Primary Care Network and Neighbourhood Lead Partnership shares best practice in Stamford
A partnership between an established Neighbourhood Lead and a newly formed Primary Care Network team has led to them sharing best practice and working towards a cohesive service for Stamford patients. Natalie Munslow has been the town's Neighbourhood Lead for three years. Her role is to provide a link between health, social care and the voluntary sector for the benefit of the population.
In 2019 the Primary Care Network was established, with partnerships of GPs forming to offer integrated services. In the Stamford and Bourne area this is the Four Counties PCN, which has recruited social prescribers, mental health specialists and health and wellbeing coaches. As Neighbourhood Leads and PCNs share a joint aim, of providing a 'wrap around' service involving multiple agencies, the PCN and Neighbourhood Lead work collaboratively.
Natalie, a nurse for 20 years, said: 'I work very closely with all parties that have something to do with health, social care and community in the Stamford area. We work for the population and neighbourhoods that we serve. We liaise very frequently and are building a lot more for the locality. It is down to the goodwill of teams that we work together locally as opposed to a formal structure, but it makes sense to align health, social care and community together and it is the direction of travel as we begin our journey of an integrated care system.'
From left, Natalie, Jemma and Louise.
Alex Warwick, Operations Delivery Officer for Four Counties PCN, said: 'I work with Clinical Directors to put together the teams that we need in areas we are targeting. Natalie is a bridge between the PCN and the wider services within the Lincolnshire area and we call on her expertise, particularly with regards to frailty, the care of older people and mental health needs in the area. We are bringing different skill sets together to create a really comprehensive package of services for the community.'
The PCN Operations team: From left Alex Warwick, Katie Clark and Clare Colbert.
Current PCN team members include Occupational Therapist Louise Laugharne and Practice Care Co-ordinator Jemma Bradley, both from Lakeside Stamford, Sarah and Sonia who are social prescribing link workers and Lola, another Occupational Therapist who is due to join the close-knit team shortly.
Louise said: 'A large amount of my role is working with care homes to make sure that people stay as independent as possible. I also work on preventing falls as well as looking after the health and wellbeing, not only of patients, but their families as well.'
Jemma Bradley has been Practice Care Co-ordinator at Lakeside Stamford for two and a half years and has recently been selected as a Regional Mentor, to share expertise with colleagues and PCNs.