Inquiry into the quality of general practice: the management of long-term conditions

The proactive management of people with long-term conditions, including the promotion of self-care by patients, is a key priority for the NHS.

General practice has a central role in delivering more integrated and personalised care, and in implementing policies that target 'at-risk' individuals with appropriate interventions.

What did we explore?

To inform its work, the Inquiry panel commissioned a research project to examine what constitutes best practice in managing long-term conditions, and how can this be measured. Managing people with long-term conditions, assesses the scope for significant quality improvements in this aspect of general practice care, with a specific focus on arthritis, diabetes, dementia and depression. The paper is written by a team from The King's Fund: Nick Goodwin, Natasha Curry, Chris Naylor, Shilpa Ross and Wendy Duldig.

What have we learnt about the management of long-term conditions?

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

Key issues raised in discussion include:

• How general practices can be more proactive in the management of people with long-term conditions in local communities.

• How to ensure that general practice has access to staff with the multi-disciplinary skills necessary to manage complex patients effectively.

• What approaches can be used in general practice to better support patients to self-care.