Norwich Primary Care Network recognised as the best in the country.

 

Healthcare in Norwich has been recognised at a national level with the Primary Care Network (PCN) winning the PCN of the Year category at the recent GP Awards held in London. 

Judges said “Norwich PCN used effective solutions to reduce footfall, increase appointment access and reduce pressure on their practices while increasing patient satisfaction. Early estimates put savings in excess of £5m to the local system each year!”

 Some of the successful programmes introduced by the PCN included:

• Covid 19 vaccination programme - 225,000 vaccinations.
• GP Front Door was set up in 2019 to reduce the footfall to our emergency departments the team has seen over 14,000 patients.
• Home Visiting Service was set up to support practices and has provided visits to over 20k patients.
• Our Integrated Motivational Proactive Anticipatory Care Team (IMPACT) have formulated more than 622 personalised care plans which has reduced Hospital admissions by 44%. and A&E admissions by 23%.
• The Improved Access Service (IAS) has been designed to provide additional access to primary care services. The service which is run by experienced clinicians has provided more than 93,000 appointments. 
• The Asthma in Schools Project is a unique innovation designed to address health inequalities by targeting children with poorly managed asthma, from deprived areas of Norwich. Interest in this project has been expressed by 15 other counties. 

The Norwich PCN, of 21 GP Practices in Norwich was also successful in the Public Health and Prevention category when its Integrated Motivational Proactive Anticipatory Care Team (IMPACT) led by Lewis Roope took the top spot. Norwich primary care services certainly showed strength in depth with two other services being shortlisted but ultimately not winning, these were, the Asthma in Schools Programme run by Gina Eyles and the St Stephen’s Gate Medical Practice whose nurse practice team were highly-commended in the GP Team of the Year category.

Dr. Jeanine Smirl, PCN Clinical Director said  ”The secret to our success has been through a culture of not just following what everybody else does or what they do not do but finding our own way to bring stakeholders together and to make things work. Not only for the benefit of the patients but also for the 21 GP Practices and the local health system. 

This approach has involved taking measured risks, doing things that have not been done before, talking to people and organisations we have not talked to before, and having the support, commitment, and belief of those around us to make these things happen. It’s been a real team effort and I’m so proud to be part of such a forward-thinking and innovative organisation” 

Chair of OneNorwich Practices Sarah Ambrose said “2022 has been a long year for all of us, for our practices and teams to shine in this way with all the challenges they have faced is truly remarkable and I’m so proud of them”.

 Also commenting on the achievements OneNorwich Practices CEO, Janka Rodziewicz said “I am immensely proud of all our staff and PCN practices who have been operating under very difficult circumstances, but they have risen to the challenge and have proved that working together innovatively and courageously can bring real results for patients and practices across Norwich”

Pictured below and representing Norwich PCN at the GP Awards 2022 L to R are:  James Belton, Lewis Roope, Janka Rodziewicz, Sarah Ambrose, Dr Nick Morton, Dr Jeanine Smirl, the compere and the judge.