TY - JOUR T1 - High-performing primary care: reinvigorating general practice as a learning health system JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 8 LP - 9 DO - 10.3399/bjgp23X731505 VL - 73 IS - 726 AU - Darran Foo AU - Janani Mahadeva AU - Francisco Lopez AU - Louise A Ellis AU - Kate Churruca AU - Genevieve Dammery AU - Simon Willcock AU - Jeffrey Braithwaite Y1 - 2023/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/73/726/8.abstract N2 - The future of general practice is on a precipice. A perfect storm of an ageing general practice workforce,1,2 a declining interest in general practice as a career,1 and widespread burnout exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic3 leaves general practice in a precarious position worldwide. Nearly a quarter of England’s GP workforce are aged ≥55 years,2 with an even bleaker picture in Australia with the proportion closer to 40%.1 Final-year medical students from Australian medical schools listing general practice as their first preference specialty is at a 9-year low of 13.8%.1,4 A recent systematic review has highlighted how GPs’ wellbeing across the globe has been adversely affected by the pandemic, with reports of many GPs planning to leave medicine entirely.3A shrinking GP workforce, combined with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases with complex comorbidities, increasing prevalence of mental health issues, and an ageing population will further overburden primary care systems, leading to increased presentations to emergency departments, delayed care, missed test results, and poorer health outcomes. This will ultimately result in increased costs for governments and individuals. Recent data from consumers indicates these issues have already emerged in Australia (Box 1). Resolving such workforce issues will take years, and despite various commitments from governments the jury is still out as to whether we are seeing the beginnings of true primary care reform or just more band-aid solutions. This article proposes applying the concept of a learning health system (LHS) as a … ER -