The Deep End GP Pioneer Scheme: a qualitative evaluation
Safiya Dhanani A and David N. Blane
B *
A School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Wolfson Medical School, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
B General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Horselethill Road, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Australian Journal of Primary Health 29(2) 155-164 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY22162
Submitted: 29 July 2022 Accepted: 7 September 2022 Published: 12 October 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Background: The Scottish Deep End Project is a collaboration between academic GPs and GPs in practices serving the most socio-economically disadvantaged populations in Scotland. The Deep End GP Pioneer Scheme was established in 2016 to improve GP recruitment and retention in these areas. The aim of this study was to qualitatively evaluate the experiences of participating lead GPs and GP fellows.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine lead GPs and 10 GP fellows, representing 12 of the 14 practices involved. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.
Results: Five main themes are presented: Recruitment to the Pioneer Scheme; Work motivation and satisfaction; Mitigating health inequalities; Retention and changes in work pattern; and Suggestions for the future. Key ingredients of the scheme were the additional clinical capacity (addressing the inverse care law), protected time for both GP fellows and experienced GPs to lead on service development initiatives and to share learning within and between practices, and the shared ethos and values of the Scheme.
Conclusions: There was strong support for the Scheme as a mechanism to improve GP recruitment and retention in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage, and to improve quality of care in these areas. As similar schemes are rolled out across the UK, there is a need for further research to evaluate their impact on workforce and patient outcomes in deprived areas.
Keywords: general practice, health inequalities, inverse care law, primary care, professional development, qualitative, quality improvement, workforce.
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