The management of acute illness

The assessment, differentiation and treatment of minor and potentially serious acute conditions are core skills of general practice. Up to two-thirds of primary care contacts are with patients who have acute problems. These consultations draw on wide-ranging expertise from diagnosis and judicious prescribing, to communication and case management.

What did we explore?

To inform its work, the Inquiry panel commissioned a research project to examine what good-quality acute care in general practice looks like, and how it can be measured. Managing acute illness (1469 kb) [pdf] provides a framework for assessing the quality of the different types of acute care in general practice. The paper is written by a team from the Department of General Practice and Primary Care, King’s College London: Professor Roger Jones, Professor David Armstrong, Patrick White, Mark Ashworth and Marilyn Peters.

Read the research paper and leave your comments below.

What have we learnt about general practice and acute illness?

In March 2010 the Inquiry held a seminar on the management of acute illness with participants including GPs, practice nurses, NHS executives, health academics and patient representatives.

Key issues raised in discussion include:

  • Does a regular clinical audit or significant events analysis by a general practice improve the quality of acute care?
  • Should the location in which the acute care takes place be a marker of quality, given the national agenda of care closer to home?
  • Are there ways to use routinely collected primary care data to measure the quality of acute illness management?

What's your view?

We’d like to get your views on how important you think the management of acute illness is for good-quality care in general practice. What do you feel about the key issues that have been raised as a result of the work we have commissioned? Should this area of care be a priority? And do you think there are key points that have been overlooked in the debate? Your comments will help to inform the Inquiry’s final report.

Please share your views with us, and others, by leaving a comment below. However, if you’d prefer to comment privately please email gpinquiry@kingsfund.org.uk

Your comments

  • The management of acute illness is important in general practice, as it seeks to deliver quality care for the patient. The work commissioned has highlighted key issues, which helps professional to identify quality care in the acutely ill patients.furthermore, this area of care "Acute Illness" must be looked at as a priority within the healthcare settings. I personally believe this debate was well discussed and is an interest in helping me to put together my transition and in addition my final assignment. i would be grateful for any further information or details on this particular subject.

    Kerrion Powell - student nurse, University of Greenwich
    10 Aug 11

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Inquiry into the quality of general practice in England

Download the research paper

  • Managing acute illness

    This paper was commissioned by The King's Fund as part of their Inquiry into the Quality of General Practice in England.