Communications for Primary Care Providers: Introduction
General Practice services are a crucial part of the NHS and are facing significant pressures as patient demand continues to rise and capacity become stretched. Good patient communications are a key part of shaping demand; it can direct patients to use the most efficient access routes, encourage patients to get proactive care and advise patients to prepare in advanced of crucial times. Good patient communications provide duel benefit as its can reduce pressure on primary care and improve population health and individual experiences for patients using NHS services.
Many GP practices and Primary Care Networks operate with similar goals and similar operating models. Communications can therefore efficiently be created at a national and regional level to help save GP practices and Primary Care Networks much needed time and resource. The NHS South East region encourages Primary Care Networks and GP practices make best use of national communications toolkits.
In this section of the toolkit, you’ll find a range of national campaigns that can support you to deliver good patient communications across multiple channels. It includes topics such as:
- Help Us Help You
- NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service
- NHS staff respect
- Enhanced access
- NHS App
- GP online registration
- GP practice websites
- Winter wellness
- Pharmacy advice
- Advanced Telephony upgrades