Interview with... Dr Alexandra Baker

IMPROVING two-way communications between primary and secondary care, as well as launching “novel” ways of transforming non-admitted care, are just two of Alexandra’s agenda-topping aims.

A GP in Lewisham, she brings experience both as a practising GP and Primary Care Network director into the new role, which began in September.

“When the opportunity arose to extend and develop this expertise into a system-wide role, I relished the chance to contribute and work with partners across South East London to lead a programme of transformational change,” she said.

And she has already identified two important areas where improvements need to be delivered – the wait time from referral to specialist care and communications between sectors.

“While there may be a number of topics where people working in primary and secondary care may have a difference of opinion, there is one in which I think we are all united – and that is patients waiting up to a year of more, for whatever specialty, is clearly not right nor acceptable,” she said.

“We are already looking at new and novel improvements that could be made, especially in establishing single points of access at specialty level, and drawing on the expertise of consultant colleagues to make the most of advice and guidance to ensure we can manage patients in primary care where at all possible.”

“As primary care is often the source of referral, it is an important part of our job and we get a first-hand insight into the growing frustration caused by long waits.

“We are already looking at new and novel improvements that could be made, especially in establishing single points of access at specialty level, and drawing on the expertise of consultant colleagues to make the most of advice and guidance to ensure we can manage patients in primary care where at all possible”

She added that improving all communication at all levels between primary and secondary care, so that everyone talked and listened to each other better, was another key early priority.

“Primary care has an important voice in the transformation agenda and it’s vital it is heard when the big decisions are being made,” she said: “Having the opportunity to be more involved in shaping new referral guidelines, and being able to offer feedback before they are published, is just one example where we can contribute.

“We also need to get better at telling patients what we are doing to reduce waits.”

Work on non-admitted care is led by the APC Non-Admitted Care Board, chaired by Jon Findlay, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’s.