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The purpose of the Primary Care Network is to facilitate close working between a group of practices to provide integrated services to the local population. Here are some of the ways this is achieved.
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Physiotherapists
The Colte Partnership works in collaboration with First Point Physio's. FFP are a service that can provide treatment and initial assessments for multiple musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as;
- All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries - Arthritis (any joint) - Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone, eg tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprain - Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain - Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, eg pins and needles or numbness.
Paramedics
Traditionally, Paramedics have been most associated with emergency care, but their skills are equally transferable to GP patients with acute needs.
Paramedic training allows them to quickly but thoroughly assess the situation they are presented with. Combined with their clinical judgement, Paramedics can make decisions about the most critical immediate actions that need to be taken.
Paramedics are able to see patients for minor illness and injury and can prescribe is a prescription is needed.
Social Prescribers
Social prescribing, also sometimes known as community referral, is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. The referrals generally, but not exclusively, come from professionals working in primary care settings, for example, GPs or practice nurses.
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Social prescribing is designed to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs, and many schemes are focused on improving mental health and physical wellbeing. Those who could benefit from social prescribing schemes include people with mild or long-term mental health problems, people with complex needs, people who are socially isolated and those with multiple long-term conditions who frequently attend either primary or secondary health care.
Enhanced Access
Enhanced Access is a service to provide appointments outside of core hours. The aim of Enhanced Access is to meet the needs of the local population and provide greater access to healthcare for our 95,000 patients and ease some of the workload pressures experienced in our branches.
Working collectively to deliver Enhanced Access for our patients means we can share workforce needs and safely deliver high quality, care efficiently.
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We offer appointments between the hours of 18:30 - 20:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 - 17:00 on Saturdays.
We offer appointments for a range of clinicians such as GP’s, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Healthcare Assistants and Physiotherapists.
Early Cancer Diagnosis
We are seeking to improve referrals to specialists and screening uptake by:
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Improving referral processes for suspected cancers, with a focus on safety processes, ensuring that all patients receive information on their referral
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Contributing to improving local uptake of National Cancer Screening Programmes
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Supporting the delivery of these through engagement with the hospital and community services
Medication Review and Optimisation
Structured Medicine Reviews (SMRs) are an evidence-based and comprehensive review of a patient’s medication, taking into consideration all aspects of their health. In a structured medication review, clinicians and patients work as equal partners to understand the balance between the benefits and risks of and alternatives of taking medicines.
Care Homes Focus
We deliver weekly ward round to Care Homes within the PCN and using the Multi-Disciplinary Team arrangements, we develop and refresh personalised care plans.
