Agenda item

To be presented by Dr Penny MacDonald.

Dr Penny MacDonald, Managing Partner of the Marlow Medical Group; Accountable Clinical Director for Arc Primary Care Network (PCN), GP and Chair of FedBucks, provided a presentation, appended to the minutes.  Dr Macdonald explained that Arc Bucks PCN believed that a healthy, thriving community improved health and wellbeing. People that had a connection to their community were often empowered and had more control over their health and lives which built resilience. 

The Social Prescribing team were working hard mapping local groups in the community, adding these to the directory of services on their website and actively passing on that knowledge to the local community. 

The Social Prescribers ran 10 Talking Cafés a month, including four regular weekly Cafés that were in the heart of the communities they served. These cafés were drop in Cafés that social prescribers referred into and were also open to the wider public.  Many things were discussed at the Cafés and friendships formed, often leading to individuals joining other groups together. 

Arc Bucks PCN had over 100 Community Connectors including South Bucks Paramedics, local police, nurses, and the general public. The feedback received was “we never knew that there was so much out there”. The community connectors were informed members of the community who could signpost with confidence and knew what assets there were in their local community.

If everyone knew what was out there and worked together it would create a supportive community where everyone was an included valued member, this in turn could lead to volunteering opportunities and peer support. 

Arc PNC would be grateful for support in spreading this important message across the constituencies.

Action:  All 

The Arc Bucks PCN ran Community Connector training on a regular basis to spread this message and would be delighted to invite you to join them on their journey to reach as many people as possible. Community Connector Training - Arc Bucks PCN 

Arc PCN were also looking for individuals with knowledge, who may wish to help Map what local offers were available to add to their increasing Directory of services.   To find out more, visit their website Home - Arc Bucks PCN, Email; Communications@ArcBucksPCN.org or Call 01628 405518. 

The following key points were raised in discussion:

• Michelle Bewley, Community Development Lead, advised that it was possible to sign up to Community Connector events via ‘Event brite’.
• Any suggestions for advertising/attending an event that would attract an audience would be gratefully received.
• The biggest challenge for the PCN was in recruiting and retaining staff, particularly GPs.  Dr MacDonald stressed the importance of keeping the directory up to date and having the right people trained to be able to signpost residents and, in turn, reduce the workload on the NHS.
• In response to a question on whether the success of the programme could be measured, Dr MacDonald advised that it was based on a model carried out in Frome which had seen a reduction in non-elective hospital admissions.  Dr Winchester added that loneliness levels had increased since the pandemic and that work would be carried out in Buckinghamshire to reduce the levels.
• Michelle confirmed that the PCN was aware of the Bucks Online Directory but the PCN Directory of Services came from a different angle and was a local resource.

The Chairman thanked Penny and Michelle for their contribution to the meeting and the community.