Summary of Activity

Summary activity to date

Survey of GPs: An online survey was conducted to benchmark GPs’ confidence in managing liver disease, gaps in knowledge, perceived priority areas for development and their preferences for future learning and support resources. More than 200 GPs completed the survey; results confirmed over 50% lacked confidence in liver disease treatment and 80% were unaware of referral pathways.

Intelligence gathering: Setting up a network of over 40 clinical GPs interested in liver disease that can support the project. The team has also made important links with other professional bodies, organisations and Government departments who are currently involved in liver disease initiatives.

Stakeholder group: A Stakeholder group has been formed of senior representatives from a range of organisations including PHE, RCN, BSG, BASL and those representing liver health in the devolved nations. The group will support the project and work in partnership with key professionals, organisations and decision-makers to improve care and ensure that the learning and outputs are sustainable and have a lifespan beyond the end of the programme.

Raising awareness with GPs: Keynote presentations have been given at educational events and a range of articles placed in key GP journals and publications. Examples include a major contribution to the latest Lancet Commission, articles in Clinical News, Pulse, British Journal of General Practice, Practice Business, NAFLD ‘The Digest’

Influencing future GP training/curriculum: The partnership has made successful contributions to the development of the RCGP postgraduate and GP training curriculum. This has resulted in liver disease being included as a core part of the curriculum in a number of key areas including digestive disease, substance misuse, and metabolic diseases.

Development of Read Codes: There are currently barriers for GPs in collecting and coding goof information on liver disease, making effective audit and research difficult.  A small sub group has been set up to look at and develop the data sets collected by GPs (Read Codes) relating to liver disease and ensure that they are integrated into the three main IT systems so that they can be easily adopted and used within general practice. We are also in talks with NHS Digital so that the new SNOMED codes will be relevant to liver disease in primary care.

Work plan development: The results of the survey, intelligence gathering exercise and feedback from key stakeholders enabled the project team to set the priorities and work plan for years 2 & 3.

Future Plans

Educational events: A number of full day events are planned, subject to funding. As part of the events a ‘local event resource’ will be created so that secondary clinicians and primary care clinicians can join together to deliver future events at a local level.

Webinar/Podcast/Live Twitter chats: This includes a one hour information sharing and learning event delivered in-house by the RCGP comprised of a hosting event, promotions, equipment and recording of event for further promotion and engagement on the website. Podcasts and live Twitter chats will be planned ready for dissemination in year 3.

Development of Read Codes: Once the sub group has developed the appropriate Read Codes and liaised with secondary care, discussion will take place to ensure these are embedded on the three main GP IT systems. An engagement plan will then follow to encourage take up and ongoing usage.

Clinical Commissioning Group Resources: Resources will be created to influence and inform CCGs. This will be developed following liaison with NHS England, Public Health England and a number of those involved in commissioning and will build on the analysis/data from the patient pathways.

E-learning modules: An e learning module will be created (subject to funding) that will provide ongoing training for GPs in each of the main liver disease areas.

Further communication and dissemination: A mailing to all GP surgeries of ‘Love Your Liver’ materials, development of GP specific patient materials, specific information for practice nurses and the launch of a Patient Charter ‘What care patients with liver disease should expect’ are all planned for 2018/19.