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Dr Neil Churchill, Director for People and Communities at NHS England, highlights the importance of building strong connections between GP practices and the communities they serve. Based on both personal and professional interactions, Dr Churchill recognises that GPs and their teams place great value on engaging with their patients. However, turning this into meaningful and actionable insights can be challenging.
Every GP practice is contractually required to have a Patient Participation Group (PPG) to gather feedback and understand the needs of their population. While this requirement aims to ensure patient input, translating feedback into practical steps that benefit both the practice and patients can be difficult. This often involves navigating relationship dynamics and figuring out how best to act on the insights gathered.
A new online course, developed by the People and Communities team at NHS England and hosted on the FutureLearn platform, explores innovative ways that GP practices can effectively engage with their communities. The course was co-created with GPs, PPG members, and the public, and provides practical tools to help practices become more connected with their local communities.
An example of this community-focused approach is the Central Liverpool Primary Care Network (PCN), led by Dr Cait Taylor, which has organised a range of community listening events. Insights from these events have informed various actions aimed at improving local healthcare.
The course aligns with the principles outlined in the Working in Partnership with People and Communities: Statutory Guidance and addresses the need for greater NHS action on prevention and health inequalities as part of the Long Term Plan.
The course is designed to encourage collaboration between staff, patients, and the public, making it a democratic and inclusive learning experience. Hosted on FutureLearn, participants can interact and respond to one another’s comments at every step of the course, fostering a shared learning environment.
Through the partnership between NHS England and FutureLearn, the course is available to everyone. The general public can access the course for free for two weeks, while NHS staff, PPG members, and others working in NHS-commissioned services can upgrade for ongoing access and a certificate upon completion.
To learn more about the course, including eligibility criteria and how to register for free access, visit the FutureLearn website.
Dr Neil Churchill is the Director for People and Communities at NHS England, where he focuses on improving people’s experiences of the NHS, involving communities in decision-making, and leading change to enhance the quality and equality of care. With a 25-year career in the voluntary sector, Neil is dedicated to building partnerships with unpaid carers, volunteers, and the voluntary sector. He is also an unpaid carer himself.
Neil has held positions as a non-executive director for the NHS in the South of England, is a member of the Strategy Board for the Beryl Institute, and serves as Chair of Care for the Carers in East Sussex. You can follow him on Twitter at @neilgchurchill.
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