We have a number of Social Prescribers across PCN West, supplied by various providers, who support patients with social issues and healthy behaviour change, enabling them to take ownership and control of their own wellbeing to improve the patient’s overall health.
A new service in development hopes to support the Transhealth community. There will be various outreach points of contact, but patients can also be referred via the GP Practice.
Providing care navigation and support to Asylum Seekers and Refugees new to the area, the team at Action Foundation can support access to healthcare and relevant documentation.
These fully qualified musculoskeletal practitioners act as a First point of contact for musculoskeletal issues such as knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain etc. Patients can contact their Practice and be booked in to see someone very quickly, who will assess and either refer or provide guidance/advice/exercises to help self-manage their condition.
These fully qualified podiatrists act as a First point of contact for foot problems such as ingrown toenails, foot pain, infections etc. Patients can contact their Practice and be booked in to see someone very quickly, who will assess and either refer to secondary care, or provide basic treatment or guidance to help self-manage their condition.
There is a team of Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) who support patients with chronic mental health conditions, who perhaps are not suitable for secondary care. They can refer onto the most appropriate department e.g., IAPT, or can offer brief interventions. The appointments are bookable by Practices, and reviews handled by the MHPs. This has been a well utilised service so far with great mental health support provided by our MHPs.
Often evening and weekend appointments are preferred by patients and therefore we offer clinics after 6pm during the week and on a Saturday across the PCN, you may be seen by your registered GP or in another Practice and there are a range of appointments from GP or Nurse Practitioner to Nurses or Health Care Assistants.
We have a team of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians supporting GP Practices with Medication related work such as medicines optimisation and changes to medications. They work collaboratively with community pharmacy too.
This team supports patients with new diagnoses of Cancer completing a non-clinical holistic review. They signpost and offer various support at diagnoses, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months. They are a highly regarded service who are really supporting our patients through difficult times. They also support patients in attending their 2 week wait appointments should there be potential for the patient not to attend.
We have a team of Nurse Practitioners and Care Coordinators who attend Care Homes in South Tyneside to support the care of residents alongside the GP and wider teams.