We are pleased to announce that we have received formal approval for our network Upper Don. This comprises of Valley Medical Centre, Deepcar Medical Centre and Oughtibridge Surgery. Together we work for 21,000 patients with numbers rising due to the new residential building. Our successes as a Neighbourhood can now continue under the new contract as a Network.
We have links with many local organisations, faith groups, People Keeping Well and South Yorkshire Housing Association. We acknowledge that our community has a rich resource in its local voluntary groups and organisations that provide many great services to our local population. Our patients can access shared services across our geographical boundary to improve their health and wellbeing. These include the local community run Leisure Centre, Dementia Café, Community Support Worker, Sexual Health Services, Diabetic Eye screening, Occupational Health, Food bank, Social Café, Addiction Recovery, Valley React, lunch clubs, mother and toddler groups, sports teams and facilities, Drama groups, Young People/children’s clubs, dance classes, Stocksbridge Walkers are welcome, Community Carers group, the Community Health Forum and many others. (Apologies if missed).
Locally a new Diabetes Prevention and awareness project has been launched to engage all ages in providing information on healthy living. Our practices are engaged in the Working Win initiative to help people find work and stay in work that may have limiting health conditions. This is run by South Yorkshire Housing Association. The network already shares a Community Support Worker Amy May, and we will soon be sharing a community pharmacist to support the doctors with Pharmaceutical and Medicine Reviews. The three managers from each surgery work closely together to benefit our patients and each practice has a Patient Participation group where all patients are welcome.
Our long term aim is to bring more services closer to our patients and by working together we will ensure there are equitable access opportunities for our patients. We have appointed a Clinical Director to our Network, Dr Haymesh Patel from Valley Medical Centre who will represent our practices and patients at City wide meetings.