17 July 2014

NCHA calls for more healthcare in the community

The International Longevity Centre has this week launched the final report of their Commission on Hearing Loss

The publication is the result of a joint project between the NCHA and the representative bodies for community pharmacy (Pharmacy Voice), optics (Optical Confederation) and the NHS Alliance. It attempts to

• introduce and define contemporary primary care to the general public, encouraging them to use it for all but the most serious of conditions and emergencies;
• look beyond general practice as the only alternative to hospital care;
• highlight the vital role primary care has to play in supporting public health and the vital role public health has to play in sustaining an NHS that is free at the point of need;
• present primary care’s view of itself as delivered to NHS England as part of its Call to Action consultation;
• highlight the different ways in which much of primary and secondary care is funded.

The report includes new research from YouGov showing that many people don’t know what is actually meant by ‘primary care’. It reports that 74% of people regard GP practices as providers of primary care but less than a third of those questioned realise that audiologists, optometrists, pharmacists and dentists also provide primary care in the community (and make up 40% of the primary care budget). The research shows that only 24% of recipients believed that community hearing services are an integral part of primary care.

“The only way the NHS can survive is to revitalise and reinvigorate primary care,” said NCHA Chief executive David Hewlett. “Hearing, like vision, oral health and proper medicines usage, lies absolutely at the heart of this.”

“This is particularly true if we want to keep people independent in communities, and for hospitals to survive and cope with growing demand as much work should be delivered in the community.

‘We are Primary Care’ highlights these issues and we are delighted to be part of this initiative to improve health, outcomes, access and efficiency.”

Download the 'We are Primary Care' report