Samenwerken aan gezondheid in de wijk: een rol voor de huisarts?

There are two reasons why general practitioners (GPs) should collaborate with others in their neighbourhood: social problems that translate into physical symptoms and addressing healthy lifestyles and prevention.

The Prevention in the neighbourhood project (2014-2018) by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and The Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) supports GPs and public health and social sector professionals in this collaboration. This happens in several ways: exchange of experiences and successful practical examples, 20 local work sessions, online availability of materials and assurance through training and continuous medical education of GPs and public health professionals. General practitioners have a role to play in district-based prevention. Experiences with local work sessions and practical examples of collaboration between GPs, public health and social sectors are positive. For large-scale implementation of district collaboration, the high workload of GPs is an important bottleneck. Preconditions and clear arrangements for district management are needed to properly shape this district-based collaboration.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.