High quality patient care at every contact is the aim of primary care teams across the NHS. However studies suggest there are common safety challenges related to making the right diagnosis, delays in referring patients to hospitals and prescribing errors.
The NHS Long Term Plan described several new ways of working in primary and community care that can increase the focus on patient safety, including the development of integrated care services, the Digital Minor Illness Referral Service, and the work of ‘extensivists’ – GPs working in the community but able to follow patients into hospital. Digital strategies also offer several mechanisms to address issues that contribute to patient safety in primary care. This award will recognise primary care teams that have found new ways to deliver consistently safe care.
Eligibility
This award is open to all NHS primary care teams who can demonstrate improved patient safety and outcomes.