Title:	Operational Failures in General Practice
Project Description:	General practitioners face increasing workloads and pressures. While there is much discussion about increasing the supply of GPs, far less attention has been given to understanding the nature of the tasks that GPs undertake and ensuring these tasks are supported by sound operational systems. Describing in detail what it is that GPs do, and the operational failures that disrupt their work, is the focus of this project. Operational failures are disruptions or errors in the supply of equipment or information that limit the ability of clinicians to do their work. A large literature exists on operational failures in secondary care, with examples like having to search other wards for missing equipment, or delays receiving patient information or test results. However, little is known about operational failures in primary care. Even evidence on the tasks that consume GPs’ time, which is a pre-requisite to understanding operational failures, remains poorly developed.
Methodology description:	We will generate new evidence on the task-distribution of a GP’s working day and the operational failures that interfere with their completion of tasks as intended by conducting a time-and-motion study in a sample of NHS practices. We will also conduct interviews with GPs to explore the nature, source and impact of operational failures and interruptions that they experience during their work. Using our research findings, we will hold workshops with patients and GPs to identify strategies that may help reduce the burden on operational failures in primary care and improve the quality of care provided.
Project organisation
Start date:	12th February 2018
End date:	12th February 2020
Contact person:	Dr Carol Sinnott
Contact Details:	THIS Institute Clifford Allbutt Building Cambridge Biomedical Campus Cambridge Cambs CB2 0AH UK Telephone: (01223) 761632 Fax: E-mail: enquiries@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk
Funding information
Funding Organisation:	Academy of Medical Sciences
Funding Reference:	Starter Grant for Clinical Lecturers
Funding Amount:	£28,802
Further Information, References and Publications