DEVON'S GENERAL PRACTICE ALERT STATE
Updated every Friday
The pressures facing the Acute Trusts are well publicised and captured by the OPEL Framework. General Practice has had no equivalent and so it is easy for Government, patients and other Health Care providers to assume that things are not so bad in this part of the Primary Care system. DEVON LMC has designed this simple GP Alert State which relies on a weekly return from Practices who are asked to report their Alert Status and locality. You can access an explanation below.
COUNTY WIDE ALERT STATUS
Currently AMBER (59% return rate)
Meaning: Practices are running with some staff/resource shortage, patient waiting times are acceptable and communications with external stakeholders are at slightly elevated levels. The Amber state is sustainable in the medium term only and management action is required to revert to the Green state.
NORTH DEVON
Currently AMBER
Meaning: Practices are running with some staff/resource shortage, patient waiting times are acceptable and communications with external stakeholders are at slightly elevated levels. The Amber state is sustainable in the medium term only and management action is required to revert to the Green state.
EAST DEVON
Currently AMBER
Meaning: Practices are running with some staff/resource shortage, patient waiting times are acceptable and communications with external stakeholders are at slightly elevated levels. The Amber state is sustainable in the medium term only and management action is required to revert to the Green state.
SOUTH DEVON
Currently AMBER
Meaning: Practices are running with some staff/resource shortage, patient waiting times are acceptable and communications with external stakeholders are at slightly elevated levels. The Amber state is sustainable in the medium term only and management action is required to revert to the Green state.
WEST DEVON
Currently AMBER
Meaning: Practices are running with some staff/resource shortage, patient waiting times are acceptable and communications with external stakeholders are at slightly elevated levels. The Amber state is sustainable in the medium term only and management action is required to revert to the Green state.
Analysis
General Practice entered the current crisis at an Alert State of AMBER with some serious underlying workforce and resource issues. Morale was low in many quarters and recruitment to support the reducing workforce was extremely challenging. This remains the case but the pressures felt by General Practice are now exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.
During the last 14 days there has been a reduction in Practices reporting GREEN and a strong swing to AMBER across the county. This is continuing with only 23% now reporting GREEN vice 38% just 5 weeks ago. As we approach the peak of COVID in Devon we expect this to shift rapidly to RED across the county. We are looking for early signs in General Practice that may warn other areas that the expected peak is imminent.
