About GP clusters

GP Clusters are typically groups of between five to eight GP practices in a close geographical location. As described in the Scottish Government's publication, Improving Together, the purpose of clusters is to:

• encourage GPs to take part in quality improvement activity with their peers, and
• contribute to the oversight and development of their local healthcare system.

There is a nominated Practice Quality Lead in each GP practice and each cluster has a Cluster Quality Lead. Cluster Quality Leads support their local GP practices and liaise with locality teams and other professional groups and organisations.

Components of GP clusters

Our GP Cluster Working Learning Cycle report identified a number of components which are required for successful cluster working:

• The right conditions need to be created first to enable successful cluster working. These include: having a shared understanding of the vision and purpose of clusters, having appropriate structures including governance mechanisms, providing support to clusters at different levels, and ensuring they have resources such as time, funding and IT, and also good relationships across the system.
• Quality Improvement, data, leadership and engagement are the core components to ensure successful GP cluster working towards agreed priorities.
• A learning system should support all the components required for successful cluster working. A learning system enables people to come together to share and learn about a particular topic, to build knowledge and speed up improvement.