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General Practice During The Pandemic: The Role of the General Practitioner and Practice Team

Our new document, General Practice During The Pandemic: The Role of the General Practitioner and Practice Team, looks at how practice teams are adapting to the Covid-19 challenge and some of the future implications of this period of rapid change. It also contains guidance on a number of areas, including:

Emergency/urgent care

• Diagnosis and management of patients presenting with acute illness.
• Risk assessing and triaging these presentations into those suitable for advice only, prescription, further investigation, referral for specialist advice or acute hospital referral.
• Referring cases of suspected cancer to specialist services in accordance with revised 2 week wait pathways.

Long-term conditions (LTCs)

• Diagnosis and management of many LTCs in general practice.
• Referral for secondary care for the diagnosis and/or initial management with referral back to GP for the long-term management.
• Referral to secondary care for the diagnosis and/or initial management and then ongoing joint management of the patient.
• Referral to secondary care for the diagnosis and ongoing management of patients.

Prevention and health promotion

• This includes vaccinations, immunisations, lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol).

End of life care

• Increasing numbers of patients with end stage disease or malignancy or choosing to die in the community with the GP being part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting them and their families through this event.

Patient and local community advocacy

• Identifying and referring vulnerable individuals, especially where there may be a safeguarding concern.
• Understanding the local communities being served.
• Providing holistic care, for example assistance with benefits.
• Linking with voluntary organisations.
• Providing patient support forums within the practice.
• Contribute to community cohesion.

Last updated : 07 Sep 2020

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