There are currently 37 GP practices, serving a registered population of around 247,000 patients. The 37 practices are divided into networks. There are seven networks across the district, and they are a great example of partnership working, with all practices actively working together in a local network to support each other in achieving better health outcomes for patients. Understanding referral and prescribing patterns and decisions and sharing best practice in and across primary care.
Networks provide a forum where all practices can take ownership, contribute to and shape the network and Greater Huddersfield-wide commissioning agendas ensuring appropriate consistency, shared learning and innovation. We believe that it is vital to maintain a strong and purposeful emphasis on enhancing general practice capacity and capability.
Junction Surgery is part of the Tolson Care Partnership Primary Care Network which includes the following surgeries:
- Dalton Surgery
- Waterloo Practice
- Almondbury Surgery
- The University Medical Centre
- Greenhead Family Doctors
- The Whitehouse Centre
- Rose Surgery
Tolson Care Partnership have engaged several alternative healthcare professionals such as Dieticians, Health & Well-being coaches, Social Prescribing Link Workers, First Contact Practitioners and Mental Health link workers.
Dieticians -
Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public-health level. They use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.Health and wellbeing coaches (HWBCs) will predominately use health coaching skills to support people to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become active participants in their care so that they can reach their own health and wellbeing goals. They may also provide access to self-management education, peer support and social prescribing.
Health coaches will support people to self-identify existing issues and encourage proactive prevention of new and existing illnesses. This approach is based on using strong communication and negotiation skills and supports personal choice and positive risk taking.
They will work alongside people to coach and motivate them through multiple sessions, supporting them to identify their needs, set goals, and help them to implement their personalised health and care plan.
Social Prescribing Link Workers -
Social prescribing can happen by primary care health workers referring people local services themselves, or by referring their patient to a link worker. Link workers are medically trained and specialise in referring people to services outside the NHS which offer the opportunity for health, wellbeing, and practical and emotional support.
Link workers are also referred to as social prescribing workers, support brokers and community navigators.
First Contact Practitioners
A First Contact Practitioner service is provided by a registered health professional who is the first point of contact for patients, providing new expertise and increased capacity to general practice and providing patients with faster access to the right care.
Mental Health Link Workers
Mental health link workers support people experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing - for example low mood, depression, anxiety, loneliness.