Budbrooke Medical Centre

The Pool Medical Centre

Henley-in-Arden Medical Centre

Lapworth Surgery

The Arrow Surgery

 Tanworth-in-Arden Medical Practice

Alcester Health Centre

Since the NHS was created in 1948, the population has grown and people are living longer. Many people are living with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease or suffer with mental health issues and may need to access their local health services more often.

To meet these needs, GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as primary care networks (PCNs).

PCNs build on the core of current primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care. Clinicians describe this as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively care for the people and communities they serve. Where emerging PCNs are in place in parts of the country, there are clear benefits for patients and clinicians.

PCNs are small enough to provide the personal care valued by both people and GPs, but large enough to have impact and economies of scale through better collaboration between GP practices and others in the local health and social care system.

PCNs are led by clinical directors who may be a GP, general practice nurse, clinical pharmacist or other clinical profession working in general practice.

We want to support patients to make informed decisions about their health care and to connect them to most appropriate health or social care provider to ensure health care that is timely safe and all encompassing.

Care coordinators play an important role within a PCN to proactively identify and work with people, including the frail/elderly and those with long-term conditions, to provide coordination and navigation of care and support across health and care services.

Clinical Pharmacists are engaged in multiple activities and you will most likely interact with them in the form of a medication review. In these reviews, they will ensure the appropriate blood tests and monitoring has been completed for your medication and review your current medication for appropriateness. This is your chance as a patient to have an in-depth discussion about your medication and any questions or concerns. They have a strong relationship with your GP and any suggestions for your care will be as a multi-disciplinary approach.

The role of First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) in Primary Care is to assess patients with soft tissue, muscle and joint pain and to decide on the most appropriate management pathway. FCPs are physiotherapists with expertise in the assessment and management of Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Examples of the conditions a FCP can see are:

• all soft tissue injuries
• sprains, strains or sports injuries
• arthritis – any joint
• possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone, e.g. tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains
• Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain
• Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, e.g. pins and needles or numbness
• Post-orthopaedic surgery

The FCP may give advice or exercises, refer on for further physiotherapy treatment, request investigations or refer to a specialist if indicated.

Paramedics work in a variety of roles within a general practice. Their background in pre-hospital care means that they are used to working with people with a variety of health conditions from coughs and minor injuries to more serious conditions such as asthma and heart attacks. They work alongside GPs and help manage routine or urgent appointments, telephone triage (assessment of urgency of illness or injury) and home visits.

They can help with:

• Diagnosing and treating health conditions
• Ordering tests and interpreting results
• Supporting people with long-term conditions such as arthritis and diabetes

Social prescribers work collaboratively with general practices to support patients in a holistic way. They empower patients to take control of their own wellbeing by focusing on their strengths, needs and aspirations. Social prescribers can connect people to community groups and services for practical and emotional support, signpost to relevant services, resources or support groups and support existing community groups and helping patients to start new ones. Social prescribers are able to give patients the time to identify what matters to them.

How can a Social Prescriber benefit me as a patient:

• Support with managing low mood, bereavement and loss
• Carer support
• Diet and/or lifestyle e.g. exercise, sleep, healthy eating etc.
• Self-care and psychoeducation
• Support with managing long-term health conditions
• Support getting into work, volunteering and social activities
• Family and friend relationships and counselling
• Support with financial worries, benefits and housing difficulties
• Loneliness and isolation
• Taking up a new interest or hobby
• Support to access services in the community to tackle loneliness and isolation

Who can refer?

(Please note this varies in different practices)

All surgery staff including:

• GP’s
• Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants
• Reception team
• Clinical Pharmacists
• Care Co-ordinators
• Health and Wellbeing Coaches
• Physicians Associates
• Physiotherapists

Arden PCN Social Prescribing Self referral

Upon completing the form below, our social prescribing team will contact you within 10 days to discuss your requirements.

Arden PCN Social Prescribing Self referral form