In the UK, Primary Care provides the majority of all contacts that patients have with the NHS. To put this in context, General Practice provides over 350 million patient consultations each year[1],compared to just 25 million Accident and Emergency visits[2].We know that General Practice is stretched in ways it has not been before, but despite the huge demand, the number of fully qualified GPs in the workforce has dropped by 7% since 2015[3].In reality, this means that each member our Primary Care workforce is required to see more patients, review more medication requests, file more blood tests, and ensure more monitoring requirements are met. To achieve this, we have long referred to our NHS workforce as ‘heroes’—an acknowledgment they certainly deserve. However, does this label impose unrealistic expectations on those we depend on so deeply? Despite their remarkable dedication, these individuals are still human, and like all of us, they remain susceptible to making mistakes.
Fig 1. How is NHS activity distributed? Courtesy of The King’s Fund analysis of NHS England data[4]
Errors in prescribing, medication management, and monitoring in primary care have significant implications for patient safety. An estimated 237 million medication errors occur in the NHS in England each year[5],with an estimated 66 million being potentially clinically significant. Of these, 71% occur in primary care[6],with most of these involving incorrect doses, failed dose adjustments, and missed monitoring for chronic conditions.
It is estimated that adverse drug events in primary care cost the NHS £83.7m and cause 627 deaths, per year[7].The Darzi report confirmed what is already seen in practice – the number of patients with multi morbidity is increasing. By the time patients are 65-74, the majority will have one Long Term Condition (LTC), and 40% will have two or more[8].Confounded by an ageing population, Primary Care will be expected to manage increased monitoring requirements, polypharmacy, and an increased risk of error, due to outdated manual processes for tracking and organising recall. Without changing the system, these figures are at risk of increasing.
By imposing outdated tools and processes we are doing our NHS heroes a disservice - now is the time to act and implement systems to safeguard the process of monitoring, and to limit the scope of human error.
The NHS Primary care patient safety strategy highlights the importance of leveraging technology to mitigate these risks, and this is where ICBs must step in by investing in digital products that meet quality standards for safety and effectiveness[9]. The integration of safe, automated technology-based systems to manage medication and long-term condition monitoring is not just a strategic move—it is a vital one to counteract human error and alleviate the burdens on an overstretched workforce.[10]
One of the most effective ways to enhance patient safety is through technology that automates and simplifies the management of medication and condition monitoring. With the growing pressures on primary care, where GPs and Pharmacists often handle hundreds of repeat prescriptions daily, the margin for error increases. Manual processes are prone to mistakes, especially under stress and time constraints.
Automated systems, however, can:
Abtrace Proactive Monitoring is a user-friendly platform, licensed as a medical device, and is already transforming how Practices manage repeat prescriptions and monitoring requirements. It has been implemented in over 300 GP practices, helping to reduce human error by ensuring that clinicians can easily track patients' medication needs and whether monitoring is up to date.
Our experience is that using effective technology such as Abtrace Proactive Monitoring can also result in significant efficiency gains, including a 60% reduction in the time taken to action repeat prescriptions. Clinicians report that the tool provides a clear and accessible overview of a patient’s status, allowing them to make safer, quicker decisions around medication adjustments.
For digital health tools like Abtrace to succeed, ICBs must lead the charge by investing now in software that meets the needs of our NHS. These investments will not only bring efficiency, but also empower the workforce with tools to manage rising demands in healthcare, with safety front of mind. Moreover, with the NHS’s increasing reliance on technology, ensuring that all digital systems are highly usable and accessible will ensure that no clinician or patient is left behind in the journey towards safer, more efficient care. It is imperative that the chosen technologies bring value at every step of the way. Abtrace Proactive Monitoring is uniquely positioned to deliver tangible value at every step in the care model. By driving cost savings for the healthcare system, enhancing practice efficiency, freeing up valuable time for the workforce, and providing assurance to clinicians; Abtrace ensures better care for patients and a healthier, more safely monitored population. Through its proactive approach, Abtrace not only addresses the critical needs of today’s healthcare environment but also empowers a future of smarter, more efficient care that benefits all.
Dr SimonDoyle, Senior Digital Health GP, Abtrace
[1] NHSEngland (2017). NHS England» Primary care. [online] England.nhs.uk.Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/five-year-forward-view/next-steps-on-the-nhs-five-year-forward-view/primary-care/.Accessed 18/10/24
[2] NHSEngland (2023). Hospital Accident & Emergency Activity, 2022-23.[online] NHS Digital. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activity/2022-23.Accessed 18/10/24
[3] RCGPFit for the Future: GP Pressures 2023. Available at : https://www.rcgp.org.uk/getmedia/f16447b1-699c-4420-8ebe-0239a978c179/gp-pressures-2023.pdf Accessed 18/10/24
[4] TheKing’s Fund. (2024). Activity in the NHS. [online] Available at: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/data-and-charts/NHS-activity-nutshell.Accessed 18/10/24
[5] CareQuality Commission (2022). CQC Insight 14: Medicines safety in NHStrusts | Care Quality Commission. [online] www.cqc.org.uk. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-reports/cqc-insight-14-medicines-safety-nhs-trusts.Accessed 18/10/24
[6] Elliott,Rachel A; Camacho, Elizabeth; Campbell, Fiona; Jankovic, Dina; Martyn-St James,Marrissa; Kaltenthaler, Eva; et al. (2024). PREVALENCE AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OFMEDICATION ERRORS IN THE NHS IN ENGLAND: Rapid evidence synthesis and economicanalysis of the prevalence and burden of medication error in the UK. TheUniversity of Sheffield. Report. https://doi.org/10.15131/shef.data.25218950.v1Accessed 18/10/24
[7] Elliott,R.A., Camacho, E., Jankovic, D., Sculpher, M.J. and Faria, R. (2021). EconomicAnalysis of the Prevalence and Clinical and Economic Burden of Medication Errorin England. BMJ Quality & Safety, [online] 30(2), pp.96–105.doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010206. Accessed 18/10/24
[8] IndependentInvestigation of the National Health Service in England The Rt Hon. Professorthe Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE FRS FMedSci HonFREng. (2024). Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e1b49e3b0c9e88544a0049/Lord-Darzi-Independent-Investigation-of-the-National-Health-Service-in-England.pdf.Page 18 Accessed 18/10/24
[9] England,N. (2024). NHS England» Primary care patient safety strategy.[online] England.nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/primary-care-patient-safety-strategy/?s=31 [Accessed18 Oct. 2024].
[10] England,N. (2024). NHS England» Primary care patient safety strategy.[online] England.nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/primary-care-patient-safety-strategy/?s=31 [Accessed 18 Oct. 2024].
