GP Omnibus Jan 2011GP-led Commissioning

Prepared for the Nuffield Trust

Methodology & Sample #1

GP Omnibus run by medeConnect Healthcare Insight medeConnect is a division of Doctors.net.uk

Monthly online survey completed by GPs in UK and NI Respondents are members of the Doctors.net.uk community – and as

such are known to be GMC-registered (a condition of membership) Sample is regional representative

GP population figures are based on NHS workforce statistics (2009) with the proviso that “quotas by region may vary up to ±10%”

Aims to achieve a sample of at least 1000 respondents 1024 completes in Jan 2011 (12 rejected on quality control grounds)

Methodology & Sample #2

As per the Word questionnaire:- 3 screener questions

Confirming specialty, GP level and region 6 demographic questions

Capturing practice size, practice location, whether or not a dispensing practice, gender, year of qualification and age

16 questions of varying complexity, from 6 other clients asked to all respondents

9 questions on GP-led commissioning asked last, and only asked to GPs practising in England (hence base = 838)

Notes on interpretation

On the following slides:-

Overall response to the question shown on the left hand side Labelled as “Total”, base = 838

Responses have been split out by their individual answers to Q6 (their level of involvement in commissioning), and these are shown in the rest of the slide Bases for each sub-group given in the footer Other (combined) sub-group shown, but semi-obscured because of the

small number of respondents in this particular sub-group

Overall, 1-in-6 GPs in the survey indicated that their consortium is fully set up – while 1-in-4 felt that they were only at the initial discussion stage[Not surprisingly, ‘active’ involvement linked to status re: commissioning]

Q1. Which of the following best applies to the status of GP commissioning in your area?Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Overall, just over half (54%) of the GPs in the survey indicated that they are already members of their area’s consortium.[Membership heavily linked to level of involvement]

Q2. Are you a member of your area’s consortium?Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Just over half (51%) envisage a merger of existing PBC groups in their area[Those who are active at a higher level are notably more likely to predict that their consortium is likely to be the same as their existing PBC group]

Q4. Which of the following do you envisage for your area?Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Overall, the average consortium size is predicted to be ~167,000 patients[Those who are actively involved at PBC level typically give much higher figures re: the size of their consortium]

Q5. Approximately what size, in terms of patient population, is your GP consortium (or is it likely to be)?Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 740 (Consortium level=63, PBC level=62, Practice level=157, Not actively involved=44, Other=14)

The majority (71%) think that the priority for commissioning will focus on cost [Those actively involved at PBC level are more likely to think this - leading to restrictions on hospital referrals/admissions]

Q7. To what extent do you think the priority for commissioning will focus on cost, leading to a restriction on, or even prevention of, hospital referrals/admissions? Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

The majority of GPs (61%) agree that there are local leaders in their area with the capability to lead GP Commissioning[Views re: ‘local leaders’ strongly linked to level of involvement...]

Q8a. “There are local leaders in my area with the capability to lead GP Commissioning”.Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Less than a quarter of GPs (23%) agree that the proposed reforms will improve the quality of patient care provided by their organisation/practice[Views re: ‘quality of care’ also linked to level of involvement...]

Q8b. “The proposed reforms will improve the quality of the patient care which my organisation / practice provides”. Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Opinion as to whether the reforms will encourage closer working relationships to develop between primary care and hospital doctors is highly polarised[Views re: ‘closer working relationships’ also linked to level of involvement...]

Q8c. “The proposed reforms will encourage closer working relationships to develop between primary care and hospital doctors”. Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

Those who are actively involved at the consortium level gave the largest proportion of ‘high priority’ ratings – particularly for up to date news, case studies, management guides and standard forms/templates

Q9. Please rate the following ideas [re: preferred priorities regarding planning and delivering effective Commissioning]. Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?Base: 838 (Consortium level = 67, PBC level = 64, Practice level = 166, Not actively involved = 526)