Making Workload Transfer Visible

The challenge we identified

For many years, General Practice nationally has raised concern about the transfer of workload from other parts of the system into practices, often without appropriate resourcing, clarity, or agreement. These pressures are also experienced by practices in Devon.

Historically, practices were able to highlight these issues locally through mechanisms such as the Yellow Card system, and, more recently, PITCH (Peer Improvement Tips for Care and Health). These routes helped surface patterns, themes and pressures that were otherwise difficult to evidence.

At the end of 2023, PITCH was decommissioned locally and replaced by a new national system, Learning from Patient Safety Events (LfPSE). While LfPSE plays an important role in patient safety learning, it does not provide a way to capture or analyse workload transfer affecting General Practice.

This created a real risk; that longstanding and well-evidenced pressure on practices would become invisible at system level.

A rapid, practical response

As soon as this gap became clear, Devon LMC moved quickly.

Within five days, we designed and launched a simple, focussed Workload Transfer Form ensuring practices retained a clear, consistent way to highlight where work was being shifted into General Practice inappropriately or without agreement.

The aim was straightforward:

• to protect visibility
• to capture real-world examples; and
• to ensure General Practice continued to have a collective voice

Rather than responding to individual submissions, the LMC committed to monitoring and collating data, identifying emerging themes and escalating them through the appropriate local and system forums.

From data to insight

Since launching in October 2023, submissions from practices across Devon have provided a growing, robust dataset.

To strengthen how this information is used, we have developed Power Bi visualisations that allow us to:

• see trends over time
• understand where pressures are originating; and
• demonstrate scale and impact clearly

Combined with clear visualisations, this data is now actively supporting the work of our three Medical Executives, enabling more collaborative, informed and evidence-based conversations with acute trusts and system partners.

This is about moving discussions away from anecdote and towards shared understanding grounded in data.

Why this matters

Workload transfer is not new, but without visibility, it becomes harder to address. By acting quickly and pragmatically, we’ve ensured that:

• General Practice pressures remain visible
• practice experience continues to shape system conversations; and
• evidence, not assumption, underpins engagement

It is a practical example of how a small team, working closely with practices can create meaningful impact at scale.

Continuing the conversation

The Workload Transfer Form and associated reporting are part of an ongoing approach; one that reflects our commitment to anticipating challenges, responding decisively, and supporting members through practical solutions.

We don’t stand still, and neither do the pressures facing General Practice. Our role is to ensure they are seen, understood and addressed.

How practices can share examples of workload transfer in Devon

If you work in General Practice in Devon and wish to highlight an example of workload transfer, the Workload Transfer Form is available via the Knowledge Hub in our Members Area, linked below. It offers a simple, confidential way to share practice experience and helps ensure that workload transfer pressures facing General Practice remain visible at system level.