What is a primary care network (PCN)?

A PCN is a group of GP practices based in a local community.

Typically it is between 5 to 10 GP practices covering a patient population of 30,000 to 50,000.

You WILL STILL be registered with your GP practice and will continue to access GP services in the usual way.

Which PCN are you in?

Our PCN is called Waterside Health Network. It is made up of;

Devonport Health Centre, St Levan Surgery, Adelaide Surgery, West Hoe Surgery, Stoke Surgery, Peverell Park Surgery & University Medical Centre and St Neots Surgery.

We have a patient population of Circa 63,0000

We have 2 Clinical Directors that are practicing GPs to provide leadership and a PCN manager to develop the services we can offer to you, the patient.  

What do Primary Care Networks do?

PCNs provide proactive, coordinated care to their patients, in different ways to match different people’s needs, with a strong focus on prevention and personalised care. 

What will change for you?

Nothing, however the GP practices in the PCN will work in partnership. This enables patients to access additional health services provided within the PCN GP practices.

You may not notice much change to begin with, but over time you will see a wider range of services becoming available in your GP practice or at another practice within your PCN such as Physiotherapy.

What difference will primary care networks make for you?

Primary care networks have the potential to benefit patients by offering services earlier or later than our core hours and on weekends. To extend the range of services available to you, to integrate primary care with the wider health and community services.

How can patients have a say in any planned changes?

We are keen to involve our patients in our PCN development. We encourage you join or liaise with your practice Patient Participation Group. Every practice has a Patient Participation Group and these details can be found on our member practices’ individual websites or your own practice will be able to tell you about how their group operates. From time to time the PCN will conduct a patient survey to find out what is important to you, what services you would like to see or be increase and what yu like and don`t like.

A PCN is designed to free up time for GPs as up to a third of appointments do not need to be with a family doctor. By recruiting other clinical specialist it will allow the GPs to focus more on supporting patients with the greatest needs and the most-complex conditions, offering longer appointments to those who need them.

GP practices will be able to drive further action on detecting and preventing conditions such as cancer and heart disease, as well as doing more to tackle obesity, diabetes and mental ill health, and support older people at home and in care homes.

PCNs are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan for improving services, published in 2019. They will bring billions of pounds in extra investment nationwide to sustain general practice in the short term and to improve access and care in the longer term.

This short animation provides information on PCNs and how they enable health and other services to work together to provide better access to services for patients.

https://youtu.be/W19DtEsc8Ys

Your Practice Social Prescribing Service - Healthy Futures, The stepping stone to a healthier, happier you.

What is Social Prescribing? Social prescribing helps you explore and access activities and services that are available locally to support you to improve your health and wellbeing.

Who is Healthy Futures for?

• Anyone aged over 18
• Anyone who would like some non-medical support to improve their physical and/or mental health and wellbeing
• Anyone who is able to engage with a link worker and make decisions about next steps they would like to take
• Healthy Futures can work with people to improve their mental wellbeing, but is not suitable for people in mental health crisis or with an unmet clinical need.

How does it work?

You can be referred to the Link Worker working at your GP practice by any member of the practice team, or you can self-refer by getting in touch. A member of our team will contact you to discuss your referral and arrange an appointment.

The support we offer?

At your first appointment, we will discuss what matters to you and co-create a plan to support you to reach your goals. Your Link Worker will listen to you and share their knowledge and

connections to local services and organisations that can offer specialist support, including:

• Benefits support and debt advice
• Arts and creative activities
• Healthy lifestyles and health promotion e.g. stopping smoking, physical activity and healthy eating
• Education, training and learning
• Befriending
• Counselling and talking therapies
• Support groups and networks
• Social and peer activities
• Employment and volunteering
• Housing support

Getting back on track

Josh was struggling to find employment and was referred to Healthy Futures when he attended his GP with symptoms of anxiety because he was struggling to pay his rent. The Link Worker connected him to a local benefits advisor and supported him to liaise with his landlord about managing his arrears. Once his finances were more settled and he was less stressed, he was able to explore employment and attended a community job club which helped build his confidence and skills.

You can self-refer by contacting our friendly team on:

Email: healthyfutures@wolseley-trust.org

Tel: 01752 203673

Please see our website – www.wolseley-trust.org

Employment support is now available through the GP practices of Waterside Primary Care Network (Adelaide, Devonport, Stoke, Peverell, St Levans, St Neots, West Hoe Surgeries) provided by an employability consultant from The Poppy Factory.

If you are unemployed, have served in the armed forces for one day or more, and have a physical or mental health condition, you can register for this support.

The Poppy Factory’s mission is to support veterans with health conditions on their journey into employment and to continue supporting them whatever challenges they may face. The service is veteran-centred and helps people of all ages, including many over 50. The men and women they support move into a diverse range of jobs across dozens of different sectors, from logistics and construction to the charity sector and health care.

The Poppy Factory has been supporting wounded, injured and sick veterans for nearly 100 years and continue to stand by them on their journey into employment and beyond.

To self-refer for employment support from The Poppy Factory, please visit poppyfactory.org/nhsregister