Transforming Primary Healthcare

This event focused on the transition from the current biomedical model – ‘a pill for every ill’ – to a biopsychosocial approach, which looks at and after the lifestyle, environmental and social factors that make us ill.

Our expert speakers cover issues including drug overprescribing and polypharmacy, the need for de-prescribing and alternatives to pills – in particular, social prescribing – as well as looking at what patients really want from their primary care team and how to deliver optimal care.

Guild President Professor Sir Sam Everington will Chair the event, reflecting his 30 years plus experience in a mould-breaking GP practice at Bromley by Bow

Professor Tony Avery OBE, GP, Professor of Primary Health Care and NIHR Senior Investigator, will talk about his role as first National Clinical Director for Prescribing, which came about as a result of the National Overprescribing Review commissioned by the Government and published in September 2021

James Humphreys, formerly director of corporate communications in No 10, whose company Wood Newton organised the patient focus groups for the National Overprescribing Review, will take about the findings and what patients said they really want from primary care

Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE, GP and first Patient Safety Commissioner for England, explains her role and how doctors can give patients the best care by putting them first and better understanding their views

Dr Laura Marshall-Andrews, GP and author of What Seems To Be The Problem?, on setting up The Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre, a pioneering integrated practice based on social prescribing, including art, photography, singing, dancing and creative writing

Gay Palmer, Social Prescriber Link Worker Team Lead at South Southwark Primary Care Network, will explain the particular patient concerns she and her team face in this area, particularly debt, and how they approach them

Kevin Feaviour, community psychologist and Director of the Imagine If… Social Prescribing Team for the Coastal Primary Care Network in North Cornwall, will report on setting up community hubs and pain cafés.

To view recording of event

Related articles – see below:

Sunday Express-Lucy Johnston-nhs-healthcare-revolution-doctors-social-prescriptions

Kevin Feaviour

Gay Palmer

Dr Laura Marshall-Andrews

Beyond Pills Campaign summary

Beyond Pills Campaign key stats facts

‘The Guild of Health Writers thanks Big Health for their generous sponsorship of this event and would like to state that this is an independent event. In accordance with its objectives, the Guild aims to provide a balanced, non-partisan forum for discussion and does not endorse any commercial products’.