Three GP practices based in Warwick will offer enhanced and proactive care to their most vulnerable patients under a new scheme funded by a joint venture of local Warwick charities led by the Charity of Thomas Oken and Nicholas Eyffler.
In a joint submission between Priory Medical Centre (the lead practice) and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) the project has been awarded funding of £75,000 a year for three years to provide enhanced medical care to patients who live at Park View Care home and patients who are housebound in their own home.
Warwick Relief in Need Charity, Warwick United Charities, Warwick Provident Dispensary Charity and King Henry VIII Endowed Trust alongside the main benefactor – the Charity of Thomas Oken and Nicholas Eyffler have agreed to support the intitiative.
Due to the levels of frailty and the advanced health care needs of patients who are targeted under this scheme, they are unable to access GP services in the surgery and care tends to be reactive rather than proactive. Dr Nick Yeats, the clinical lead, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the funding for this project. It will mean better quality of care and increased patient satisfaction and if successful could potentially inform the development of similar services in future.”
This new model of care will mean that patients will be offered care from a small team of GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) who will be able to build up a relationship with patients and care home staff. Visiting once a week the team will offer an initial assessment, give clinical and medication reviews, discuss advanced care planning at end of life, as well as supporting relatives and care home staff. The ANP’s will also carry out pro-active visits to housebound patients to help prevent trips into hospital and support those returning from hospital by visiting within 48 hours. As well as the obvious benefits to patients this scheme will help reduce hospital activity and will build relationships between clinicians in primary and secondary care as SWFT will be employer of the ANPs and will offer access to a consultant geriatrician when needed.
Clive Mason the Chair of the Charity of Thomas Oken and Nicholas Eyffler said on behalf of the Trustees of all the Warwick charities involved, “We are delighted to be able to fund this project over a three year period. This is a new way of working for everyone involved and we are looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the project and supporting more proactive care for patients in CV34.”
The project started in April 2017 for patients with a CV34 postcode registered atPriory Medical Centre, Cape Road Surgery and The New Dispensary.
