Working locally: Tame Valley PCN was formed in 2019 and is made up of 8 practices: Alvanley Family Practice; Bredbury Surgery; Brinnington Surgery; Heaton Norris Medical Practice; Park View Group Practice; The Reddish Family Practice; Vernon Park Surgery, and Woodley Village Surgery.
Whilst all our GP surgeries are based quite close to each other, all operate slightly differently and serve different patient populations. The purpose of the PCN is to provide similar services across the area, but also to provide services which tailor to the needs of the local population of each practice. To support this all practices are involved in decision making, and are invited to be represented on the board..
Tame Valley PCN has seen great success working together so that patients have better access to services at their own GP surgery. The ways in which we do this is outlined below:
Employing staff: Roles now supported by the PCN range from clinical roles such as: Pharmacist support; Health Care Assistants; First Contact Practitioners (Physio service), and our Frailty and Dementia Health coaches; to support roles such as: Social Prescribers, Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinators; Safeguarding Coordinators; Long term condition coordinators, and our Patient Engagement Coordinator, who supports practices with projects such as social media, patient reference groups and practice websites. Please see our Meet the Team page for more information.
Joint working: The PCN works together on bigger projects, such as delivering the vaccination programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff from across the practices all worked together to deliver the large amounts of vaccinations required, to patients from across all sites. This was a new way of working for practices. The practices also share the Extended access hours making sure each area receives adequate out of hours appointment cover.
Updating services: Each year PCN requirements and provision is updated to fit in with changing NHS priorities, and so in 2023 the PCN established a Patient Reference Group who meet once a quarter to hear updates and provide feedback on current services and required improvements.