GP practices in North Somerset have formed a new primary care network (PCN) to help join up health and social care on behalf of patients.

The four practices – Clevedon Medical Centre, Portishead Medical Group, Harbourside Family Practice and Heywood Family Practice – will be working collaboratively as Gordano Valley PCN to improve the physical health, mental health and social wellbeing of their 50,000 patients.

The practices were previously part of Gordano and Mendip PCN but made the decision to become two PCNs to better serve the needs of their local populations.

Dr Karen Hathway, GP and clinical director for Gordano Valley PCN, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity. During the last six months, we have been working really closely together to deliver the successful local Covid-19 vaccination programme and this move will help strengthen this collaboration and enable us to better meet the needs of our local population.

“This new PCN will help us build on existing primary care services, working closely with community services, social care and the voluntary sector to provide more proactive, personalised and joined up services for our patients.

“We also have a fantastic social prescribing team who will be working across the four practices to support people’s health and wellbeing both practically and emotionally, particularly in light of any anxieties people may face as lockdown eases.”

Colin Bradbury, North Somerset area director for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We fully support the application for Gordano and Mendip PCN to become two separate entities.

“During the pandemic, the two PCNs have working together successfully to deliver the roll-out of the local Covid-19 vaccination programme at pace, vaccinating more than 75,000 people already.

“Continuing their partnerships as two PCNs will enable them to build on this great work, particularly as we look to complete the first full round of vaccinations, and deliver the booster vaccination programmes in the future.

“It will mean health services can be better tailored to meet the needs of each local population helping improve health outcomes for patients.”