GP Clusters

Commitment to Collaboration and Quality Improvement
The pandemic significantly impacted the momentum established at Lanarkshire’s GP Cluster event in February 2020. To support recovery and rejuvenate Cluster efforts, Chief Officers and Medical Directors from both North and South HSCPs conducted a comprehensive listening exercise and survey with Cluster Quality Leads (CQLs). This exercise revealed that while CQLs are highly motivated, their potential remains largely untapped due to a lack of a shared vision and clarity on purpose and expected outcomes.

In response, a committed has been made to learning, development and continuous quality improvement in order to ensure excellent care in local communities.

October 2022 CQL Engagement Event: Building Stronger Collaborative Relationships
In October 2022 a pivotal engagement event facilitated strong, collaborative relationships among CQLs across local governance structures. This event emphasized the essential role of GP Clusters in quality planning, quality improvement and quality assurance to influence the wider system with regards to service quality and delivery.

The objectives of this event were:

• Enhance CQLs’ knowledge and understanding of the broader healthcare system, aligned with the Strategic Plan
• Opportunities to identify areas of alignment in board and CQLs priorities
• Create the conditions for CQLs to be more involved in influencing the wider system to improve local population health in their communities
• Connect CQLs to quality improvement training and support resources

The event concluded with a commitment to bi-annual cluster events, underscoring the dedication to fostering an environment where learning, development and improvement are central to Lanarkshire’s mission for better community health outcomes.

Bi-Annual Cluster Events: Enhancing Quality Improvement and Learning
Starting in April 2023 the bi-annual program of Cluster events focused on:

• Educational initiatives particularly around quality improvement to enhance skills and knowledge among CQLs
• Collaborative opportunities for sharing insights on CQL-led QI opportunities and facilitating discussions to explore these further
• Knowledge sharing platforms to hear about and learn from ongoing cluster projects.

Cluster Support Offer: Comprehensive Resources for Continuous Improvement
Lanarkshire’s commitment to supporting CQLs is delivered through the Primary Care Improvement Team, which offers a robust support package that includes:

• Administrative support to streamline processes allowing CQLs to focus on quality improvement
• Improvement Advisors to provide expert guidance and support QI initiatives
• Data collection and analysis tools and expertise to gather and interpret data effectively
• QI education and training to ensure CQLs have access to the latest training to enhance their skills
• Facilitation of learning to encouraging the sharing of cluster quality improvement activities and outcomes to foster a culture of continuous learning and development
• A committed to creating a sustainable and collaborative environment where CQLs can thrive, share insights and drive meaningful improvements in local population health