Team based primary care

Healthcare workers all with their arms crossed

In primary care multi-disciplinary teams including both clinical and non-clinical staff play a key role in supporting healthy lives. Where successfully integrated they can increase access to primary care, improve the range and quality of services provided, and offer critical support for the elderly and vulnerable.

Aims of the research

This research aims to understand the parameters of the roles of a range of specialist and support staff including nurses, pharmacists, and receptionists. By utilising their knowledge, skill sets, and experience we will bring benefits to a range of patient groups. Our work includes improving end of life care, managing prescribing in long-term conditions, and support for effective service utilisation. 

Current research groups

Primary care nursing

End of Life Care Research Programme in the School of Nursing and Midwifery led by Dr Alistair Hewison is focussed on service design and improvement in end of life care, decision making, measures of quality, and bereavement care, and is developing further areas of research with a focus on primary care settings. The group are continuing to develop further areas of research with a focus on primary care settings.

End of Life Care Research Programme page

Pharmacy in primary care

There is a wide range of primary care based pharmacy research. This includes Dr Vibhu Paudyal  and Mrs Parbir Jagpal  research on homelessness and health and also the management of minor ailments. There is also research into Pharmacist led interventions in community pharmacy and primary care, and increasing medication adherence to improve treatment and patient outcomes led by Dr Asma Yahyouche  and Dr Zahraa Jalal, and drug safety and medication errors led by Dr Anthony Cox

Finally there is continuing work exploring pharmacist-led services for prevention and management of long term conditions both in the community and in general practice led by Dr Zahraa Jalal and Dr Muhammad Hadi.

The role of receptionists and support staff

A range of non-clinical staff are essential members of the practice team including practice managers, receptionists, administrators and IT technicians. Their roles and responsibilities are evolving with the changing landscape of primary care and there is an increasing awareness of the pivotal function they perform in ensuring the quality and safety of Primary care.  Research in this area is led by Dr Ian Litchfield and Professor Sheila Greenfield.

Publications

Contact

Professor Sheila Greenfield

Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 6493

Email: s.m.greenfield@bham.ac.uk

Ian Litchfield

Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 6006

Email: i.litchfield@bham.ac.uk