Congratulations to Erika on five years' service!
Erika Barnett, care co-ordinator at The Hereward Practice Bourne enjoys her role as it is 'a real opportunity to make a difference.'
She, along with other members of the Four Counties Primary Care Network team, works closely with care homes in the town, making sure that residents have the appropriate care and medical reviews.
Erika is pictured being congratulated on her five years' service by Dr Clive Cole, GP Partner at The Hereward Practice.
Erika's Lakeside career began as a receptionist at St Mary's in Stamford before she moved to the Sheepmarket Surgery, working with GP records and data.
She said:
'I just happened to be looking at the vacancies and I thought that is what I want to be doing as it would fit so well with my Combined Social Science degree. It is more face-to-face contact which I like. I look after five care homes in Bourne and one in Ketton and act like the glue between the care home and GP practice. I am obviously not clinical, but it really helps having worked in a GP practice and so it is about asking the right questions to assess how we can best help.'
Her role, which she has been in since September 2021, involves visiting the care home, arranging initial reviews for new residents and follow-up ones for those who have returned from a stay in hospital or who have fallen. She said: 'We are also starting to do personalised care and support plans with our residents which are a lot more comprehensive. The aim is to have one for each resident which is a huge amount of work. We have to remember that our patients are at the heart of what we are doing and we need to know what their wants and needs are. It is important that is reflected in the help that they are getting.'