The Lanarkshire Primary Care and Mental Health Transformation Programme (PCMTP) launched in July 2016. This ambitious programme aims to test new ways and models of working to transform general practice and primary care services across Lanarkshire, in a bid to meet current and future demand.

The programme is about to publish an annual review of its first year, which we’ve summarised in this edition of the Pulse.

At the heart of the programme, driving change forward is the need to improve access to GP services and ensure that patients get the right person first time. With that common focus, the PCMHTP has nine key areas for action, facilitated through and supported by the Improvement Support Team (IST).

Kate Bell, Head of Service Change and Transformation, is also Director of the PCMHTP and says that the last year has been about bringing together the expertise, capacity and knowledge and forging productive relationships to deliver effectively on this ambitious change: “The time taken to plan and design the programme has been worthwhile as we now have a structured and disciplined approach which meets the governance, financial and risk management arrangements necessary to ensure successful delivery of the objectives of the programme.

“The programme is currently testing a number of improvement and change options across Lanarkshire which aim to improve access to and capacity of GPs to provide the people of Lanarkshire with responsive service that meet their needs.

“We’re really pleased with what we’ve achieved in a short space of time. Real change is happening now with very encouraging results and we’re progressing at a pace now. “This first Programme annual report provides an update on the excellent progress made so far and provides an excellent foundation for the on-going implementation and evaluation of this work.”

The full PCMHTP annual review will shortly be available on FirstPort.