Your chance to get going with Group Clinics: Masterclass with Dr Rupa Joshi

Group clinics are recognised within Modern General Practice as a way of embedding personalised care for people with long term conditions (NHS England 2023). Trials and systematic reviews of group appointments directly compared with “usual care” (one to one appointments) show improvements in diabetes biometrics (Kirsch et al 2017), and that those reviewed in groups make more health-related behaviour changes (Dickman et al 2011), retain improved knowledge of diabetes (Riley et al 2010) and experience improved quality of life (Trento et al 2010).

With the promise of improved quality of care, combined with clear clinician efficiency gains (Gandhi et al 2019), group clinics offer real promise in the face of rising demand.

Many clinicians and practice managers have been thinking about engaging with this way of working for some time. Its benefits have been highlighted by The British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) as an essential element of a lifestyle based approach to clinical practice.

The pandemic shone a light on the benefits of video group clinics, with over 500 GP practices engaging in the video group clinic learning programme commissioned by NHS England’s Nursing Directorate and delivered by the Experience Led Care Programme (www.elcworks.co.uk) in partnership with Redmoor Health.

A recent survey by the BSLM found that whilst many of its members were keen to embrace the group clinic model, many were struggling to get going. There were a range of reasons for this. They included: lack of access to training or funding, lack of support from and scepticism amongst colleagues and lack of time.

Now that so much work has been done and investment made to support general practice to improve the “front door” of primary care, using total triage and other tools, now is the time to turn to how we manage planned care and demand more effectively. As the evidence shows, group clinics offer a sustainable solution.

To help those who have been think about making this change get going, The Experience Led Care Programme has joined forces with Dr Rupa Joshi – one of the UK’s most experienced group clinic practitioners – to offer a free masterclass to help you convert your passive interest into action.

Join us on Thursday November 7th from 12.45 till 14.15 and we will cover:

• The critical success factors that lead to successful change
• How to use the existing evidence
• How to make a business case
• How to engage sceptical colleagues
• How to make group clinics a priority
• Finding the headspace for change.

Book your 07 November masterclass here

Interested in learning more about training? Contact Georgina Craig at georgina@elcworks.co.uk

References

Dickman K, Pintz C, Gold K, Kivlahan C. Behavior changes in patients with diabetes and hypertension after experiencing shared medical appointments. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2011; 24(1): 43–51.

Gandhi D, Craig G. An evaluation of the suitability, feasibility and acceptability of diabetes group consultations in Brigstock Medical Practice. Journal of Medicines Optimisation. 2019; 5(2): 39-44.

Kirsh SR, Aron DC, Johnson KD, Santurri LE, Stevenson LD, Jones KR, Jagosh J. A realist review of shared medical appointments: How, for whom, and under what circumstances do they work? BMC health services research. 2017; 17(1): 1-13.

NHS England. (2023) How to improve care related processes in general practice. Publication reference: PRN00616 https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/how-to-improve-care-related-processes-in-general-practice/

Riley SB, Marshall ES. Group visits in diabetes care: a systematic review. The Diabetes Educator. 2010; 36(6): 936-944.

Trento M, Gamba S, Gentile L, Grassi G, Miselli V, Morone G. 2010. Rethink organisation to iMprove education and outcomes (ROMEO): a multicenter randomized trial of lifestyle intervention by group care to manage type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33: 745–7.