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The National General Practice Improvement Programme (GPIP) has launched in England, further empower practices and PCNs to optimise their operations.
The aim of the programme (like other programs before) is to support transformative change by focusing on workload control, maximising staff roles and local services, meeting patient needs, and providing safe, equitable care.
The programme offers three levels of support, all underpinned by the principles that change should be clinically led, evidence-based and data-driven. These include:
1. Universal Support: Webinars and training sessions are available to all practices and PCNs in England. These sessions aim to help participants understand demand and capacity and the issues that arise from them.
2. Intermediate Support: This includes three months of support with a facilitator for practices, and 12 half-day sessions over a flexible time period for PCNs.
3. Intensive Support: This provides six months of support with a facilitator, targeting practices working in the most challenging circumstances.
At the heart of this change lie two critical elements: people and data. As practices and PCNs navigate the changes triggered by the recent contract changes, recovery plan and now GPIP, understanding and meeting the needs of both providers and patients becomes paramount. It's not merely about embracing digital transformation or collecting and analysing data it's about putting people at the centre of the process.
Here are some key points to consider:
The aim of any change, driven by GPIP or otherwise, should be to remove hurdles, streamline processes, and make healthcare more efficient and accessible for all involved in a sustainable manner that also allows development. Data offers insights to guide these changes, but it's people who implement and experience these transformations, both patients and staff.
Empowering all stakeholders to leverage the benefits of data-driven decision making is crucial. This means providing proper engagement, education, and support to ensure Practices and their staff understand how to use data effectively and are aligned with the changes whilst appreciating the value that the changes will bring.
All providers should be able to focus on their primary mission - caring for patients. By using data effectively and engaging people in the process, we can ensure changes reduce administrative burdens and enhance patient care, ensuring better experiences for patients and staff.
The GPIP is hopefully another step forward and welcome support, but if we fail to prioritise people and support them alongside data in our approach to change management, we risk missing the incredible opportunities to deliver positive change.
At Venn Health, we can help your practice or PCN navigate the GPIP changes, harness the power of data, and keep a people-centred focus. We believe that while data offers insights, it's the human element – understanding, engaging, and supporting the people involved in and affected by the change – that drives meaningful, sustainable transformation.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey towards a people-centred, data-guided future.