3. Themed Days - Primary Care

3.2. Social issues in primary care

Aims

To introduce students to 'social issues' that impact on patient's health and their response to ill-health, including social support, ethnicity, educational attainment, sexuality, poverty and deprivation, teenage or lone parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, poor housing, domestic violence etc. and the role of the health service and other agencies in supporting these patients.

A parliamentary report from 2010 gives a political perspective on social issues in UK Society 

Dr Jonathon Tomlinson describes the impact poverty and deprivation have on his practice as a GP in his article 'A perfect Storm' from his blog 'A Better NHS'

 

Preparatory work

Before arriving at the placement students will have read the recommended reading and researched national and local statistics on social deprivation local to the practice area.

Whether or not your first placement is in Tower Hamlets you might like to read this Profile of Tower Hamlets so you get a feel for the area local to the Medical School, this may be similar or very different to the area where your GP practice is located.  The Tower Hamlets Fairness Commission website has lots of thought provoking information about social issues in Tower Hamlets. 

Objectives

By the end of the day students should be able to:

  • List some of the social issues that impact on patient's health and their experience of heath care.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of considering social factors when treating patients.
  • Describe the impact social issues can have on the work of the GP and the PHCT (Primary healthcare team).
  • Discuss the role of the PHCT in support and treatment of patients whose social circumstances impact on their health.

Suggested Activities

  • Tutorial based on readings and student's knowledge and awareness of social issues that might impact on patient's health.
  • Interview with GP or other HCP on their experience of a particular social issue. This should be negotiated in the tutorial and should be of particular significance in the GP practice area.
  • Sit in with GP or nurse on routine surgery and observe when social issues are discussed and how this is done.
  • Meet with patients known to have significant social issues e.g. poor/temporary housing, unemployment.
  • Visit an organisation providing support for local people with social issues e.g. homeless shelter, cultural centre, refugee support organisation etc.
  • Debriefing tutorial.