Reports & Research
Evaluations, briefings and case records that show how advice in GP practices works in practice, and what it has changed for patients.
How the evidence is gathered
Our research combines routine service data with interviews, surveys and anonymised case notes. Adviser records capture the type of problem, the outcome and the time taken to resolve it. Patient feedback is collected at the end of each case and used to adjust the service.
All published material follows agreed data protection rules. Individual patients are never identified, and small numbers are suppressed where needed to protect privacy.
Early findings
The first evaluation looked at practices that had hosted an adviser for at least a year. It found that money and housing problems were among the most common reasons for seeking help, and that many patients had raised them with reception staff before being referred.
- Most cases were resolved within the same month
- Patients reported better confidence in dealing with official letters
- Clinicians reported fewer consultations driven by social pressures
Reading the numbers with care
Figures from a single evaluation should be read as indicative rather than conclusive. Practices differ in size, patient mix and local services, and some outcomes, such as improvements in wellbeing, are difficult to measure consistently over time.
The question is not only how many problems were solved, but whether the person was able to get on with their life afterwards.
Development timeline
Pilot design
Two practices agreed a shared referral route and a common record form for advisers.
Evaluation
Routine data and patient feedback were compared with matched practices without an adviser.
Wider rollout
Lessons from the pilot shaped the guidance now used by new participating practices.
Case studies
Anonymised case studies show the range of work advisers do. They include a patient whose benefit claim had been stalled for months, a family facing eviction after a repair dispute, and a worker whose sick pay had been wrongly withheld.
For the full set, visit the case studies section. Current service figures are published on the statistics page.
Using the research
Commissioners, practice managers and local councils are welcome to use these reports when planning services. Please cite the source and the date of publication, and contact the project team if you would like the underlying tables.
Questions about methods can be sent through the about page.
Looking ahead
The next publications will track outcomes over two years and compare costs with the wider benefits to the health system. We will also report on how well the service reaches people who have not previously sought advice.
Downloads and archive
Earlier briefings and working papers remain available to read. Each document notes the date it was prepared, so that readers can see when the figures were current.