Reaching the missing and proportionate universalism

For planned health checks, reviews, working with the person on their cvd risk reduction plan etc

Each practice should have an increasing health access plan which should include:

1. 1 Use of your practice data and risk stratification data – where are your communities facing highest SIMD inequalities, minority ethnic groups at higher CVD risk, people with mental health needs that may be on medications that place that increased CVD risks.
2. 2 Enhanced first contact: have a practice nurse or GP attempt to talk to the person on the phone first – to engage at a human level first – core messaging that we are genuinely wanting to help them with their health and that we would like to see this for this health check. Asking them what is possible for them – is coming to the surgery too hard on a set day – would they prefer a home visit, or to have a mini check in at community pharmacy.
3. 3 Consider less structured offers in the community – we know people with multiple and complex lives struggle with planned appointments – can there be community appointment days in local shopping areas, community centres, and offer the health check there alongside perhaps other linked health and social care activities. Partner up with trusted community assets/3rd sector. This work could be a cluster initiative across a group of practices
4. 4 Longer consultation time to build understanding of the person's life and what matters to them, rather than a transactional check
5. 5 Being flexible – where the person is – if someone is in opportunistically and you know they may not come back for another screening appointment, do it with them there and then, and follow up with a phone call with results and engaged conversation.
6. 6 Use your MDT/Multi-agency collective resources and skill set – if a person is being supported by another agency or professional, link with that person to broker better connections to the patient
7. 7 Promote what you are doing – that you are wanting to reach people
8. 8 Don’t give up on people – if they don’t come – keep trying but in different ways