Have You Met Our Primary Care Network Team?
You might not realise it, but Gosforth and Jesmond Health is part of a bigger team.
We’re talking about Primary Care Networks (PCNs). These have been part of the NHS since 2019, but not everyone has come across them.
Simply put, PCNs help GP practices work together. This means patients can access expert services designed to keep them healthy. The goal is to provide more personal care, prevent illness, and make healthcare fairer.
In this article, we’ll explain how PCNs support GP practices in Gosforth and Jesmond—and, most importantly, how they help you.
Our Primary Care Network
In our area, we have two Primary Care Networks:
- North Gosforth, which includes Park Medical Group, Regent Medical Centre, and Brunton Park Health Centre.
- Jesmond Lower Gosforth, made up of The Grove, Roseworth Surgery, and Jesmond Health Partnership (which now includes patients from Gosforth Memorial).
Together, these networks work under the banner of Gosforth and Jesmond Health (GJH).
How It Works
Each PCN receives NHS funding to improve or expand patient services. How the money is used depends on local needs.
Here in Gosforth and Jesmond, we focus on working at scale. Instead of each practice hiring a few new staff members, we pool resources to build a team that benefits everyone. This approach allows us to provide expert services that support all our patients.
Have You Met Our Team?
Many patients first learn about PCNs when they meet our team.
You might have had a home visit or been offered an extra appointment at 200 Osborne Road through our Same Day Access team.
Maybe your last medication review was with one of our award-winning Clinical Pharmacists, or you’ve met our Social Prescribing team at a class, group, or health check.
Our priority is personalised, preventative, local care—helping people stay well, not just treating illness.
Meet Our Team
Clinical Pharmacists
Our Clinical Pharmacy team are experts in medication. They ensure every patient gets the safest, most effective treatment.
Through in-depth reviews—in practices, care homes, or remotely—they help patients understand their medication and how to take it safely. If there’s an issue, they find solutions. If there’s room for improvement, they make it happen.
In 2024, their award-winning work showed how proactive care can boost health—not just treat illness.
Social Prescribing and Wellbeing
Not all health issues can be solved with medicine. Our Social Prescribers and Wellbeing Coaches support people with all aspects of their wellbeing.
They help with mental health, isolation, exercise, weight loss, and more. With expert knowledge and strong community links, they connect patients to the best support for their needs.
Social Prescribing is about listening to what matters most and creating a personalised plan that works for each individual.
Home Visits and Same Day Access
In 2023, we launched Same Day Access, making more in-person appointments available when people need them most.
Every GP practice in Gosforth and Jesmond can use this service. Suppose a patient needs urgent care, but their practice is at capacity. In that case, they can see an Advanced Paramedic or Nurse Practitioner through the network.
We’ve also added same-day children’s clinics and a wheeze clinic to help young people manage asthma.
Our team—including Nurse Associates and Career Start Nurses for patients who can’t visit the surgery—provides home visits to assess conditions, check blood pressure, and review health. This helps ensure that healthcare is fair and accessible for everyone.
Where Next?
We’re waiting to see what direction the NHS sets for PCNs in the coming years.
Our priority is clear: we want to build on strong, local, and innovative services that promote health and wellbeing. By tackling the wider factors that impact health, we can make sure that care is fair, personalised, and effective for everyone in our community.