Our latest blog from Bradford District and Craven community of practice for primary care through a community lens — a collaborative, evolving space where professionals learn, connect, and drive real change in healthcare access, service integration, and patient outcomes.
Over the last 8 months, our community of practice has had a real focus on change, and in that time, we have seen even more change come along the tracks with a whole raft of health system reconfigurations and the launch of the NHS 10-year plan.
General Practice continues to evolve in this new environment taking heed of the three shifts set out in the plan
- From hospital to community
- From sickness to prevention
- From analogue to digital
Our group has representatives across the primary care spectrum in Bradford, and we have been sharing and supporting each other to see how we can adapt our practice to achieve better results for patients. We have explored digital access systems which are being implemented at pace, we have explored how the VCS can help with some of the challenges and opportunities in our local neighbourhoods and we have spent some time looking at revolutionary models of care that can positively impact some of the key performance metrics used in West Yorkshire.
A great example is the Ridge practice in Bradford looking at frequent attenders and running an intervention to try and reduce this demand as 2% of the patients on the list take 14% of the GP appointments offered over a year. Frequent re-appearance suggests traditional appointments or consultations are not resolving the presenting patients’ issues. Offering Joint GP and social prescriber appointments to a group of patients has proved worthwhile, integrating medical and social care to provide holistic and patient-centred care. This approach involves GPs and social prescribers working together in a coordinated manner during patient appointments, particularly for patients with complex social needs that affect their health and well-being. The project is in its early days, but anecdotal data suggest this is very positive for patients and practice teams – watch this space for more details!
In Keighley, local GP practice Modality AWC have seen big improvements in baby immunisations by creating a welcoming and accessible community space in a local shopping centre, providing a walk in service for parents to bring their babies and children along to get immunised. This flexible approach along with enhanced messaging has proved very effective as the local GP group has hit its 90% target for the first time in 20 years. A way of working that includes VCSE support, accessible clinics, and consistent messaging has potential to work in other parts of West Yorkshire where low uptake of childhood immunisations is a continuing issue. You can read more here Local doctor spearheading improvements in Baby health – Modality AWC
In our evolving landscape we can’t stand still – we need to embrace the revolution in healthcare and make space to share our success and what works in different parts of a place like Bradford District and Craven.
Bradford District and Craven primary care through a community lens – meetings will restart in September 2025.
To join the community of practice please message Bill Graham on bill.graham2@nhs.net