Strengthening the UK primary care response to covid-19
Sophie Park, Josephine Elliott, Anita Berlin, Julia Hamer-Hunt, Andy Haines
Abstract
Health services across the world made rapid adjustments to the direct and indirect consequences of covid-19 with varying success. 1 The World Health Organization's initial recommendations were based on system adaptations in China, focusing predominantly on secondary care and public health. 2 3Primary care received less policy attention both globally and in the UK.Hospitals were major centres of transmission, with mortality at 40% among those receiving critical care 4 and many patients dying alone.With cases again increasing, there is an urgent need for strategies to support management of patients at home, reduce unnecessary admissions, and optimise the use of health service resources.