Setting up of a GP forum underway

The GP Forum was launched with the aim of fostering stronger connections among General Practitioners (GPs) within King’s Health Partners and more widely. This initiative seeks to engage those involved in teaching, research, and various other activities at King’s College London, as well as individuals working within the Southeast London Integrated Care System (ICS), undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and related areas. The attendees included clinical academics, GPs with diverse research interests, and key leaders in primary care from across King’s College London and the NHS.

During this first meeting, participants explored their priorities on integrating health systems, proactive prevention, and digital health and identified potential future activities.

What are your priorities on integration discussions on health systems?

The group emphasised the need for better communication between NHS IT systems and broader integration with social services to address social determinants of health. They highlighted the challenge of managing complex data for personalised care and the role of supportive technologies to empower patients. Strong policy changes are needed to advance system integration.

What are your priorities on integration discussions on proactive prevention?

The focus was on stratifying the population to engage at-risk groups using targeted interventions, such as digital tools for tech-savvy individuals and community outreach for others. Challenges include capacity constraints, especially in deprived areas, and the need to separate urgent care from proactive prevention efforts. Addressing social determinants was felt to be essential, as they significantly impact health outcomes.

What are your priorities on integration discussions on digital health?

Discussions centered on improving patient care through digital tools, addressing poor NHS IT infrastructure, and tackling health inequalities. The potential of AI and digital tools to enhance diagnostics and continuity of care was noted, but robust evaluation frameworks are needed to assess their impact. Approximately 20% of GPs are already using AI in consultations, highlighting its growing role.

Actions: The forum identified key areas for future focus, including:

1. “Getting started” Supporting colleagues setting up community projects

• Navigating the research system

• Address barriers to engagement (only 1% GPs are research active); acknowledge portfolio GPs; time commitment; complexity of process eg around ethics

• Involving RDN (formerly CRN) at start of study

• Support study design/outcome measures.

• Think about evaluation from the beginning & partnerships to achieve

  
  

2. Capacity building emerged as a central theme, with discussions on skills training, Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and engagement with schemes like Spin Fellowships.

3. Leveraging existing primary care infrastructure, such as CESEL QI programmes [GB/TR/MM/JC and others] and study design to measuring effects; enabling QI work more accessible to GPs who may perceive it as overly academic or “out of reach”.

4. Opportunity for Southeast London is set to become a world leading “Digital transformation hub” and needs research input using available data to maximise inputs). ICS interest as a research partner [VS Digital lead]

5. Achieving Impact & Innovation change in practice including by publication/engagement - picked up by key policy makers/stakeholders. [KCL run courses on achieving impact]

6. Fostering collaborative community research environments Identifying shared goals & themes across our different roles unique complement of backgrounds and skills, with local charities and wider local organisations.

7. Mentoring opportunities to support navigating roles in PC.

8. Membership - any interested GPs extend to F1/F2s considering career choices to encourage into primary care.