Working with vulnerable families is an everyday aspect of general practice in severely deprived areas. Through many types of contact, practice teams acquire substantial knowledge about the most vulnerable families in their registered populations. Their frustration is not being able to help more effectively at an early stage. Key issues are how this knowledge is acquired, how it should be used and how to link with other professions and services. Several recent NHS developments have undermined the knowledge that practice teams acquire. For example, the withdrawal of child surveillance in deprived areas is considered a mistake, given the high yield of health and social problems. Burnout and loss of staff due to excessive caseloads removes from practices the knowledge, experience, and relationships that colleagues have developed over many years.
展开▼
