General Practitioners and Emergency Departments (GPED)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
General Practitioners and Emergency Departments (GPED): Efficient Models of Care
IRAS ID
218038
Contact name
Jonathan Benger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, months, days
Research summary
Pressure continues to grow on Emergency Departments (EDs) in the United Kingdom, with declining performance and adverse effects on patient outcome, safety and experience. One proposed solution is to locate GPs in or alongside the ED, with a number of models introduced. Currently, 40% of EDs report primary care co-location, however evidence of effectiveness is weak.
This study uses a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the impact of GPs working in or alongside the ED on patients, healthcare professionals and the wider urgent care system, examining different models of service as well as comparing those EDs with and without collocated GPs. This builds on existing work to address uncertainty about the best way to implement GPED.
The study will comprise three work packages.
Work Package A; Mapping, Taxonomy and Interviews
We will map, describe and classify current models of GPED in all EDs in England, building on previous work. Through interviews with key informants we will examine the hypotheses that underpin GPED and its anticipated benefits.
Work Package B; Quantitative Analysis of National Data
We will measure the impact of the models of GPED identified in WP-A, compared to a no-GPED model, using routinely available Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. We will also calculate costs and consequences of the different GPED models.Work Package C; Case Studies
We will complete a detailed mixed-methods analysis in ten case study sites that are about to implement (six sites), or have already implemented (four sites) a GPED model of care. These sites will be purposively selected to represent a range of geographical locations and 2 or 3 leading models of care.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0312
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion