A new project to increase collaborative working between hospital and primary care teams in north west London is improving care for many patients with long term conditions, according to the new findings from a project run by a team of expert clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

The project, Connecting Care for Adults, was launched in September 2017.

The team has reviewed the medical notes of more than 500 patients under the care of their GPs for some long-term conditions and the project has begun to show the benefits to patients.

The team has found that in more than half of the cases of patients with lung problems, strong steroid medication could be reduced or stopped altogether.

For patients with chronic kidney disease, it was possible to reduce the amount of different medication each patient was taking.

It is hoped a reduction in patients’ medication will help prevent unnecessary side effects of strong medication, allowing better management of their condition in the community – which could mean hospital visits are avoided.

The project is part of the trust’s wider strategy to move towards more integrated care that is person-centred, coordinated, and tailored to the needs and preferences of the individual, their carer and family.

GP practices in Brent will be the next to benefit from this initiative.