HaLo Primary Care Network, St Albans
We are delighted to advise that we are now working collaboratively with two other local GP Practices. The NHS never stands still – and 2019 heralded a new idea in General Practice across England – something called Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Practices are required to collaborate in PCNs which cover between 30,000 and 50,000 patients. This is to allow sharing of ideas and resources. We have formed HaLo PCN, St Albans.
This consists of the following three surgeries:
- Harvey Group Practice
- The Lodge Health Partnership
HaLo PCN originally came into existence officially on 1/7/19 under the name HLH (Harvey, Lodge and Hatfield Road Surgery) but has since changed to its current form of the Harvey Group Practice and The Lodge Health Partnership. From then, Practice Managers, Doctors and other staff at both surgeries have been meeting together to share plans to collaborate.
We have staff members working across the PCN:
- Sandra and Katharine are our Social Prescriber. They work with vulnerable housebound patients and other people who will benefit form support and advice around social help to make sure people are getting all the support they and their carers need.
- Louisa and Victoria are our PCN Clinical Pharmacist. She joined us in January 2020. She works with practices in repeat prescription process and policy, dealing with complex medication alignment, medicines quality and safety issues and many other vital prescribing activities.
- October 2020 also saw our first contact physiotherapists also join the team – they support the patients of the two practices with musculo-skeletal issues.