Self Online Management For Patients

GP shake-up will urge patients to “self-manage” conditions on the internet and see nurses and pharmacists instead of doctors.

20:50 29 April 2016

NHS England has laid out a five-year plan that involved additional £2.4 billion a year in funding by the end of the decade. The plans, which are set forth to help “general practice get back on its feet”, are hoped to reduce the demand for hospital services, which could save the NHS money in the long term.

 

The additional funds was approved after mounting pressure from GP leaders over underfunding and increasing workloads, as well as shortage of trainee doctors willing to go into general practice. 

 

Under the plans, GP surgeries will work together to manage patient demand, increase their opening hours on week nights and weekends, and encourage patients to see professionals other than GPs. An extra 1,500 pharmacists could be brought in as well as 3,000 mental health therapists into primary care to deal with minor ailments and help people with long-term conditions.

 

Some £45 million has also been earmarked "so that every practice in the country can help their reception and clerical staff play a greater role in care navigation, signposting patients and handling clinical paperwork to free up GP time."