The population of East Warrington Primary Care Network has high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with many living in areas of significant deprivation. We are passionate to improve the health of our patients and are determined to make sure everyone with high blood pressure is diagnosed and treated.
East Warrington PCN expressed an interest to participate (and was successful) in the CLEAR Living Well CVD prevention project commissioned by NHS England. The aim of the project is to enhance screening and identification of new cases of hypertension, standardise and streamline hypertension management and improve treatment rates through implementing new pathways.
The project started in 2022 and we are now rolling out Phase 2 (as of August 24). This phase involves using a new approach to annual blood pressure reviews by using more digital methods (text messages ,online forms) to communicate with patients.
This has a number of benefits such as:
- Stops patients having to call the surgery and wait on hold to arrange appointments and speeds up the review process.
- Allows patients to send us results at times more convenient to them, without needing time off work to attend appointments.
- It increases the number of face-to-face appointments available with our doctors and nurses. This allows patients to access us when they need us most.
Padgate Medical Centre and Fearnhead Cross Medical Centre have come together with partner organisations to develop a Chronic Pain Programme for women over the age of 18.
The programme starts with patients enrolling onto a Basic Pain Management Course delivered by the Long - term conditions lead at Warrington Disability Partnership, along with the Social Prescribing Link worker and Health and Wellbeing Coach for East Warrington PCN.
The course covers several topics such as sleep, relaxation , exercise , food and medication over a period of 8 sessions , to help understand how these factors influence how people feel about pain.
The programme also involves a review by the Multi - Disciplinary Team (MDT) , which is made up of the following professionals and led by a lead GP from your practice.
- GP from your registered practice
- Pain Consultant from Warrington & Halton Hosptials NHS Trust
- Clinical Pharmacist (GP Practice based)
- Social prescribing Link Worker
- Health & wellbeing Coach
- Talking Matters Warrington
The MDT meets virtually to review the patients medical histroy and agree upon the best course of action to help them manage their pain. Patients are not directly involved with the meeting , but they will be asked to complete a survey at the beginning of the programme to provide infomation on their current situation and what they want to achieve, which will be fed back to the MDT.
If you are a patient that fits the above criteria and would like help to manage your pain , please contact your surgery directly and ask to speak to Cameron Woodward or Abbie Flanagan regarding the Chronic Pain Programme.