• Family practice · May 2022

    Primary care preparedness for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a survey of NHS GPs.

    • Caitlin Pilbeam, George Edwards, Sarah Tonkin-Crine, Meriel Raymond, Oliver Van Hecke, and Nina Gobat.
    • Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford, United Kingdom.
    • Fam Pract. 2022 May 28; 39 (3): 332-339.

    BackgroundPrimary care manages a significant proportion of healthcare in the United Kingdom and should be a key part of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic response.AimTo assess preparedness for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by understanding GPs' perception of their ability to manage current and future service demand, set-up of triage processes, and training in Covid-19 infection prevention and control procedures.Design And SettingCross-sectional survey of practicing GPs in the United Kingdom, with 2 rounds of data collection early in the pandemic.MethodsOnline survey, scripted and hosted by medeConnect Healthcare, comprising 6 closed prompts on 7-point Likert scales, and an optional free-text component. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Free-text data were analysed thematically.ResultsOne thousand two GPs completed each round; 51 GPs completed free-text responses in March, and 64 in April. Quantitative data showed greatest confidence in triage of Covid-19 patients, and GPs were more confident managing current than future Covid-19 demand. GPs' responses were more optimistic and aligned in April than March. Free-text data highlighted that GPs were concerned about lack of appropriate personal protective equipment and personal risk of Covid-19 infection in March, and unmet needs of non-Covid-19 patients in April. In both rounds, GPs expressed feeling overlooked by government and public health bodies.ConclusionGuidance to support general practice clinicians to manage future waves of Covid-19 or other health emergencies must be tailored to general practice from the outset, to support clinicians to manage competing health demands, and mitigate impacts on primary care providers' wellbeing.© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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