Primary Care
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) in Primary Care was developed originally back in 1998, to enable GPs and Primary Care Teams to provide quality care for all people in their final year of life, with any condition, in any setting, at any time. GSF principles were integrated within primary care throughout the UK from 2000, and mainstreamed from 2004 as part of the original GP Contract Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF). Now, 95% GP practices have GSF/ Supportive Care Registers and regular meetings to discuss these patients, with increasing numbers of identified patients on the register. The developments in primary care have been supported by the Department of Health, Royal College of GPs, General Medical Council, NICE guidance, and the Care Quality Commission.
Why Choose GSF Training?
- Proven framework for high-quality care
- Provides evidence for CQC compliance with accreditation
- Improves patient and carer experience and reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and length of stay
- Enhances staff confidence and skills improving staff wellbeing and job satisfaction
- Fosters a compassionate organisational culture for the benefit of patients, families and carers and staff
GSF helps drive National Policy into Practice
- GSF aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan
- GSF aligns with NICE Guidance
- Ambitions for palliative and end of life care
With an increasing aging population, quality end of life care is more important than ever. Knowing what truly matters most to the people we care for will inform their personalised care support plan, to fulfil their wishes and preferences for the future.
Register your interest for further details and pricing.
What’s Included in the Training?
- Identifying the right patients using GSF tools.
- Engaging patients in Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussions.
- Aligning care with patient wishes to help them live well, collaborating with health and social care providers.
- Ensuring care supports patients to die well, with coordinated community support.
- Recognising and supporting carers, including practice staff.
- Encouraging reflective practice, strong leadership, and peer support.
GSF Accreditation Process
The GSF Accreditation Quality Hallmark Award is a nationally recognised kite-mark for excellence in care, co-badged by The Royal College of General Practitioners and other leading care sector organisations and is an information source for Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection process.
On completion of the training, Practices can register for accreditation to receive the Quality Hallmark Award. Registrations for accreditation open in November each year and the awards are presented the following September. GSF Accreditation lasts for three years at which point you would need to register for re-accreditation. Practices that have re-accredited every three years achieve platinum status and can be nominated for Practice Of The Year.
GSF is sustainable. There are some Practices that have been accredited for more than 12 years!
There are four parts to the Accreditation Process:
1
Key Outcome Ratios & Patient Audit
Demonstrating achievement in core standards, including an After-Death Analysis of five cases and a review of patients not on the register.
2
Portfolio of
Evidence
Documenting implementation of the GSF 7 Key Tasks, with supporting evidence and a sustainability plan.
3
Assessment
Visit
Practice Assessment to evaluate implementation, team engagement, and long-term sustainability.
4
GSF Conference
Attendance
Celebrating success and receiving the Quality Hallmark Award.
Ongoing Benefits of Accreditation
- Exclusive Access to the GSF members' area and resources.
- Invitation to Free Quarterly Micro-Learning Events for continued professional development.
Achieving GSF Accreditation enhances quality of care, team collaboration, and patient outcomes, reinforcing your commitment to gold-standard end of life care.
Impact of GSF in Primary Care
Free Supportive Care Register (SCR) Templates 1-6
These templates are designed to assist with personalised care planning and end of life care discussions
Quality Improvement (QI) Audit Tool: GSF After Death Analysis (ADA) Audit
The GSF ADA Audit Tool is a well-established, user-friendly, online resource designed to assess changes in patient care at the individual level. It facilitates After Death Analysis (ADA), enabling a comparative review of patient outcomes before and after implementing improvements.
- A structured Individual Patient-Level Audit Report, offering reflections on care before and after a change is introduced.
- Requires a minimum of five patient deaths before and five after implementing a change, with comparative reports automatically generated upon submission.
- Incorporates a Significant Event Analysis section to support learning and reflection.
- Widely used across the UK for appraisal, revalidation, and team discussions on key successes and challenges.
- Minimum data requirement: 5 patients before and 5 after (maximum to be confirmed).
- Early Identification & Support – Helps recognise individuals with advanced progressive illness who may be in their last year of life.
- Coordinated & Responsive Care – Ensures well-planned care that adapts to the patient’s changing needs, enhancing their experience.
- Family & Caregiver Support – Identifies and supports informal caregivers, both as key members of the care team and as individuals facing bereavement.
