Sarah Thomas (Practice Manager Lead)
Primary Care Service Development Manager Andrew Carrick
Overview of the Cluster
Bridgend North cluster has seven practices serving approximately 47,600 patients in a region of ex-mining South Wales valleys. It's an area of high social deprivation with many health inequalities where 66% of the population live in the most deprived 40% of areas in Wales.
One of eight clusters within Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend North Cluster is made up of seven main general practices, three branch surgeries and two dispensing practices.
Rural and urban areas with pockets of severe deprivation, unemployment / social issues, alcohol / drug abuse.
High rates of chronic diseases in comparison to other clusters in particular COPD and CVD. High rates of smoking and obesity.
The cluster is made up of the following GP practices:
Bron y Garn Surgery
Cwm Garw Practice
Llynfi Surgery
Nantymoel Surgery
Ogmore Vale Surgery
Tynycoed Surgery
Woodlands Surgery
The Cluster also includes nine nursing/residential homes, one community hospital situated at Maesteg, thirteen community pharmacies, five dental practices and seven optometrists. Working within the cluster are partners from social services, the third sector (Care Navigators) BCBC (Local Area Co-ordinators) and CTM health board.
Individual Cluster Plans and Reports
Bridgend North - update September 2023
What we are working on?
Technology
The cluster have embraced developments in new technology to improve patient access to information and medical services. The implementation of video consulting and the ‘my surgery app’ provide patients with a variety of ways to manage their health care needs.
Prescribing
The cluster are working collaboratively with the Medicines Management team through the prescription ordering hub. This provides patients with another form of access and alleviates pressures in primary care by directing patients to an alternative source of contact, freeing up valuable time for reception staff to deal with other calls. The prescription ordering hub will also support cost saving activities in relation to medicines waste and more cost effective prescribing.
Care and Repair
Continue to fund and develop the Care and Repair Healthy Homes project to support the patient population to remain independent and safe in their own homes for as long as possible.
Ty Elis – Counselling Service
Continue to fund and develop the counselling service to improve patient access to mental health and wellbeing services. Providing structured therapeutic counselling interventions to relieve persons who are emotionally distressed and to improve coping strategies and resilience in individuals.
First Contact Physiotherapy
Developed first contact locality-based physiotherapy service to ease pressures and improve sustainability of GP services by providing the right care by the right person at the right time.
What we have already done
Point-Of-Care C-Reactive Protein Testing (CRP)
Rolled out CRP testing to reduce inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics and early identification of severe community acquired pneumonia.
Cluster Pharmacists
The cluster funds 2 pharmacists to support and progress the development of pharmaceutical services and the integrated medicine management agenda within the cluster by ensuring safe, evidence based and cost-effective primary care prescribing within the cluster GP practices.
Primary Care Cluster Nursing Team
Development of the Primary Care Cluster Nursing Team to support the review of housebound patients living with chronic conditions and provide proactive and relevant support to help individuals to manage their conditions.
Dermatology
Funded dermatoscopy courses via Cardiff University and dermatoscopes for GP practices. Improving links with secondary care dermatology services and improving access to timely diagnosis of skin cancer.
Workflow
Cluster invested in HERE Workflow to establish mechanisms to effectively manage patient correspondence and reduce the workload for GP’s.
Mental Health pathway
Development of a pathway for patients that have mental health needs to ensure they can access relevant support as needed.
Fractionated exhaled nitric oxide testing (FENO)
Funded FENO testing machines for the diagnosis and management of asthma.
Future priorities for the Cluster
Population Behaviours / Lifestyle
Address population behaviours/lifestyle choices such as smoking/substance misuse/obesity/lack of exercise/poor diet. Explore resources available in 3rd sector to help
co-ordinate activities to address population lifestyle choices/risky behaviours.
Updated 03/10/2023