Bristol’s Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting (SAPC ASM): Sustainable Primary Care: healthy systems, health people.
By Samantha Wilson
I recently had the opportunity to attend the SAPC ASM Conference, a vibrant three-day event aimed at advancing research, innovative practices, and developing forward-thinking policies for sustainable primary care. From the moment I arrived in Bristol, the conference buzzed with discussions on maintaining a healthy and happy workforce in healthcare and academia, all within the pressing context of our global environmental crisis.
The conference kicked off with a bang during the opening plenary session, led by none other than Prof. Frances Mair and Prof. Victor Montori. Their insightful discussion emphasised the critical role of responsive relationships in sustaining healthcare. It was the ideal start, aligning the entire conference with the urgent theme of sustainability in all its forms —environmental, professional, or clinical.
In the Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence (AI) session, I had the opportunity to present the findings from DynAIRx’s recent PLOS ONE paper, which explored the potential role of AI in enhancing structured medication reviews (SMRs). Introduced in the UK in 2020, SMRs aim to optimize medication for patients with multiple long-term conditions taking several medications. Our research at DynAIRx has been exploring the challenges surrounding SMRs, such as the lack of easy-to-use digital tools, organisational barriers, time-consuming processes, poor communication between GP’s, hospitals and pharmacists, and the complexities involved in managing mental health medications. This study underscores the urgent need for a system capable of prioritising those patients who would benefit most and effectively manage complex clinical data.
The conference resounded with a clear and compelling message: the global climate crisis underscores the critical importance of sustainability in healthcare. However, the discussions extended beyond environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for primary care to remain resilient and adaptable in the face of these evolving challenges.
We extend our sincere gratitude to SAPC for including us in this pivotal event, and we look forward to the future developments and collaborations that will emerge from these valuable discussions.
This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Artificial Intelligence for Multiple and Long-Term Conditions (NIHR 203986). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.