Posted on: 29 November 2022
Dear colleagues,
On 24 November 2022, NHS Digital published practice level data for the first time, as laid out in the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s “Our Plan for Patients”. The data is being added to the existing monthly appointments in the general practice publication using the data collected from GP System Suppliers.
Through the dedicated work of you and all those in general practice, during October 2022, 1,511,665 appointments were delivered across West Yorkshire, which is an increase of 5.6% on the previous year and an increase of over 213,000 appointments in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.
You have also played a critical role in delivering the flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes, with local primary care networks delivering around 70% of vaccinations nationally, including evenings and weekends. As well as this you have enabled GP cancer referrals to be back to pre-pandemic levels which highlights the incredible work you do to reduce patient backlog.
Your contributions and hard work as the cornerstone for local care and support is a credit to all general practice colleagues. Your help to reduce waiting times for appointments, tackling health inequalities and improving patient experience means that you are an important contributor in tackling health inequalities across our area.
Like you, we understand that people with a worry or concern want to receive care and support as quickly as possible. As GP practices you continue to work exceptionally hard to provide more appointments, as well as a greater variety of appointments. The hard work and commitment from you all to do what is best for your local neighbourhoods and communities is greatly appreciated and does not go unnoticed. Thank you to you all.
It is though clear that the GP Appointments Data (GPAD) Dashboard only measures data about appointments and is not a measure or indication of practice quality or patient care. It does not capture all appointment data or clinical activity. For example, in most cases it does not include patient appointments delivered by primary care networks, nor does it record the large amount of daily patient focused work in dealing with test results, medication reviews and hospital correspondence.
Our forthcoming five-year strategy and joint forward plans (expected to be published in the spring) will articulate a clear and robust approach to primary care delivery, which will include a review of the resources needed and a refreshed strategy with clear links to our People Plan. It will focus on neighbourhood team development, recruitment to address shared workforce shortages, workforce, digital and estates transformation.
Across West Yorkshire we are launching a new campaign, ‘It’s a GP Practice Thing’ to increase public awareness of the range of services available at GP practices, for example, dieticians and social prescribers, and how they can be accessed. The campaign builds on the work in Bradford District and Craven and has been developed by working with local patient groups and primary care staff to develop the most effective messages.
We will continue to remind everyone to be kind to you and your staff. Abuse significantly impacts staff morale which may cause them to leave their jobs, which doesn’t help anyone. The West Yorkshire ‘Leaving a gap’ campaign, built from the views of both staff and GP patients, reminds everyone to be kind to each other. Please do access the free resources if helpful.
Thank you once again.
Very best wishes,
Rob Webster CBE, CEO for NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and CEO Lead for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
Dr James Thomas, Medical Director for NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Dr Richard Vautrey, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Provider Primary Medical Services Partner Member