Primary care
Primary care is usually the first point of contact for people when they need health advice or treatment
It’s the first stop for symptoms that are new or for concerns about physical or mental health. It is provided by GPs and other health care professionals (such as practice nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists).
Our recent work and content on this topic is listed below.
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Understanding primary care networks
This briefing helps to explain what the implementation of primary care networks (PCNs) will mean for health and care in England, and highlights some of the opportunities and challenges with implementi...
More people report waiting too long for GP appointments
Health Foundation response to NHS England's GP Patient Survey
Primary care networks: lifeboats launched on stormy seas
Primary care networks (PCNs) went live on 1 July 2019. Despite their potential to improve primary care, how they’ll develop, and what changes patients can expect to notice remains unclear. Dr Rebecca ...
Quantifying health workers’ retention in primary care, its variability and association with outcomes
Research project examining how retention of GPs and nurses has changed over time, and mapping its regional variability, using databases of routinely collected administrative data.
The current Babylon GP at Hand model will not work for everyone
If the future of primary care is digital, the approach to it must meet the needs of a diverse population with varying health conditions.
Primary care networks and the deprivation challenge
The newly emerging PCNs provide an opportunity to tackle health inequalities in England but they will have to be careful to avoid perpetuating the problem.
Nudging more cost-effective medication use across NHS organisations
Project that will use behavioural insights methods to optimise health care workers’ medication prescribing and use choices, improve understanding of patient experience, and prioritise medication safet...
Mounting cycle of pressures on GPs in deprived areas
New analysis by the Health Foundation reveals a mounting cycle of pressures that are impacting disproportionately on GPs in the most deprived areas, increasing GP workload and leading to growing inequ...
A worrying cycle of pressure for GPs in deprived areas
Without urgent policy action, GP shortages will get worse.
From opportunity to reality: Delivering new workforce models in practice
Improvement Fellow Sarah Reed looks at two projects we’ve funded that are using multi-professional teams to bridge the workforce gap.
Winter pressures in practice
How has this winter been for GPs and their patients in England? Dr Becks Fisher describes the pressures on general practice.
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