Primary Care Network Support

‘Small enough to care, large enough to cope’, PCNs are based around populations of between 30,000 to 50,000 people.

Essentially, PCNs bring GP practices together with their community service partners to work at scale in order to:

  • Improve their resilience
  • Improve their ability to recruit and retain staff
  • Improve their ability to manage financial and estates pressures
  • Enable a larger range of services to be provided to patients
  • Integrate more easily with the wider health and care system

There are currently five PCNs supporting local people across Herefordshire:

East Herefordshire PCN

Supporting patients registered with: Ledbury Health Partnership, Nunwell Surgery, Colwall Surgery, Cradley Surgery

 

  • Population 30,186
  • Covers 188 square miles
  • 19 care homes, 400 beds

Hereford Medical Group PCN

Supporting patients registered with Hereford Medical Group

 

  • Population 47,980
  • Covers 135 square miles
  • 16 care homes, 422 beds

North and West Herefordshire PCN

Supporting patients registered with: Kington Medical Practice, Weobley Surgery, Mortimer Medical Practice, Ryeland Surgery, Tenbury Surgery

  • Population 51,277
  • Covers 430 square miles
  • 18 care homes, 435 beds

South and West Herefordshire PCN

Supporting patients registered with: Alton Street Surgery, Pendeen Surgery, Fownhope Medical Centre, Kingstone Surgery, Golden Valley Practice, Much Birch Surgery

  • Population 42,558
  • Covers 348 square miles
  • 18 care homes, 313 beds

  

Wargrave, Belmont and Cantilupe (WBC) PCN

Supporting patients registered with: Wargrave House Surgery, Belmont Medical Centre, Cantilupe Surgery

  • Population 30,069
  • Covers 61 square miles
  • 16 care homes, 367 beds

  

 

 

Taurus Healthcare plays a pivotal role in developing and supporting Herefordshire PCNs.

PCN Clinical Directors meet weekly with senior members of the Taurus Team, the Director of Primary Care for Herefordshire & Worcestershire NHS, and the Secretary of the Local Medical Committee. Together we form the Herefordshire General Practice Leadership Team.

Additional PCN Roles

The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) enables additional workforce capacity to be built at Primary Care Network level. Examples of the roles currently being supported by Taurus Healthcare are shown below.

 

Care Coordinators

Care Coordinators

Care Coordinators offer a single point of contact to enable a joined up approach to the most effective patient care. They have many specialisms, for example Safeguarding Care Coordinator, Wellbeing Coordinator, Care Home Coordinator, so their exact role will vary from PCN to PCN. 

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Clinical Pharmacists

Clinical Pharmacists

Clinical Pharmacists aim to improve the value of and outcomes from medicines and consult with and treat patients directly. This includes providing extra help to manage long-term conditions, advice for those on multiple medicines and better access to health checks. 

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Dietitians

Dietitians

Dietitians work with patients to provide practical guidance on diet and nutrition. They aim to promote good health and prevent disease in individuals and communities. 

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First Contact Practitioner Paramedic

First Contact Practitioner Paramedic

First Contact Practitioner Paramedics support patients with home visits for minor illnesses and urgent care needs. They work closely with GPs to decide the most effective course of treatment for patients.

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First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapists

First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapists

First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapists support patients who have musculoskeletal issues and problems. This can either be following a referral from the GP or independently following patient self-referral. 

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Health and Wellbeing Coach

Health and Wellbeing Coach

There are many factors that affect your health and wellbeing.

Health and Wellbeing Coaches work alongside other healthcare professionals in your surgery to identy what motivates you. They help find a way to help you make choices that improve your lifestyle. 

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Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians are essential to the smooth running of practices. They undertake many functions and their exact duties will vary from surgery to surgery. Typical tasks include medicines reconciliations, responding to patients' queries about medicines-related topics and providing support to manage medicines budgets. 

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Physician Associates

Physician Associates

Physician Associates work alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide medical care as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

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Support for Care Homes

Support for Care Homes

Ensuring that residents in our care homes receive coordinated, patient-centred care. Each PCN has nursing, pharmacy and care coordination staff working in tandem with care home providers to oversee a joined-up approach to supporting our residents.

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Wellbeing Occupational Therapists

Wellbeing Occupational Therapists

 Wellbeing Occupational Therapists work with patients to manage changes in their health and independence.
They support  some of the most vulnerable patients and their carers to optimise their health.

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