A meeting of senior figures from the RCGP and DoH at the RCGP's annual conference in Yorkshire last week called for the new NHS Commissioning Board and GP consortia to focus on socially excluded groups.
They said that despite good work being done in parts of the NHS to reach cases such as sex workers and patients with learning disabilities, there needed to be a major change of attitudes.
Jill Matthews, national implementation director for primary care and community services at the DoH, said the White Paper was a huge opportunity for the inclusivity agenda.
'The commissioning board and consortia need to be clear about their ambition, and truly embody the idea that no-one should be left behind. We have to actively seek out those that cannot find us and ensure that our services change to meet those needs in the way they deliver, act and respond.'
The RCGP's First5 CPD fellow Dr Clare Taylor said few GP registrars had experience of working with groups in deprived areas.
Watch a video of Dr Taylor explaining the First5 Scheme
'If this is a priority for the profession and every GP needs to be looking out for it, the only way to do that is through professional development.'
