Islington CCG first to run Schwartz Rounds in primary care
28 April 2016
Islington is the first CCG in the UK to introduce Schwartz Rounds, with the aim of providing an integrated and reflective space for all staff across their region.
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Islington is the first CCG in the UK to introduce Schwartz Rounds, with the aim of providing an integrated and reflective space for all staff from primary care, mental health services, social care, pharmacy, care homes and the voluntary sector across their region.
Their first Round took place last week and was hosted in a familiar local venue in Holloway, led by a GP and psychologist. Over 40 staff members attended and themes emerged quickly that seemed to be pertinent to working in the community.
Staff reflected on how it was hard to treat people in their own homes when they refused to accept or adhere to treatment, saying that they felt frustrated and powerless to help. One GP shared her feelings of helplessness in relation to a patient who refused to report abuse to the authorities, reflecting ‘we carry this on our own silently’.
An important part of community care was expressed by a dietician who noted that as well as getting the medical treatment right, staff have to understand the wider picture of the patient’s life and surroundings, saying ‘it’s also about their curtains falling down!’.
An overarching theme from the Schwartz Round discussion was the idea that patients don’t always fit into the models of care that exist in community services. Therefore, staff work hard to ensure that patients’ idiosyncrasies and personal stories are recognised when providing care.
If you are interested in running Schwartz Rounds in your GP federation or CCG, you can find full details in the Schwartz section of our website or email Esther Flanagan (estherflanagan@pointofcarefoundation.org.uk).