GPs set to become named clinicians responsible for vulnerable older adults

GPs are likely to become named clinicians responsible for the care of vulnerable older adults, as part of the Government’s plan to alleviate pressure on A&E.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt revealed GPs are currently the favourite to take on the role, which will see every older person with complex health needs have a named clinician responsible for their care.

Mr Hunt has previously described the impact ineffective care for vulnerable older people has on A&E, highlighting that many vulnerable older people end up in A&E for avoidable reasons.

He said: “In 65 years, the NHS has quite simply done more to improve people’s lives than any other institution in our history. But too often the people it fails are its heaviest users – our most vulnerable and elderly.

“Too often these people end up in hospital not by design, but simply because they can’t get the care they need elsewhere.

“We need radical improvements to make sure our most vulnerable and elderly have the support they need to keep them in better health and out of hospital.”

The Government plan to reduce pressure on the service by implementing changes to reduce older people's need to make repeated trips to A&E by ensuring they have access care and support elsewhere.

The Department of Health has created a website dedicated to the proposals on how to improve care for vulnerable older people, which has been open throughout the summer for people from the care sector to comment and present their views on how to implement improvements successfully.

At the beginning of the summer Mr Hunt outlined his plans for the website and said: “This summer my department is seeking and encouraging your insight on a set of proposals that together will form a vulnerable older people’s plan.

“These proposals set out how to make improvements in primary care and urgent and emergency care. They also seek to establish ways for NHS and social care services to work together more effectively for the benefit of patients – in and out of hospital. We want to test these proposals and find the best ways to implement them.

“I look forward to hearing your views on how we can help all of us to enjoy a happier and healthier old age.”

Mr Hunt described the three main elements emerging as a result of the comments received on the website.

A popular view is for GPs to fill the role of named clinician, which will see GPs working between hospitals, care homes and in the patient’s home to ensure that vulnerable older people are receiving appropriate care.

Mr Hunt described on-going engagement through the website has pointed to ensuring joined up care between the NHS and Social Services is essential.

The need for information and patient records to be shared across the NHS was described in the announcement from Mr Hunt, and under the proposals it is planned at least a third of A&Es will have access to GP records by the end of 2014.

The site remains open for comments until 27 September 2013, with the Government using the views to create finalised proposals which will be rolled out next year.