Keywords
Citation
(2011), "United Kingdom - The Health Foundation and Royal College of General Practitioners establish a new Commission on Generalism", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 24 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2011.06224eaa.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
United Kingdom - The Health Foundation and Royal College of General Practitioners establish a new Commission on Generalism
Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 24, Issue 5
Keywords: Medical generalism, Quality healthcare provision, Healthcare policy, Healthcare standards
The Health Foundation and Royal College of General Practioners (RCGP) have launched a Commission on Generalism which will look at the contribution of medical generalism and the role of the generalist in today’s healthcare system.
The Commission will be hosted by the RCGP in partnership with the Health Foundation and will also seek input from an advisory group.
The commission has been set up to achieve the following:
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agree a definition for generalism;
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instigate a structured discussion of the rationale for and the current status of medical generalism;
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make an analysis of the effectiveness of generalist practice and any problems associated with it;
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make recommendations for the future direction of the generalist role, with reference to workforce planning;
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consider how clinical training for general practice and some other specialities retain key elements of generalism to deliver effective patient care; and
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consider the drivers for change such as demography, science and technology, medical training, the economy, social trends, and political factors.
The commission will run over 12-15 months and there will be an independent final report published in early 2012 with the findings.
Martin Marshall, Clinical Director and Director of Research and Development, at the Health Foundation said, “The Health Foundation is delighted to have this opportunity to work with the RCGP on the Commission on Generalism.”
“As healthcare becomes ever more complex and potentially more fragmented, high quality generalists will be fundamental to providing the very best care for patients. We are confident that the commission will help us to develop a better understanding of and a higher profile for generalism.”
RCGP Chair Dr Clare Gerada said, “The commission will be one of the most important pieces of work that the college has ever carried out and has the potential to inform and influence healthcare policy for years to come. We are delighted to have the added benefit of working with the Health Foundation with its reputation for academic rigour and its strong commitment to raising standards of care for our patients.”
The Commission will be Chaired by Baroness Ilora Finlay. The panel includes former Chair and President of the RCGP Professor David Haslam; Harry Cayton, Chief Executive of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence; Dr Anna Dixon, Director of Policy at the King’s Fund; and Baroness Sheila Hollins, Professor of Psychiatry of learning disability at St George’s (University of London) and crossbench life peer.
The advisory group will be made up of other medical Royal Colleges and clinical professional bodies who will contribute to early thinking around generalism and comment on the commission’s analysis after each phase of the project.
For more information: www.health.org.uk