NCGPA in 2025
As we come towards the end of the year, there is no better time to reflect upon what we have achieved in 2024.
The landscape across the UK healthcare sector is challenging, with increasing demand, staffing issues, and a lack of financial support affecting everyone. General practice has not been immune to these problems.
Despite the challenges faced, we have continued to deliver for our patients across our practices and PCNs. Here are some of the highlights from the past year.
Spirometry
In collaboration with Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, we launched a spirometry backlog service dedicated to addressing delays in patient assessments. Spirometry is a simple test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions by measuring how much air users can breathe out.
These clinics aim to:
- Ensure timely diagnosis and management of respiratory conditions.
- Reduce waiting times across Nottingham city.
With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death and serious ill-health in Nottingham, early diagnosis is key in managing the condition.
Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC)
On the theme of lung health, early in the year, we continued our work from 2023 on the Targeted Lung Health Checks in the early months of the year.
Our smoking cessation team (now moved to Thriving Nottingham) delivered free NHS lung health checks for people aged 55 – 75 with a history of smoking. The TLHC helped detect lung issues early, including potential signs of lung cancer, where early diagnosis can lead to simpler and more effective treatment.
Practice provision
In difficult conditions, our practice teams have continued delivering for patients. Across the four NCGPA-run practices (Bilborough Medical Centre, Grange Farm Medical Centre, Greendale Primary Care Centre, Parliament Street Medical Street), our teams have delivered huge numbers of important health checks, services, and appointments for their patients.
They have also implemented a number of measures to help make the process of making appointments easier, such as implementing online registrations and the introduction of Accurx.
MMR vaccination programme
In March, several cases of measles were found in the NG7 area following the declaration of a national incident.
Eight GP practices based in NG7 received £1000 funding to provide additional short-term support to increase MMR vaccination uptake. This included contacting eligible patients ages 0-18 years with outstanding MMR vaccinations, providing myth busting advice and supporting conversations around vaccine hesitancy.
This project saw over 7,000 patients contacted and an additional 355 MMR vaccinations delivered. To make every contact count, other eligible vaccinations were also delivered at the same time.
Travel Well
We worked with partners including Nottingham City Council to launch the Travel Well pilot project in January.
This programme, being trailed in Nottingham with the view of expanding nationally, aims to get walking and cycling into people’s daily routines. Travel Well looks to promote these activities by showing how fun they can be and highlight the physical and mental health benefits that come from this type of exercise.
Focused in areas Aspley, Beechdale, Bilborough, Bulwell, Sneinton, St Ann’s, and Strelley, the project offers a variety of free activities, including wellness social walking group, Nordic walking groups in Bulwell and St Ann’s, group cycling lessons, one-to-one cycling training, bike-building workshops, and cycle repair skills sessions.
The programme recently featured on BBC Radio Nottingham where Travel Well participant Rosie spoke about how it has helped turn her life around.
Supporting the workforce of the future
We have continued to support our staff be the best version of themselves and make the most out their careers in healthcare. We do this through on the job training, putting on development sessions, and establishing a clear pathway to senior positions.
For example, our pharmacy team saw two Trainee Pharmacists complete their training with NCGPA and graduate to now be working as fully-registered pharmacists. They also recently put on a development day for pharmacy staff across our practices and PCNs. You can read more about that here: News – Nottingham City GP Alliance
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These highlights are just the tip of the iceberg for the great work being done by our teams across the city. Here’s to this work continuing to evolve and help more people in 2025.