Optimising people-centred access in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising people-centred access in primary care in the context of Covid-19: facilitating organisational and policy change
IRAS ID
291787
Contact name
Jonathan Hammond
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
General practice access is an important policy issue, but previous attempts to improve access have used a narrow definition of access, and have not taken account of research literature or people’s understandings of what ‘good access’ means. Covid-19 has driven drastic changes to access, including a rapid shift to telephone/online consultations. It is unclear whether these changes have improved or worsened access, for who, and which should be kept or changed. \n\nIn this mixed-methods study funded by NIHR, we will build upon recent research that provides a more rounded way to think about what ‘better’ access might be: people-centred access. This focuses on the ‘fit’ between peoples’ diverse needs and abilities and needs and abilities of organisations providing care. We will consider how policy can support this, and develop and disseminate resources to help GP practices reflect on improving access, focusing on how to reduce inequalities. \n\nWe will explore the question of how general practice access can be improved for patients and practices. This project comprises 3 parts: (1)look at English GP appointment data to describe trends occurring due to Covid-19, interview GP staff, and interview policy makers about access priorities; (2)work with GP practices and other organisations in Tameside & Glossop (T&G) and elsewhere in England, conducting interviews, observations and focus groups to understand their approaches to access and issues. A local community group in T&G will support the work throughout and help develop a resource set to be shared with GPs to help them optimise access; (3)Work with Royal College of GPs to finalise access resources and provide these to GP practices across the country, present our findings and access resources to national policy makers. By influencing policy and practices, access experiences for all groups of patients can be improved and inequalities reduced.\n\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
21/NS/0113
Date of REC Opinion
10 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion