General practitioners’ perceptions on their role in light of the NHS five year forward view: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: The NHS is undergoing unprecedented change, central to which is policy aimed at integrating health and social care services, resulting in the implementation of new care models. GPs are at the forefront of this change. However, there is lack of academic literature on General Practitioners’ perceptions on their role in light of the new models of care proposed by the NHS Five Year Forward View which this small-scale study begins to address. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to produce a description of how GP’s construct their current and future general practice, professional status and identify within the context of the current NHS transformation agenda. METHODS: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and one focus group to gather the perspective of GPs (n = 10) working across three clinical commissioning groups in South East England. RESULTS: While the GPs embraced the principles underpinning the new care models, they were both willing and reluctant to adopt their new roles, struggled with inter-organisational and cultural barriers and their changing professional identity. CONCLUSION: Multi-professional education in primary and community care could be an effective model to offer support and resources to the development of the clinical and leadership skills GPs will require to respond effectively to the transformation agenda. The emergence of community education provider networks, innovative network organisations designed to support workforce transformation through education and training, can provide the vehicle through which clinical and leadership skills training are sourced and coordinated.