Reading List

The sources below support this UK-wide introduction to care navigation in general practice. Use local practice policies, ICB, Health Board, HSCP, Trust or GP Federation pathways for everyday decisions.

Read these documents to see how care navigation, access routes and practice roles are described across the four nations. Each entry explains why the source is relevant to this course.

1. England Care Navigation and Access

• NHS England - How to improve care navigation in general practice
  The NHS England guide on planning, implementing and sustaining care navigation. Covers structured information capture, allocation, patient communication, staff training and review of access processes.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/how-to-improve-care-navigation-in-general-practice-2/

• NHS England - How to improve care navigation in general practice: publication page
  Publication landing page for the care navigation guide. Use this as a stable reference for the guide and related NHS England publication details.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/how-to-improve-care-navigation-in-general-practice/

• NHS England Workforce, Training and Education - Care navigation
  Workforce and training context for care navigation roles. Useful for linking frontline practice to competency expectations and the purpose of trained care navigation staff.
  https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/care-navigation

2. Wales and Scotland

• Welsh Government - GMS contract access commitment 2024 to 2025
  Guidance on access commitments for GP practices in Wales. Explains how care navigation fits within national access expectations.
  https://www.gov.wales/gms-contract-access-commitment-2024-2025

• NHS Wales Primary Care One - Welsh Government care navigation training now live
  Notice about the national care navigation training in Wales. Describes call handling expectations and signposting where clinically appropriate.
  https://primarycareone.nhs.wales/files/sppc-library-of-products/17-10-2022welsh-government-care-navigation-training-now-livepdf/

• Scottish Government - General Practice Access Short Life Working Group: access principles
  Scottish access principles including right care, right place, right time; use of trained administrative staff to help people find appropriate services; and consideration for those who struggle with digital access.
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/general-practice-access-short-life-working-group/pages/2/

• NHS Inform Scotland - General practice services
  Patient-facing information on GP services, reception teams, confidentiality, appointment access and practice roles. Useful for explaining care navigation in plain language to patients.
  https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/doctors/general-practice-services/

3. Northern Ireland and Local Pathways

• Department of Health Northern Ireland - Primary Care Multi-disciplinary Teams
  Explains the MDT model in Northern Ireland primary care. Describes roles in practice and the community that support care navigation and access.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/primary-care-multi-disciplinary-teams-mdts

• HSCNI - Pharmacy First
  Describes Pharmacy First services in Northern Ireland. An example of a local pathway where patients may be directed to community pharmacy instead of a GP.
  https://online.hscni.net/our-work/pharmacy-and-medicines-management/community-pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

• HSCNI - Phone First FAQs
  Patient-facing information about Phone First arrangements in Northern Ireland. Explains urgent access arrangements and the need to follow local routes.
  https://online.hscni.net/our-work/no-more-silos/phone-first-faqs/