Assessing the Contributions of Additional Role Practitioners to general practice in England (CARPE)

A confluence of pressures, including an ageing population with increasing co-morbidity and complex needs, increasing expectations and the transfer of some tasks previously undertaken in hospitals, have combined to significantly increase general practice workloads. Increasing pressures on the workforce in general practice are being addressed, at least in part, by extending the use of practitioners who are not GPs (additional role practitioners). However, there is a paucity of evidence about the effects of increased use of additional role practitioners on GP workload and well-being, quality of care provided, and outcomes for patients and the health system. In addition, evidence on the facilitators and barriers to effective team functioning within general practices that encompass complex role relationships amongst several categories of professional groups is sparse.

The intern will contribute to a recently-funded programme of work that aims to analyse the contributions made by additional role practitioners within and across general practices in England and explore how their work is operationalised within general practices. The overall programme of work encompasses a literature review and synthesis of existing evidence, analyses of data extracted from routine data sources, and qualitative research conducted with key stakeholders. The intern will have the opportunity to contribute to one or more of these work streams with training provided where required.

For further information, please contact Professor Stavros Petrou at stavros.petrou@phc.ox.ac.uk