Improving the uptake of lipid-lowering therapy for primary prevention
Outcomes and learning
Outcomes
All 156 GP practices in Sussex enrolled in the programme, with 148 (94.9%) submitting data. By the end of the project, LLT uptake for this indicator had increased in Sussex from 59.93% (March 2025) to 63.79% (September 2025). As a result of our programme, the rate of increase in Sussex over this period was significantly increased compared with our peer group in South East England and nationally, closing the gap towards national achievement from 3.69% to just 0.16%. The Sussex ICB performance position improved from 37 of 42 ICBs to 19 of 42.
For the project cohort, 5,482 were initiated on LLT (40.2% of consultations). The 2 out of 1,000 list size was achieved by 139 practices (93.9%) and for those tasked with a stretch target, 52 of 80 practices (65%) achieved the additional 5% uplift and 6 of 12 (50%) achieved the additional 10% uplift.
The number of practices achieving the national 65% target more than doubled (30 to 64) while those achieving less than 50% reduced from 12 to 2. Furthermore, at the close of the project for both females and males in the age range of 40 to 79 years, the national target of 65% had been exceeded. This reflects the focus of the project, which was on the population with the most life years to gain from primary prevention.
Learning
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A data-driven approach to quality improvement, outcomes-based incentives and appropriate remuneration can substantially improve primary prevention management in primary care.
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Multidisciplinary education coupled with strong clinical leadership drove the improvements, which should be sustainable beyond the project period.
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Our model could be replicated at scale in other clinical areas or other geographical locations, supporting wider delivery of CVD prevention.
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