Recent figures from NHS England reveal the growing pressure on general practices across the country.
The latest data shows that in July 2024, an estimated 31.7 million appointments were delivered by practices and Primary Care Networks, highlighting the increasing demand for primary care services.
Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, commented in an article about these figures about how GP's were now delivering more for less.
In the piece, published at the end of August in NHS Confederation, she said: "The continued rise in demand for GP appointments shows just how hard GPs and their teams in primary care are having to work... general practice is working harder than ever yet the cost of delivering services coupled with low funding settlement means less money for the workforce so ultimately delivering more for less at a time when demand is outstripping supply."
While these figures underscore the dedication of primary care teams, they also point to a pressing need for innovative solutions to manage this surging demand effectively.
The Demand and Capacity Optimisation Tool (DCOT) emerges as a potential game-changer in this challenging landscape.
Max Pardo-Roques, healthcare communication specialist with the company, said: "DCOT is designed to address the exact challenges highlighted by these recent figures. By analysing and predicting patient demand patterns that are currently invisible to practices, DCOT provides crucial insights that can help practices optimise their resources and improve patient care, even under increasing pressure."
The tool offers several key benefits:
Revealing hidden demand patterns, allowing practices to anticipate and prepare for peaks in service needs
Optimising staff scheduling and resource allocation based on previously unseen trends
Further reducing waiting times and improving patient flow through comprehensive data analysis
Enhancing efficiency and patient satisfaction through evidence-based decision making
Mr Pardo-Roques added: "Our tool reveals unseen patterns in your practice's operations. This allows practices to make informed decisions that can help maintain and even improve their performance, despite the increasing pressures."
As general practices continue to deliver more with less, tools like DCOT could prove invaluable in supporting primary care teams. By providing data-driven insights and helping to optimise resources, such innovations may be key to ensuring the sustainability of general practice in the face of rising demand.
For more details, visit www.demandandcapacity.com
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