East Cowes GP surgery has responded to an increase in demand for their services and challenges in recruiting nurses for the practice by creating an innovative partnership with the community nursing team at Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

In a year-long trial, a team from the island’s NHS Trust will work closely with the GP surgery to help make sure that there are enough nurses to care for their patients and support the people of East Cowes.

Pete Boyle, Practice Manager for East Cowes Surgery said: “Over the past few years, like all GP practices, this surgery has seen an increase in demand, and we are determined to find ways in which we can continue to provide the best possible service for all our patients. Working with the team from Isle of Wight NHS Trust to develop this new model for delivering nursing care and give us the team we need is very exciting.”

The project will focus on the creation of an integrated community nursing team to provide nursing support and supervision in East Cowes.

Nicola Longson, Director of Operations Community at Isle of Wight NHS Trust said: “We all understand that recruitment and retention of people on the island can be challenging and are really pleased to have the opportunity to work with East Cowes Surgery on how we can use the expertise of our team to support the surgery, both with front line nursing provision and with supervision and support for team members. Creating a joint workforce will really benefit those people who rely on the specialist support community and practice nurses provide.”

Over the coming months this newly formed team will also look to identify new approaches to reduce waste, whilst improving joint working and communication across different services to develop a supportive joint workforce for the future. They will focus on linking team and services together to increase effectiveness, reduce overlaps in care and identify other opportunities that working together in this way might offer.

Tracy Savage, Locality Director, Primary Care & Head of Medicines Optimisation, at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board said: “To create sustainable healthcare solutions for the Isle of Wight providers must find innovative ways like this to work in collaboration. This is a great example of a joined-up approach with the patient at the heart of decision making. We hope to see this approach replicated across the island and beyond.”

Wessex Local Medical Committees added: “The LMC supports collaborative working which this is a great example of.  Anything that can enhance the primary and secondary care interface for the benefit of patients and the providers of healthcare is welcomed.”

Published: Jun 19, 2023