‘New approach needed’ for primary care clusters
A MAJOR step-change is needed in the development and direction of primary care “clusters” if they are to relieve pressure on GPs and Welsh hospitals, an Assembly report has warned.
Health boards across Wales have created “clusters” which bring together several neighbouring GP practices to cover a defined population of between 30,000 and 50,000 patients.
Clusters were set up to allow these practices to combine and provide other services including physiotherapy, pharmacy, counselling and specialist nursing.
But according to the Assembly’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, “little evidence” has been collected to prove there are any real benefits of cluster working to date, especially for individual patients.
The committee reviewed Wales’ 64 clusters and found that they are at “various stages of maturity”, which in itself was not deemed an issue providing they were developing to best serve the needs of the local community.
But the committee believes a “refreshed approach” and “clearer direction” is needed from the Welsh Government.
It also wants to see a national campaign explaining to the public the benefits of primary care cluster working and how best to use the range of professionals working within them.
“A key reason behind the creation of primary care clusters is to relieve pressure on GPs and on our hospitals by keeping vital health services closer to home in people’s communities,” said Dai Lloyd, chairman of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.
“But we have found limited evidence demonstrating that this is happening across Wales’ 64 clusters.
“We believe a major stepchange is needed from the Welsh Government to provide a clearer direction for health boards and primary care professionals to make sure the right services are being delivered in the right areas in the right way.”
The committee makes 16 recommendations in its report, including calling on the Welsh Government to produce a “clearly defined vision” for clusters from the beginning of the new financial year.
It also wants a national campaign to be created, aimed at patients, which supports and promotes the primary care cluster model.
Furthermore, it wants money for individual clusters to be allocated on a three-year rather than a one-year basis.
In April 2016, the Welsh Government announced a £10m financial boost for Wales’ 64 clusters.
In response to the report, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “We welcome the committee’s support for primary care cluster working and will consider the report carefully.
“The Health Secretary will write to the committee, setting out his response to each of the recommendations, in due course.”