Ep 62. ReSPECT and Primary Care

In this episode, former Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) ReSPECT Project Manager Jenny Fryer is joined by Dr Kaval Patel, GP and Partner at the Heart of Lincoln Medical Group, and Clinical Director of Lincolnshire Healthcare Partnership PCN Together, they explore why starting ReSPECT conversations earlier - with your GP, for example - can make such a difference. These conversations aren't restricted to end-of-life care. They’re about understanding what really matters to a person, so care can be proactive, personalised, and built on trust between people and their GPs. For people living with frailty, long-term conditions, or going through changes in their health, having these discussions sooner can open the door to more meaningful choices about treatment. It also means those wishes are clearly recorded and ready to guide decisions in an emergency. This leads to better care, less stress, and more confidence, both for patients and the professionals supporting them, so that when the unexpected happens, everyone knows the plan. Dr Patel is also Mental Health Strategic Lead for Lincolnshire, and Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire PCN Alliance.