Health inequalities, multimorbidity, and primary care in Scotland

Stewart W Mercer; David Blane; Eddie Donaghy; David Henderson; Carey Lunan; Kieran Sweeney

doi:10.7861/fhj.2023-0069

Health inequalities, multimorbidity, and primary care in Scotland

Stewart W Mercer, David Blane, Eddie Donaghy, David Henderson, Carey Lunan, Kieran Sweeney

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Abstract
Scotland has an ageing population and the widest health inequalities in Western Europe. Multimorbidity develops some 10-15 years earlier in deprived areas than in affluent areas. General practice is central to the effective and safe management of such complex multimorbidity, but the inverse care law has permeated deprived communities (‘Deep End’ general practices) for the last 50 years. A new, radical, Scottish GP contract was introduced in April 2018, which has a vision to improve quality of care through Cluster working and expansion of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), enabling GPs to deliver ‘expert generalism’ to patients with complex needs. It states a specific intention to address health inequalities, and also to support the integration of health and social care. In this commentary, we discuss recent evidence on whether the ambitions of the new GP contract, reducing health inequalities and the wider agenda of integration of care are being achieved.
[149 words, max 150]
Keywords: Scottish GP contract; Integration; multimorbidity; health inequalities

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	219-225
Number of pages	7
Journal	Future Healthcare Journal
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7861/fhj.2023-0069
Publication status	Published - 30 Nov 2023

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Scottish GP contract
Integration
multimorbidity
health inequalities

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Cite this

@article{6c369e2613364c3d9124c12079540213,

title = "Health inequalities, multimorbidity, and primary care in Scotland",

abstract = "Abstract Scotland has an ageing population and the widest health inequalities in Western Europe. Multimorbidity develops some 10-15 years earlier in deprived areas than in affluent areas. General practice is central to the effective and safe management of such complex multimorbidity, but the inverse care law has permeated deprived communities ({\textquoteleft}Deep End{\textquoteright} general practices) for the last 50 years. A new, radical, Scottish GP contract was introduced in April 2018, which has a vision to improve quality of care through Cluster working and expansion of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), enabling GPs to deliver {\textquoteleft}expert generalism{\textquoteright} to patients with complex needs. It states a specific intention to address health inequalities, and also to support the integration of health and social care. In this commentary, we discuss recent evidence on whether the ambitions of the new GP contract, reducing health inequalities and the wider agenda of integration of care are being achieved. [149 words, max 150] Keywords: Scottish GP contract; Integration; multimorbidity; health inequalities ",

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author = "Mercer, \{Stewart W\} and David Blane and Eddie Donaghy and David Henderson and Carey Lunan and Kieran Sweeney",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.7861/fhj.2023-0069",

language = "English",

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AU - Mercer, Stewart W

AU - Blane, David

AU - Donaghy, Eddie

AU - Henderson, David

AU - Lunan, Carey

AU - Sweeney, Kieran

PY - 2023/11/30

Y1 - 2023/11/30

N2 - Abstract Scotland has an ageing population and the widest health inequalities in Western Europe. Multimorbidity develops some 10-15 years earlier in deprived areas than in affluent areas. General practice is central to the effective and safe management of such complex multimorbidity, but the inverse care law has permeated deprived communities (‘Deep End’ general practices) for the last 50 years. A new, radical, Scottish GP contract was introduced in April 2018, which has a vision to improve quality of care through Cluster working and expansion of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), enabling GPs to deliver ‘expert generalism’ to patients with complex needs. It states a specific intention to address health inequalities, and also to support the integration of health and social care. In this commentary, we discuss recent evidence on whether the ambitions of the new GP contract, reducing health inequalities and the wider agenda of integration of care are being achieved. [149 words, max 150] Keywords: Scottish GP contract; Integration; multimorbidity; health inequalities

AB - Abstract Scotland has an ageing population and the widest health inequalities in Western Europe. Multimorbidity develops some 10-15 years earlier in deprived areas than in affluent areas. General practice is central to the effective and safe management of such complex multimorbidity, but the inverse care law has permeated deprived communities (‘Deep End’ general practices) for the last 50 years. A new, radical, Scottish GP contract was introduced in April 2018, which has a vision to improve quality of care through Cluster working and expansion of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), enabling GPs to deliver ‘expert generalism’ to patients with complex needs. It states a specific intention to address health inequalities, and also to support the integration of health and social care. In this commentary, we discuss recent evidence on whether the ambitions of the new GP contract, reducing health inequalities and the wider agenda of integration of care are being achieved. [149 words, max 150] Keywords: Scottish GP contract; Integration; multimorbidity; health inequalities

KW - Scottish GP contract

KW - Integration

KW - multimorbidity

KW - health inequalities

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DO - 10.7861/fhj.2023-0069

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EP - 225

JO - Future Healthcare Journal

JF - Future Healthcare Journal

IS - 3

ER -

Health inequalities, multimorbidity, and primary care in Scotland

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Transforming Primary Care in Scotland and China to meet the needs of an ageing population - are health inequalities being tackled?

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Health inequalities, multimorbidity, and primary care in Scotland

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

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Transforming Primary Care in Scotland and China to meet the needs of an ageing population - are health inequalities being tackled?

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