Prioritising resource for GPs in deprived areas is essential for care
Published: 6 January 2025
GP practices in deprived areas should be prioritised for resource, in order to allow them to provide effective care to some of the most unwell and vulnerable patients in society
GP practices in deprived areas should be prioritised for resource, in order to allow them to provide effective care to some of the most unwell and vulnerable patients in society.
In areas experiencing high levels of poverty, factors including a lack of access to and time with GP services impacts patients’ engagement in healthcare, their self-management and, ultimately, their overall wellbeing. The new findings come from research led by the General Practice and Primary Care Team at the University of Glasgow.
Working closely with patient groups in some of the most deprived areas of Scotland, the research team found that community factors – experiences of belonging, stigma from outside the community, and experiences of community-based systems not working – had a direct impact on health.
Currently, people living in areas with high poverty rates are far more likely to not only experience multiple long-term conditions, but also develop them at a younger age. Despite the increased rates of illness, particularly mental health, GP practices in these areas currently receive no extra resources. GPs therefore have no choice but to see more people, with more problems, in less time, which makes providing appropriate care extremely challenging.
Published in the British Journal of General Practice, the new study found that high quality person-centred care – which includes trusting relationship with practitioners, continuity of care, power shared equally between patients and doctors – could influence how people with multiple long-term conditions manage their health.
Throughout the study, researchers spent significant time in one community in the West of Scotland which experiences high levels of poverty. People in this area described how the impact of wider shared experiences influenced their experience of healthcare, and often resulted in anger or disengagement from services.
Researchers say this work highlights the importance of prioritising and resourcing high-quality care in General Practice to narrow existing health inequalities. Moreover, that person-centred care could be particularly important for populations experiencing poverty because it may be able to mitigate the impact of wider negative community experiences.
Dr Marianne McCallum, GP Clinical Academic Fellow in General Practice Primary Care at the University’s School of Health and Wellbeing, said: “This study provides further evidence to suggest that relationships and continuity really are the ‘silver bullets of general practice’ and this is particularly so in communities experiencing poverty.
“This study also emphasises the need to ensure that GPs working in these areas are properly resourced to allow them time to provide this essential care.”
The study, ‘Multimorbidity and Person-Centred care in a socioeconomically deprived community: a qualitative study’ is published in the British Journal of General Practice.
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 6 January 2025