Our Services

Discover a range of specialized services offered by Washwood Heath Primary Care Network (PCN) that are designed to cater to the unique needs of our diverse patient community. Each service is meticulously crafted to provide comprehensive, patient-centric care, enhancing well-being and promoting better health outcomes. From addressing the broader social determinants of health through our Adult Social Prescribing program, to extending access to healthcare beyond regular hours with our Extended Access Service, and from personalized support and coordination of care with our Care Coordinators, to the integration of expert pharmacists within our network through the Clinical Pharmacist Service – our commitment to excellence shines through in every aspect of care we provide. Join us in embracing innovative solutions and collaborative approaches that empower you on your journey to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Services

Adult Social Prescribing Service

Washwood Heath Primary Care Network is proud to offer an Adult Social Prescribing service to our patients. This program aims to address the broader social determinants of health and well-being by connecting adult individuals with a range of community resources, activities, and support networks. Through this service, we seek to enhance the overall quality of life for our patients and promote holistic health.

Learn More About Adult Social Prescribing

Purpose:

The purpose of the Adult Social Prescribing service is to recognize that health is influenced by a multitude of factors beyond medical conditions. These factors may include loneliness, isolation, financial struggles, housing problems, employment issues, and other non-medical challenges. Social Prescribing acknowledges that addressing these underlying issues can significantly impact a person’s health and well-being. By connecting patients with appropriate support services, we aim to empower them to take control of their health and make positive lifestyle changes.

Benefits:

Improved Well-Being: Social Prescribing helps individuals overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation by fostering connections within the community.

  • Enhanced Mental Health: Engaging in social activities and being part of supportive networks can positively impact mental health and reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Empowerment: Patients gain a sense of empowerment by being actively involved in their well-being and making positive lifestyle changes.
  • Holistic Approach: By addressing social and lifestyle factors, the program complements medical treatments, leading to more comprehensive healthcare outcomes.
  • Reduced Healthcare Demand: Addressing non-medical factors can prevent the escalation of health issues, leading to potential reductions in healthcare utilization.

Referral Procedure:

Referring to the Adult Social Prescribing service is a straightforward process:

  • Patient Identification: Our healthcare professionals identify adult patients who may benefit from social prescribing during their consultations.
  • Discussion and Consent: The patient is informed about the program and its potential benefits. If they express interest, their consent to participate is obtained.
  • Assessment: A trained Social Prescribing Link Worker conducts an assessment to understand the patient’s needs and goals.
  • Personalized Plan: Based on the assessment, the Link Worker collaborates with the patient to create a personalized social prescription plan.
  • Connection to Resources: The Link Worker connects the patient with relevant community resources, support groups, and activities based on their interests and goals.
  • Follow-Up: Regular follow-up sessions are scheduled to track progress, provide ongoing support, and make adjustments to the plan if needed.

At Washwood Heath PCN, we believe that social prescribing plays a vital role in empowering our adult patients to lead fulfilling lives and improve their overall health and well-being. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting each individual on their journey to a healthier and happier life.

Services

Extended Access Service

The Extended Access Service provided by Washwood Heath Primary Care Network is designed to offer increased access to healthcare services beyond regular working hours and on weekends. This service aims to provide greater flexibility and convenience for patients, ensuring that they can receive timely medical attention when they need it most.

Learn More Extended Access Service

Benefits:

  • Extended Availability: The Extended Access Service provides additional hours for patients to access healthcare, including evenings and weekends, accommodating various schedules and urgent medical needs.
  • Timely Care: Patients can receive timely care for acute health issues, preventing conditions from worsening or becoming more complex.
  • Convenience: Offering extended hours means that patients can attend appointments without disrupting their work or personal commitments.
  • Continuity of Care: The service is an extension of the primary care provided by Washwood Heath PCN, ensuring continuity of care for patients who are familiar with their regular healthcare providers.
  • Reduced Pressure on Emergency Services: By providing accessible healthcare outside regular hours, the service helps alleviate pressure on emergency departments, enabling them to focus on critical cases.

Services Offered: The Extended Access Service covers a range of medical services, including but not limited to:

  • Acute Illness Management: Treatment for minor injuries, infections, flu-like symptoms, and other non-life-threatening conditions.
  • Chronic Condition Management: Monitoring and management of ongoing health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.
  • Urgent Care: Prompt attention to urgent medical concerns that cannot wait until regular clinic hours.
  • Advice and Consultations: Medical advice, consultations, and follow-up appointments for various health issues.
  • Prescriptions and Referrals: Issuance of prescriptions and referrals for further specialized care if necessary.

Referral Procedure: To access the Extended Access Service, patients can follow these steps:

  • Contact Washwood Heath PCN: Patients can call the designated contact number or visit the PCN’s website to check the availability of Extended Access appointments.
  • Appointment Booking: If available, patients can book an appointment during the extended hours, choosing a time that suits their needs.
  • Identification and Consent: Patients may need to provide identification and confirm their registration with Washwood Heath PCN.
  • Attend Appointment: Patients attend their appointment at the designated Extended Access clinic.

The Extended Access Service at Washwood Heath PCN is an invaluable resource for patients, ensuring they have access to healthcare when they need it most and promoting a healthier community through enhanced medical care and convenience.

Services

Care Coordinator Service

The Care Coordinators service at Washwood Heath PCN plays a vital role in ensuring that patients with complex health conditions receive comprehensive and integrated care. By offering personalized support, coordination, and empowerment, Care Coordinators contribute to improved health outcomes and enhanced overall well-being for the patients they serve.

Learn More Care Coordinator

Key Responsibilities of Care Coordinators:

  • Assessment and Care Planning: Care Coordinators conduct thorough assessments of patients’ health and social needs, identifying areas where additional support and interventions are required. They work with the patient and their family to develop personalized care plans that address these specific needs.
  • Coordination of Services: Care Coordinators act as liaisons between the patient, primary care providers, specialists, community services, and other healthcare professionals. They ensure that information is shared effectively, facilitating communication and collaboration among different care providers.
  • Medication Management: Care Coordinators assist patients in managing their medications effectively, ensuring adherence to prescribed treatments and minimizing the risk of adverse drug interactions.
  • Health Education and Support: Care Coordinators provide patients with valuable health education, empowering them to take an active role in managing their health conditions. They also offer emotional and practical support to patients and their families during their healthcare journey.
  • Home Visits and Assessments: Care Coordinators may conduct home visits for patients who are housebound or have mobility challenges. This helps assess the patient’s living conditions and identify any barriers to accessing healthcare services.
  • Referrals and Access to Services: Care Coordinators facilitate referrals to specialist services, community resources, and support groups, ensuring that patients have access to all the necessary resources for their well-being.
  • Care Transitions: When patients move between healthcare settings (e.g., hospital to home), Care Coordinators ensure smooth transitions, preventing gaps in care and reducing the risk of readmissions.

Referral Procedure: Patients may be referred to the Care Coordinators service in the following ways:

  • By their primary care physician or healthcare provider, who identifies the patient’s complex medical needs and recommends involvement with a Care Coordinator.
  • Through self-referral or by expressing the need for additional support and coordination to their healthcare team.

Services

The Clinical Pharmacist Service

The Clinical Pharmacist Service offered by Washwood Primary Care Network (PCN) is a specialized program that integrates pharmacists as essential members of the primary care team. These clinical pharmacists work collaboratively with healthcare providers to optimize medication management, improve patient safety, and enhance the quality of care provided to patients within the network.

Learn More Clinical Pharmacist Service

Purpose: The primary purpose of the Clinical Pharmacist Service is to enhance patient care by leveraging the unique expertise of pharmacists. Clinical pharmacists are well-versed in medication management and can play a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive safe, effective, and appropriate medications. By working closely with healthcare teams, they contribute to better patient outcomes and support the overall goals of the primary care network.

 

Key Responsibilities of Clinical Pharmacists:

  • Medication Reviews: Clinical pharmacists conduct comprehensive medication reviews for patients, ensuring that prescribed medications are suitable for their medical conditions and that there are no potential drug interactions or adverse effects.
  • Medication Optimization: Based on their expertise, clinical pharmacists make recommendations to optimize medication regimens, including adjustments to dosages, changes in medications, or suggestions for more cost-effective alternatives.
  • Medication Adherence Support: Clinical pharmacists help patients understand the importance of medication adherence and provide strategies to improve compliance with prescribed treatments.
  • Chronic Disease Management: Clinical pharmacists play a key role in managing chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and others. They monitor patients’ progress, provide education, and assist in achieving treatment goals.
  • Polypharmacy Management: For patients taking multiple medications, clinical pharmacists ensure that there are no duplications, contradictions, or unnecessary prescriptions, thereby reducing the risk of medication-related problems.
  • Prescribing Authority: In some cases, clinical pharmacists may have the authority to prescribe medications or adjust dosages within established guidelines, which allows for more streamlined care.
  • Patient Education: Clinical pharmacists educate patients on the proper use of medications, potential side effects, and strategies to manage them effectively.
  • Collaboration with Healthcare Team: Clinical pharmacists actively engage with the primary care team, including physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, to share their expertise and contribute to integrated patient care.

Referral Procedure: Patients may be referred to the Clinical Pharmacist Service in the following ways:

  • Through their primary care physician or healthcare provider, who identifies the need for medication optimization or additional medication-related support.
  • By self-referral, expressing the desire to receive medication counseling or a medication review.

The Clinical Pharmacist Service at Washwood Primary Care Network adds a valuable dimension to patient care, ensuring that medication-related aspects are well-managed and coordinated with other healthcare interventions. By having clinical pharmacists as part of the team, the network can provide more comprehensive and personalized care to its patients.

Services

East Locality Hub Services

The East Locality HUB offers a range of specialized healthcare services and referral processes to address various medical needs. From GP slots available for direct face-to-face bookings through clinical systems to specialized clinics like Gynaecology, Paediatric Asthma, Eczema, Occupational Therapy, Diabetes, Adults Respiratory, and Consultant Paediatrician services. Each clinic caters to specific patient requirements, providing expert care, assessments, and treatments. Patients can benefit from direct reviews by specialized consultants, streamlined appointment booking, and thorough assessments. These services aim to ensure efficient and comprehensive healthcare delivery, enhancing patient well-being and quality of life.

Learn More East Locality Hub Service

GP Slots

Available to book from 9.00am each morning on EMIS and 10am on System one.

Direct face to face booking through clinical system

Gynaecology Apts

The referrals we would like to see are for patients with complex incontinence, voiding problems, neurogenic bladder, prolapse requiring pessary service or wanting surgical intervention.

Some of the potential benefits referring into this service are outlined below:

  1. Direct review by Consultant Gynaecologist without waiting for the appointment in secondary care.
  2. Appropriate primary assessment if required and follow up by the same Consultant
  3. If any further tests would be required such as urodynamics, USS pelvis, flow rate and PVR etc will be organised by Consultant Gynaecologist herself
  4. Pessaries inserted during consultation (different sizes and shapes will be available). If patient would require or wish surgical invention consent will be gained inclinicand surgery date arranged at secondary care by Consultant Gynaecologist

Direct face to face booking through clinical system

Paediatric Asthma

  1. Children under 16 with complex history of Asthma
  2. GP/ Practice Nurses review the patients and identify them as Amber or Red
  3. Children under 16 with complex history of Asthma
  4. Book appointment with Asthma Specialist Nurse on every Tuesday for follow up
  5. Clinics open from 9AM till 3PM on both clinical systems.

Direct face to face booking through clinical system

Paediatric Eczema clinic

ANY CHILD in practices (under 16 years) with ECZEMA who would benefit from SPECIALIST DERMATOLOGY NURSE EDUCATION +/- optimisation of their management plan. We are happy to see mild/moderate eczema as well as severe, if you feel this would help the patient, with the aim of equipping family with the skills to manage their child’s eczema long term and prevent deterioration.

Direct face to face booking through clinical system

Occupational Therapy service

Citizens with a Social Care need, for example struggling with care, functional difficulties at home, loss of independence, home environment impacting on wellbeing and safety, struggling to complete activities of daily living.

  1. Practices identify their patients who needs intervention as defined in the inclusion criteria.
  2. Book appointment with OT service on every Monday
  3. Clinics open from 9.00AM till 12.00PM on both clinical systems for bookings
  4. Walk-in service available from 2pm till 4pm on every Monday for patients to attend Washwood heath health and well-being centre.

Direct face to face booking through clinical system

Diabetes Service

East locality Diabetes Service commenced during November 2023. The clinics are based at Alpha Medical Practice and offers appointments on Monday & Tuesday every week. Patients will be seen face-to-face and occasional telephone triage for patients who were seen previously in the clinic.

  • Patients suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
  • Sub-optimal/poor control of Blood Sugars
  • Patients at risk of Hypos
  • Clinician’s Discretion

Practices to identify and refer eligible patients as defined in the inclusion criteria.

To refer – Practices to book patients on to the ‘East Locality Diabetes Triage Slot only’ from their clinical system. The slots are available to both EMIS & S1 practices on Monday & Tuesday.

Triage appointment only to book through clinical system

Contact Us

(0121) 328 1174

38 Havelock Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B8 1RT 

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