The Deep End organization is inspired by Julian Tudor Hart, general practitioner based in Wales in 1961-1991. He formulated the inverse care law; the geographical areas with the greatest need for healthcare services have the fewest healthcare resources available. This law also applies in Denmark. Citizens with low incomes and chronic diseases often live in deprived areas with GP shortage and far distance to the nearest hospital. In these areas, the general practitioners are often stressed and burned out.
The Deep End organization was established in Scotland to counter adverse effects of the inreverse care law by strengthening general practice in deprived areas. The organization views Deep End doctors as experts in managing complex diseases and believes that the GPs can learn from each other and that others can learn a lot from them.
The Deep End project creates the framework for general practitioners to meet and exchange knowledge and experience. The initiative has spread to England, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Abu Dhabi and now Denmark. Deep End Denmark is supported from many sides, as there is a strong societal interest in reducing inequality in health.
The overall aim of establishing Deep End Denmark is to create more equality in health by strengthening general practice in socially deprived areas. The activities, comprising networking, feedback and education, focus on increasing the job satisfaction and well-being of GPs and enhancing their skills in the meeting with and the treatment of patients with low socioeconomic background. The sharing of knowledge is supported by a research team that will develop ideas and proposals brought up in group discussions. An additional aim is to make available new knowledge on health equality for GP colleagues in the entire country.
Deep End Denmark will establish a network of general practitioners from the 100 clinics in Denmark serving the patient populations with the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. The network will consist of both a national group and smaller, locally rooted groups that meet a few times a year. The GPs may bring up any topic that they may find important. Knowledge sharing is supported by a research team, which will further develops the ideas that are brought up in the groups.
Deep End Denmark is anchored at the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus, and the meetings and discussions will be organized by the research unit in collaboration with the Organisation of General Practitioners in Denmark (PLO).
Statistics Denmark has sent an invitation in June 2023 to selected general practice clinics.
We hope that many will participate. Clinics with more than one GP are encouraged to appoint a representative to participate in Deep End meetings.
Name and logo are inspired by a swimming pool. The water surface symbolises the equal distribution of resources for everyone, regardless of healthcare needs.
The depth of the pool represents morbidity and socioeconomic status of patient population.
General practitioners 'at the deep end' serve many patients with low socioeconomic status and several chronic conditions. These GPs often work in deprived areas with limited resources and few medical specialists.
