Anthony Laverty’s work on patient choice has received attention in both The Guardian and on Radio 4. A research assistant with CLAHRC, Anthony’s paper, published in the March edition of Health Affairs, finds that although there was widespread media coverage of serious lapses of performance in three hospitals, this had no overall effect in patient numbers at those hospitals. The results of the study, a culmination of work Anthony begun before joining the department, are in line with what is known from other settings. Anthony hopes the results of this paper will lead to the recognition that patient choice alone cannot be relied upon to improve quality in the NHS. He plans to follow this up with other work on more specific clinical areas.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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