Across England, Primary Care Networks are supporting growing numbers of older people living with frailty, multiple long-term conditions and increasing health and care needs.
Many of these patients live within care homes, where proactive clinical support can play a critical role in maintaining health, reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving quality of life.
Whilst the ambitions behind Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) are clear, workforce capacity remains one of the biggest challenges facing Primary Care Networks.
Rising Complexity, Growing Demand
Care home residents are often among the most clinically complex patients managed within primary care. Many require ongoing support relating to frailty, long-term conditions, mobility decline, falls risk, dementia, end-of-life care and clinical deterioration.
These patients benefit from proactive, coordinated care delivered through multidisciplinary teams that can respond quickly to changing needs whilst maintaining continuity of care.
As demand continues to grow, many Primary Care Networks are reviewing how best to strengthen their care home and frailty services.
Workforce Pressures Continue
Recruiting experienced clinicians with expertise in frailty, care homes and complex care remains challenging across many parts of the NHS.
Primary Care Networks frequently report difficulties recruiting Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Enhanced Practice Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.
At the same time, practices continue to face increasing workload pressures, making it difficult to release existing capacity to support proactive care home services.
The Value of a Multidisciplinary Approach
No single profession can meet the needs of every care home resident.
Effective care home services increasingly bring together a range of clinical expertise, including advanced nursing, therapy and rehabilitation professionals who can support both proactive and responsive care.
This collaborative approach helps improve continuity, strengthen MDT working and support residents to remain as independent and well as possible.
Looking Ahead
As care home populations become increasingly complex, the need for flexible and sustainable workforce solutions will continue to grow.
For many Primary Care Networks, the challenge is no longer recognising the importance of proactive care home support. The challenge is accessing the workforce capacity required to deliver it consistently.
By bringing together nursing, therapy and advanced practice expertise, care home services can move beyond reactive care and towards a more proactive model focused on prevention, independence and improved resident outcomes.
