Eston patients benefiting from extra general practice appointments
Patients in Eston Primary Care Network (PCN) are benefiting from investment in additional staff that delivered over 35,000 new appointments last year.
The PCN, made up of four GP practices in the area, recruited 28 new staff across a host of roles to reflect the growing needs of their patient population.
A number of innovative roles have been created via funding from a national Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), helping them to boost the support they can offer patients. The new roles include alcohol support, pharmacists, physiotherapy and a children and young person's mental health practitioner.
The PCN has also recruited five new physician associates who work alongside GPs to provide care as part of a multi-disciplinary team to clinically assess, diagnose and treat patients. These five clinicians alone provided an extra 16,000 appointments last year.
Other new roles introduced include:
- Dietician – to diagnose and treat diet and nutritional problems;
- Learning disability primary care link worker – to be a key link between health services and the wider care system to support people with learning disability and ensure they get the support they need to assist with daily living skills, promote independence and offer emotional support;
- Podiatrist – to help treat foot and lower limb conditions;
- Care home coordinator – to ensure that patients living in care homes get the support they need;
- Social prescriber – to connect people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing;
- Cancer care coordinator – to support patients throughout their cancer journey, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
Dr Ifti Lone, a GP at Eston Surgery said: "This is fantastic news not only for our patients but for me as a GP, having a team of dedicated healthcare professionals who have the skills to support the very specific needs of our patients.
"Modern general practice is about more than GPs or Nurses and anyone who would benefit from an appointment with the wider team will be offered the opportunity. These additional roles reflect the many social factors faced by our patients here on Teesside, where the decline of heavy industry has left its mark and ensures that we can offer complete wraparound care for our patients, delivered by a team of highlight skilled healthcare professionals across our four practices."
Rebecca Warden- Head of Primary Care in Tees Valley for North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "Eston PCN's expansion of additional roles shines a spotlight on their innovative and personalised approach to general practice services within Tees Valley.
"We have built strong relationships with PCNs, and with other healthcare providers to identify and promote opportunities for collaboration to meet the needs of our local population.
"Our ICB play a crucial role in supporting PCNs by providing funding, resources, and strategic direction, to improve general practice services and patient care for our local communities. This is just one example of the excellent work taking place!"