Here’s the latest round-up of news from Coventry & Warwickshire IPC for August and September.
In this issue:
- Opportunities arising from the NHS 10-year plan
- Clinic locations wanted for existing and new services
- Primary Care Awards coming soon
- Service updates
- Training Hub news
Opportunities arising from the NHS 10-year plan
The NHS 10-Year Plan presents an opportunity for primary care to play a significant role in the provider landscape. Having already established IPC to enable collaborative working across general practice, we are ideally placed to work with system partners to enhance patient care and support the three shifts from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention.
The plan highlights the need for GPs to work across larger geographies and share functions such as back office, digital transformation, estates, data analytics and quality improvement. We are already doing some of this through our place-based federations and at scale partnerships as well as system-wide through IPC. This helps givr GP practices across Coventry & Warwickshire a voice in these developments and opportunities to be involved in delivering at scale contracts, while retaining the vital local focus we know patients value. As a non-profit making organisation, any contracts secured by IPC support ongoing investment in healthcare in Coventry & Warwickshire.
Alongside working proactively with system and national bodies to understand the next steps for the NHS 10 Year Plan, we continue to pursue new at scale contracts which might otherwise be delivered outside primary care.
For the latest news, keep an eye on our website and LinkedIn page.
Clinic locations wanted
Could your practice host clinics for IPC services? If so, we’d like to hear from you.
Both our Primary Care Dermatology and Primary Care Gynaecology services are looking for more sites to extend the options available for patients and to respond to growing demand. We are particularly keen to hear from GP practices in Coventry.
As we look to expand services, we will need further clinic locations and would also be interested to hear from practices that may be able to host non-patient-facing staff.
Please get in touch with our service delivery team to find out more via swg-tr.primarycaredermatology@nhs.net
IPC set to launch awards to recognise primary care
There are plenty of examples of great work happening in primary care across Coventry & Warwickshire, and it’s important for our staff, partners and communities that we recognise and celebrate these successes.
We are currently working on a new awards scheme, due to be launched in September, which will shine a spotlight on various aspects of the fantastic work going on in GP practices and PCNs across the system.
To be the first to hear about the awards, register your interest by emailing info@cw-ipc.co.uk and we’ll be in touch when there’s more news.
Service updates
Primary Care Dermatology praised by patients
Patient feedback gathered during the first three months of Primary Care Dermatology shows high satisfaction with the service.
Over 80 patients have given feedback, almost 97% of which rated their experience as either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ – a huge credit to the clinical and administrative teams, and hub locations involved.
- 99% rated PCD as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ at making them feel at ease, showing interest in their concerns, and explaining things clearly.
- 90% said the service was ‘good’ or ‘very good’ at helping them manage their health.
- 89% felt the service was either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ at making a plan of action with them
Comments included:
“The whole service from GP to appointment to arranging a surgery was excellent.”
“Excellent service. Very efficient and well organised. Very compassionate doctor.”
“Well run facility, very professional GP. Quick appointment, good alternative to a hospital visit, felt very reassured and treated with respect.”
PCD service reminder
Primary Care Dermatology covers a range of routine dermatology conditions and is suitable for patients aged 16 and over. Full details are included on this GP referral poster
Please include photographs with referrals where possible. This supports accurate diagnosis and helps ensure patients are directed through the correct pathway from the start.
Clinic Locations: the full list of clinic locations is available on the dermatology service page. Please note we are looking for an extra site in Coventry.
If you have any queries, please contact the PCD team from Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm on: swg-tr.primarycaredermatology@nhs.net or 01926 698299
Primary Care Gynaecology strengthens secondary care collaboration
Representatives from the Primary Care Gynaecology Team are now part of a networking group which brings together gynaecology clinical and operational leads from each trust. These productive meetings enable information sharing about throughput rates, lead times and any issues that need resolving. They also provide an important opportunity to remind trust colleagues about the PCGS.
PCGS clinical lead, Jill Crowfoot, has also been appointed as Clinical Convenor for the Gynaecology Network. She will be working closely with both Primary and Secondary Care colleagues, focusing on key pathways, beginning with the Post Menopause Bleeding Pathway.
Digital Champions Update
EMIS/OPTUM Training: Free places are still available on the remaining 3 EMIS Expert training sessions. Booking details:
- 18th September – Templates, Protocols & Referrals
- 16th December – Advanced Protocols and Workflow
- 11th February – Resource Tools & Advanced Searches
Strengthening NHS App uptake: Targeted activities, including local drop-in clinics for patients (see case study), and multi-language support for asylum seekers continue to improve NHS App uptake . Support is tailored to individual practice or PCN needs.
PCIT: Champions are also supporting practices with PCIT implementation including help with templates or the referral tree.
EMIS support: Digital Champions have also supported all PCNs with the inclusion of EMIS clinical services and EMIS search and reporting. We have created a WhatsApp group following the PCN sessions to help support PCN managers.
For help with these or other digital needs, contact the Digital Champions: contact@cwdigitalchampions.nhs.uk
Primary Care Surge Service
All six Primary Care Surge sessions per day are now being offered as face-to-face although practices can choose to have a remote session if they prefer.
The service is available from 8am-6.30pm Monday – Friday and can be booked by contacting:
Email: crgpa.pcsurge@nhs.net Tel: 02477 710977
Respiratory@Home for Covid positive and respiratory patients
A reminder that the Respiratory@Home is open for both respiratory patients and for clinically vulnerable patients with Covid. Clinically vulnerable/Covid positive patients can self-refer via
https://selfreferral.happyhealthylives.uk
To date, 99% of those responding to our feedback questionnaire rate the service good or very good.
Coventry & Warwickshire Training Hub
Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub’s NHS England contract has been extended to March 2027.
This continuation reflects the value of Training Hubs in strengthening the general practice workforce – by attracting, supporting, developing and retaining staff at every stage of their career.
For more on this and other Training Hub news, view their latest newsletter is now available to view here: https://www.cwtraininghub.co.uk/august-newsletter-2025-cwth/
