Table 5 Participating GPs’ views on the future of the model and other aspects from the interviews
From: A study of role expansion: a new GP role in cardiology care
Theme | Majority/consensus | Minority |
|---|---|---|
Future | ||
Sustainability | Several ECR GPs expressed a desire to see the extended GP role continue because of the perceived benefits for patients, clinicians and secondary care. However to be sustainable it would need further resources, including money, skills and time to make it work efficiently. Motivation by the ECR GPs was also central to the future of the new service. | Others felt that the results of an evaluation were needed first to inform the decision to continue the pilot, and that cost-effectiveness also needs to be demonstrated. |
It was felt that patients should be consulted on the implementation of the expansion of the service. | ||
Concerns | The new GP role could change the GPs’ role, from one of a generalist to a specialist in primary care. Furthermore, the transition of care into the community, in the long term, may present a risk of “…destabilising the hospital sector” (ECR GP 8) due to funds being transferred from the hospital to the community sector. | |
Application | The extended GP role model was considered to be appropriate and in line with the new NHS reforms, especially as chronic disease is one of the main problems that the NHS faces in the future. | |
Other aspects | ||
Training | All the ECR GPs overwhelmingly appreciated the training course. | |
“All the additional knowledge and skills just makes me feel a lot more confident that when someone comes along with symptoms of heart failure that I can get straight onto with getting to the cause of the problem and sorting them out properly” (ECR GP 7) | ||
Tests accessibility | All ECR GPs stated that having direct access to tests was central to the new service as the immediate access and rapid turnaround of results to the practice was felt to be a key element in the efficiency of the service. The availability of tests enabled the ECR GPs to have more confidence in their decision making in diagnosis and treatment. | |
“You can’t do it (managing heart failure) without an echo, you can’t diagnose it properly, and so you need the echos” (ECR GP 7) |