As with most diseases, COVID-19 has hit the poorest and most vulnerable in society the hardest. In the UK, people living in the most deprived areas have twice the mortality rate from COVID-19 as those in the least deprived areas. They face increased exposure to the disease and have been most affected by the wider unintended consequences of social distancing measures and the economic downturn. Furthermore, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities is partly explained by socioeconomic disadvantage. And all of this is in the context of a decade of widening social and health inequalities.
Yet, through this adversity, there is hope and opportunity: the pandemic offers a ‘compassion window’ of societal, political, and professional awareness and willingness to act, and general practice has a key role to play in putting equity at the heart of our health system renewal.
REACHING OUR MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS
Throughout the pandemic there has rightly been a focus on those who are most medically vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. However, general practice has also been uniquely placed to support those who are most socially vulnerable, with some practices proactively contacting people at risk of social difficulties and specifically enquiring around issues such as food and financial security, domestic abuse and mental health, making onward links to support where appropriate. Guidance such as that published by the RCGP Health Inequalities Standing Group (https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=10692) has structured and supported this work, and there is the potential to expand this approach (if resourced) thereby bolstering general practice in its population health role.
General practice has already shown how adaptable it can be when needed. In response to COVID-19, remote consultations including telephone, video, and e-consultations have become the norm. The increasing use of technology is likely to continue beyond the pandemic. It is vital, therefore, that we do not further disadvantage people who might struggle because of digital poverty. Planned evaluation needs to consider these unintended consequences, to support service delivery based on need rather than ability to engage.
ADVOCATING FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
Another change in response to the pandemic has been an increased sense of community in many places. General practice has always played a central role in the communities we serve, but at this time of crisis we have seen practices working more closely with local councils, community groups, and third-sector organisations (the remarkable achievement of supporting the majority of the UK’s rough sleepers into accommodation, with clinical input, during the pandemic is a case in point). Many of these third-sector organisations are particularly vulnerable themselves, having been underfunded for years and now at risk with the economic downturn. There is a role for general practice in advocating not just for our patients, but also for our colleagues in these organisations.
ADDRESSING THE WORKFORCE CRISIS IN DEPRIVED AREAS
In seizing the opportunities for change post-COVID, we also need to consider the key role of general practice in developing a future workforce that will meet the needs of the population. It was clear before the pandemic that the workforce crisis in general practice disproportionately affects deprived areas because of challenges in both recruitment and retention, and it is important that this problem is recognised and addressed rather than being exacerbated by the pandemic. Bolstering the GP workforce in deprived areas requires a proactive approach across the entire career pathway and a commitment from schools, universities, and postgraduate education bodies. We need to see widening participation at medical school, increased general practice placements (especially in more deprived areas) during the undergraduate curriculum, and a commitment to enabling a more equitable distribution of GP training practices to address the ‘inverse training law’. Ensuring that our future workforce is appropriately skilled and equipped to deal with the challenges of caring for patients who are socially and medically vulnerable is crucial; so is recognising the specific ongoing professional development and support needed to allow GPs working in the most deprived areas to maintain their own wellbeing and avoid burnout.
As we move from managing the crisis to a period of recovery and renewal, how can we shape what the ‘new normal’ will look like for general practice? It’s time for us to identify and reach out to our most vulnerable patients. It’s time for us to ensure that new digital ways of working do not further disadvantage the disadvantaged. It’s time for us to support and advocate for our local community services as they are needed now more than ever. It’s time to put equity at the heart of our medical education and healthcare systems.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2020
