Your Gateway to Quality Improvement in Primary Care

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What is Quality Improvement (QI)?  

Quality Improvement (QI) in Derbyshire primary care offers a structured approach to evaluating and enhancing our practices in general practice. It encourages us to examine both large and small aspects of our work through a fresh perspective to identify areas for improvement. 

It involves: 

  • Values: Self-reflection, shared learning, partnership, leadership, and understanding of context. 
  • Methods: Measurement, understanding variation, and cyclical improvement processes like the PDSA cycle. 

The PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle

PDSA QI Graphic .png (277 KB)

 

Impact of QI Fellowships on Practices, Staff, and Patients in Derbyshire 

In Derbyshire, we’ve seen first-hand how Quality Improvement (QI) work is making a real difference across practices, for staff and for patients. From improving patient care and boosting staff wellbeing, to reducing GP turnover and building leadership and confidence, the impact is both wide-reaching and deeply meaningful. 

- The data and insights shared here are drawn from a recent impact study completed in June 2025 as part of the GPTF Fellowship Programme evaluation in Derbyshire. 

GP Turnover Dropped by Over 50% 

GP leaving rates fell from 12.5% in 2023 to just 5.8% in 2025, showing the Fellowship programme’s role in improving retention. 

2 in 3 Fellows Saw Direct Patient Care   

Improvements Projects led to better access, reduced hospital admissions, and tailored care—especially in areas like respiratory medicine and care homes. 

67% More Likely to Pursue Leadership Roles    

The programme boosted confidence and ambition, encouraging more professionals to step into system-level and leadership positions 

Every Fellow Gained New Skills   

All respondents reported improved understanding of the NHS, with two-thirds gaining project management and leadership skills. 

Getting Started with Your QI Project 

If you're thinking about starting your own Quality Improvement (QI) project, our QI Portal is your one-stop resource for everything you need to succeed. From practical tools and templates to expert guidance and inspiring case studies. 

 Whether you're new to QI or looking to build on previous work, the portal offers: 

Getting Started with QI Tools 

Learn how to embed QI methods into everyday practice with simple, effective tools. 

 Measuring What Matters

Discover how to collect and interpret data to track your progress and demonstrate impact.

Engaging Stakeholders

Find out how to identify and involve the right people to support your project’s success. 

Tackling Bias and Inequality

Explore how to recognise and address bias in healthcare improvement work.

Using Observation in PDSA Cycles

Learn how observational methods can strengthen your Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles.

Join the QI Portal 

Fellowship Spotlight 

Each month, we spotlight a recently completed Fellowship project, showcasing the valuable insights, innovations and outcomes delivered by our Fellows. Explore the findings from their work and discover how their projects have contributed to the development of General Practice, improved patient care, and informed new ways of working. Alongside each project, Fellows share their personal and professional reflections, highlighting the skills, experience and lasting impact gained through their Fellowship journey. This is an opportunity to celebrate achievement, share learning, and demonstrate the meaningful difference Fellowships are making across primary care.

Dr Sheila Owusu – Supporting and Retaining International Medical Graduates in Derbyshire

Sheila’s Workforce Retention Fellowship focused on strengthening support for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) working in Derbyshire General Practice. Recognising that IMGs make up a significant proportion of the UK's medical workforce, Sheila sought to better understand the challenges they face and identify practical ways to improve retention, job satisfaction and ultimately patient care.

 

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Project Aims

The fellowship aimed to:

  • Identify the support needs and challenges experienced by IMGs in Derbyshire.
  • Explore issues relating to work visas and sponsorship.
  • Develop initiatives to support IMG wellbeing, career development and retention.
  • Update and relaunch the GP Pause initiative to support GPs returning to work following extended leave.

To achieve this, Sheila conducted surveys with IMG GPs, established a growing network of Derbyshire IMGs, and organised two educational webinars focusing on:

  • Contracts, flexibility and fairness.
  • Leadership, teaching, training and research opportunities.

Key Outcomes

The fellowship delivered several important outcomes:

  • Relaunch of the GP Pause initiative on The Hub website, providing updated support and information for GPs returning to work.
  • Creation of a Derbyshire IMG GP network and database to support ongoing engagement and future initiatives.
  • Delivery of two webinars that addressed some of the most commonly identified support needs among IMG GPs.
  • Development of stronger links with national IMG support organisations, including the RCGP, creating opportunities for future collaboration.

Personal and professional impact

The fellowship enabled Sheila to develop new skills and confidence as a leader, communicator and project lead.

Click here to read about the GP Pause Programme.

We also have two recent webinars - GP contracts, fairness and flexibility and Leadership, Teaching and Research available to watch on The Hub Plus Learning Management System. 

Reflecting on her learning, Sheila said:

“My key learning from this fellowship is to take opportunities as they present and that there is never a good or ideal time to take advantage of an opportunity. I have learnt that you do not need to have all the skills to do a particular undertaking; taking the opportunity to do it builds skills and confidence.”

She also reported feeling "a lot more skilled" in leadership, research, presenting ideas and working across organisational boundaries, and said the fellowship has made her "much more likely" to seek system-level leadership roles and pursue a portfolio career.

Speaking about the support she received, Sheila commented:

“Support from Jenny was great. She linked me to a lot of key persons who supported my webinar.”

Impact on Colleagues and Patients

The project's greatest impact has been in supporting and empowering IMG colleagues. Feedback from webinar participants highlighted the value of hearing inspirational stories, learning about leadership opportunities and connecting with peers facing similar challenges.

Sheila believes the long-term impact will be seen through a more confident, supported and fulfilled workforce:

“I have been able to show the IMG GPs that others who have gone ahead of them have achieved a lot despite the challenges and succeeded. I hope these outcomes will build confident GPs who are aware there is support and mentorship available and therefore make them more fulfilled in their careers and in effect positively impact patient care.”

Through her fellowship, Sheila has created a strong foundation for ongoing IMG support in Derbyshire, helping colleagues feel more connected, informed and inspired while contributing to a more sustainable general practice workforce for the future.

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Download Here

Explore our full list of Quality Improvement projects delivered across Derbyshire, showcasing the creativity, impact, and dedication of local teams working to improve care for patients and staff. 

You can browse the QI Projects for Fellowships booklet by clicking through the pages or using the left/right arrows on your keyboard.

Need a closer look? Use the icons on the right-hand side to zoom in/out, expand to full screen, and more. If you'd like to skip to a certain page, please see the table of contents tab on the right hand side control panel

Prefer to read offline? Download a PDF version on the right hand side control panel.

If you require any support, we are always listening. Please do get in touch by email: ddlmc.thehubplus@nhs.net or by phone: 07883 328933.

The Hub Plus - Supporting our General Practice family on their Primary Care journey.

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