A new £40 million government-funded programme, announced by the Prime Minister and the Health and Social Care Secretary, will provide additional GP support for vulnerable patients this winter. The initiative aims to help keep people well at home and prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
Up to 300,000 vulnerable patients are set to benefit from the programme. This support will be tailored to individuals with conditions such as heart disease, frailty, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with the goal of avoiding crisis points that could lead to hospitalisation.
GP practices will receive ring-fenced funding, with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) able to receive £126 for each eligible patient supported. This will enable proactive identification and care, including medication reviews, health checks, and nurse-led respiratory clinics.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that backing GPs to reach vulnerable people early could help take pressure off hospitals. Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper added that the plan helps GPs provide more support for the frailest patients in the community to keep them well through the winter months.