A new provider of four GP practices in north east London has pledged to further develop a culture of patient and staff-led improvements and collaboration and recognise our local GPs deliver amazing services. The provider is looking to provide corporate support that will allow the GPs to deliver services in line with their aspirations.
Victoria Medical Centre in Barking, Five Elms in Dagenham, Rainham Health Centre in Rainham and Upminster Medical Centre in Upminster will join East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) from April 1, 2024.
ELFT, a provider of primary care for nearly 15 years, has a policy of empowering all of its practices to lead on improving the patient experience and close partnership working with place-based organisations across health and social care.
Bringing together over 17,500 patients and their rich experience in primary care, these practices will integrate with ELFT, an 'outstanding' Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated provider of primary, community, and mental health services. This partnership is a mutual exchange of strengths, aimed at elevating patient care and learning from each other's expertise. East London Foundation Trust will have a list size of approximately eighty-five thousand.
Dr. Mohit Venkataram, ELFT Executive Director for Commercial Services and Primary Care, highlights the essence of this partnership: "We're uniting with hardworking GP practices to enrich our understanding and delivery of patient-centred care in the community. This is a journey towards enhanced population health, rooted in the insights and strengths of each practice. Our partnership in MH and community health services will allow us to jointly deliver one stop shop services along with our GP partners in the local PCNs”.
The collaboration aligns with the NHS England Fuller stocktake report, focusing on building neighbourhood teams and streamlining access to create a closer connection with the communities. It also supports ELFT’s role as the first Marmot Trust in the country, testing the boundaries of what an NHS Trust can do to tackle some of the drivers of poor health, such as poverty and unemployment.
"Our goal is to learn as much as we contribute, valuing the strong community ties and mental health expertise these practices bring," adds Dr. Venkataram. "Their robust primary care models are integral to our vision of integrated, community-focused healthcare."
Embracing the Fuller neighbourhood model, this initiative will actively engage with the community, seeking feedback to ensure services meet local needs and aspirations. This
marks a new chapter in integrated healthcare, fostering a healthier, more connected north east London.
For queries, individuals are encouraged to contact the ELFT Primary Care Directorate at elft.primarycaredirectorate@nhs.net.