Scheme aims to boost stretched East Lancashire GP practices

Darwen Healthcare and Irwell Medical Practice in Bacup are among many GP practices to experience exceptionally high demand with patients.

It has also been a challenge across Lancashire for surgeries to attract and retain new GPs as doctors look to retire or leave the profession.

In a bid to deal with the problem, the two East Lancashire practices will lead on a scheme to promote training and career opportunities with General Practice.

The 'Pennine Lancashire Enhanced Training Practice Scheme' will see the two practices support colleagues in surgeries across the area to expand the number of student nurse placements within practices and to promote Physician Associate Placements.

Physician Associates are trained practitioners who can work alongside GPs to provide medical care.

In the long term, the scheme, which has seen the two practices attract Health Education England funding, aims for GP practices to attract healthcare students to the area and consider General Practice as a career option.

Practice managers Ann Neville and Pauline Aspinall were behind the successful funding bid which will see the two practices lead and develop on the scheme.

Ms Neville, practice manager at Darwen Healthcare said the project was an exciting opportunity to help medical, nursing and other health students within their placements and allow them to see the options that a career within General Practice can bring.

She said: "We recruited a Physician Associate, Neil Sinclair who has been with the practice now for six months.

"It is clear that Neil has really helped with patient care and supported our GPs with the increased demand that we experience as a practice.

"I am hopeful that the Physician Associate role will become tried and tested within Pennine Lancashire and will benefit GPs, staff and patients alike."

Pauline Aspinall, practice manager at Irwell Medical Centre said: “By working together we can help to improve the opportunities for learning and training that medical and nursing students need.

"At the same time we hope to boost GP practices with much needed additional capacity to help manage the workload and by doing so hopefully we can contribute to improved patient care, and a better working environment for GPs and practice staff.

"We know that students who study and have work placements in the area, are more likely to stay in the area.

"Ideally we want to put East Lancashire on the map for future students to come and learn but also to stay and live here.

"The more trained and experienced staff we have the better it will be for patients and GP practices alike.”

The two practices will work with Health Education England, neighbouring Enhanced Training Practices and GP practices in Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire promoting General Practice opportunities.