Carlisle and Rural

Dr Robert Westgate said: "Carlisle Healthcare initially formed following the merger of 3 long standing general practices in Carlisle in 2016. We currently serve approximately 38,000 patients from our three sites across the city. We have purpose built premises in Eden Street, North Carlisle, St Paul’s Square in the city centre, and our head office based at Carlisle Healthcare South, Locke Road, Durranhill Industrial Estate. The PCN now also includes Spencer Street Surgery.

"We are a GP training practice and also have learners from many clinical disciplines. We have embraced the opportunities of the Primary Care Network contract and now have a workforce including clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, occupational therapists, musculoskeletal practitioners, mental health workers, paramedics and care co-ordinators as well as the more traditional primary care GP, nurse and practitioner roles.

"Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible and patient centred healthcare in a way which is caring, efficient and innovative."
 

Dr Mark Alban said: “Carlisle Rural PCN, which covers Brampton and Longtown, is the second smallest in the country at just over 20,000 patients covers a large and sparsely populated 600 square mile territory in the very north eastern corner of Cumbria.  It borders Scotland and Northumberland to the north and east, the M6 motorway to the west and the  Eden valley to the south.  Eighty percent of the PCN population is registered at Brampton, the other fifth at Longtown. We are a two practice PCN. 

"Through additional role reimbursement we have been able to offer our patients a number of Advanced care roles such as Nurse Practitioners, a First Contact physiotherapist and Pharmacist.  We have also employed pharmacy technicians, Barnados (childrens) Link workers (social prescribers), a small personalised care team and a mental health practitioner, all of whom have filled valuable gaps in our health offer. The roles are well integrated into our practice teams and provide a seamless service to our patients.  We are enthusiastic about the future and see particular promise in our exceptional Frailty team and expanding social prescribing workforce, while also recognising that there is much more to be done.

“Looking ahead we need to start thinking hard about population health and helping people to help themselves by making better choices in terms of consumption and activity. We are working with partners in other parts of the Integrated Care system such as Community teams, Social Care and third sector providers to identify how we do this by designing support for our local area specifically as well as tapping into wider initiatives with other areas of North Cumbria.  We recognise that the task ahead in terms of population health is difficult but we are excited by the opportunities and in working together with all parts of our locality to improve all outcomes for people, not just health.”