare is shaped, it is GPs who remain the constant touchpoint for patients. We need to make sure we continue to play a pivotal role not just in the neighbourhood but at the centre of it. I once referred to general practice as the front door to our NHS (as many also do) and I was quite rightly challenged by someone who said: ‘It often feels like we are whole damn house.’

So enough with all the negativity; what’s good in the hood? Well the hard-working GPs and the wider multi-disciplinary teams they work with, ensuring that communities receive the best in patient care.

Neighbourhood teams are not new. Our GP ‘homes’ have always been here, though at times unseen, unheard and unfunded. But now, it really does feel that in this next iteration of general practice – with care moving closer to home, revision of funding formulas, and support for development and commissioning of primary care at scale providers – that we are on the cusp of real change.

Dr Margaret Ikpoh is a GP in Holderness, East Yorkshire. You can find her on X @docmagsy