GP access and funding linked to lifespan
PATIENTS with access to fully qualified GPs, higher funding of general practices and increased continuity of care, live longer according to research.
A study led by Professor Richard Baker, at the University of Leicester, looked at most general practices across England.
He investigated the life expectancy of general practice populations in 2015 to 2019, before the pandemic.
The study accounted for characteristics of patient populations, including ethnicity, deprivation, and NHS region.
The features of general practice that were investigated included funding per patient, numbers of fully qualified GPs, GPs in training, nurses and advanced nurse practitioners per 1,000 patients, along with continuity and access.
His findings have now been published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP).
Prof Baker said: “In recent years, both the number of fully qualified GPs and continuity of care have been declining, and general practices are struggling to meet the demands for care of an aging population.
“Reversing these declines would not only improve access to care but also might improve life expectancy. “There are several factors which could explain the slowdown of life expectancy, including socio-economic inequalities and a slowing of the mortality improvements in cardiovascular disease management, but the possibility that the pressure on general practice may be contributing should now be considered as well.
“While this study cannot prove causation, the findings are consistent with international evidence about the mechanisms of primary care that affect life expectancy, and should trigger concern about the effect of the current general practice crisis on population health in England.
The study was also carried out by Dr Steve Levene in Leicester, Professor George Freeman, from Imperial College London, and Chris Newby, from the University of Nottingham.
Prof Baker said: “The findings of the study are important not only because they highlight the role of general practice in improving population health but also because they indicate which features of general practice should be considered in future policy developments.
“They suggest that health service policies should give priority to increasing the numbers of fully qualified GPs, increasing general practice funding per patient and improving continuity and access.”
General practices are struggling to meet the demands for care of an aging population
Professor Richard Baker