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GPs at the Deep End: Identifying and addressing social disadvantage wherever it lies

2019; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; Volume: 48; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.31128/ajgp-06-19-4960

2208-794X

Elizabeth Sturgiss, Peter Tait, Kirsty Douglas, Joo-Inn Chew, Susan Baglow, Graham Watt,

Global Health Workforce Issues

BackgroundGPs at the Deep End first started in Scotland and brought together Scottish general practitioners (GPs) working in the 100 most deprived practices in the country.The group continues to provide peer support, advocacy, training and research opportunities to learn more about general practice in disadvantaged areas.In 2016, Canberra GPs came together to form a local Deep End group, supported by the Scottish initiators. ObjectiveTo describe the process and benefits of beginning a local Deep End group in the Canberra region. DiscussionThe Canberra Deep End group includes GPs working with a diverse group of patients from disadvantaged areas.Since its inception, the group has met regularly to discuss local issues, advocate for change in local government policy, and provide peer support and learning opportunities.We highlight this powerful movement to Australian GPs working in areas of disadvantage and encourage others to develop their own Deep End group.JULIAN TUDOR-HART described the inequalities that exist across communities, with the most disadvantaged populations often receiving less and lower-quality healthcare than those from more advantaged communities. 1The Inverse Care Law has been the driving factor behind GPs at the Deep End, a Scottish movement that brings together general practitioners (GPs) working in the most deprived communities in Scotland. 2The 'Deep End' refers to GPs who work in the deeper end of the social gradient of health.Founded in 2009 by Professor Graham Watt, this powerful peer-to-peer advocacy and support organisation is expanding as similar groups worldwide. 3Ps at the Deep End started with academic leadership seeking to understand the experiences of GPs working with deprived populations and to enable the practitioner voice. 2 Based on Scottish datazones (similar to the Australian Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas [SEIFA]), GPs working in either blanket or pocket areas of deprivation were invited to a co-design process to establish a group that would meet the needs of GPs working in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage.2 The Scottish project has always been about engagement (sine qua non), identity, voice, common purpose, profile, collegiality, advocacy and joint projects.From these early beginnings, the group has grown to be a powerful advocacy group in Scotland able to influence GP training, local health policies, and, importantly, provide peer support for GPs working in challenging environments.