Primary care practice at accident and emergency departments: PPIScoRev Project Impact Case Study

The PPI and scoping review for GP at Front Door of Accident and Emergency services (PPIScoRev) project was awarded a grant by UEA Health and Social Care Partners in 2022 to undertake two strands of research; a systematic review of studies about primary care professionals (GPs or NPs) delivering treatment in A&Es, and begin conversations with members of the public to understand why patients use A&E rather than GP services.

Media often report stories about the pressures on Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E), due to the number of visits and the waiting time for patients. To reduce these pressures, primary care clinicians were deployed in or near A&Es.

Three focus groups were held in different areas of Norfolk (urban and rural) to gain different perspectives from people of different age, gender, and socio-economic status. The PPI sessions provided clear direction about how to approach patients, gain their consent to participate in the research, and how to broach questions to ensure they felt comfortable answering.