Responding to the announcement of the expansion of the GP ‘Advice
and Guidance' scheme from the Department of Health and Social
Care, Beccy Baird, Senior Fellow at The King's Fund said:
‘This initiative is a welcome step towards realising the
government's vision of delivering more care closer to the
community. Supporting people to manage conditions such as
irritable bowel syndrome and tinnitus at home not only reduces
hospital waiting lists, but crucially helps patients feel happier
and healthier in their own homes. The scheme also encourages
stronger collaboration between GPs and hospital specialists.
‘However, effective implementation will be key to the scheme's
success, and commissioners must safeguard against potential
unintended consequences of the scheme. Financial incentives for
GPs based on the number of requests raised could undermine the
primary goal of delivering high-quality care and the scheme must
avoid introducing unnecessary steps into a patient's journey.
‘The NHS is under immense pressure, with long hospital waiting
lists and declining public
satisfaction a sad reality. To truly achieve the vision of
shifting care from hospitals to the community, the government
must reallocate funding to strengthen out-of-hospital services
and overhaul existing hospital-focused performance targets. This
shift in focus from treating acute illnesses to promoting
prevention is essential for the future of the NHS.'
