West End Wellbeing: a place-based multidisciplinary approach to meeting needs in Newcastle’s West End Changing Lives

GPs are facing intense pressure, with 50 million more consultations being carried out compared to five years ago. Non-medical preventative interventions can increase health and wellbeing, and reduce pressure on GPs.

There are high levels of deprivation in Newcastle and a large number of local residents with unmet, multiple and complex needs. Three general practices in the city have begun to collaborate to provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary service across a patient list of 29,000. 

This project, led by Changing Lives (a charity supporting people who are in crisis or needing support to overcome serious challenges), will develop the workforce and build capacity to enable genuine place-based care through establishment of a primary care hub.

A new model of working will be tested that better supports people by introducing new ways of working to improve patient outcomes, and increases quality of life and personal/community resilience. This will be delivered by those best placed to support people to make positive, sustainable changes. 

Staff from traditionally separate workforces will be brought together within the multidisciplinary approach, supported by two charities already working with people that mainstream services have struggled to engage. The workforce will be developed so that they embrace new ways of working, and a collaborative culture will be established, with effective shared governance and revenue funding. 

Training will provide staff with the skills and experience needed to deliver effective place-based care, initially focusing on three clinical areas. A train-the-trainer model will be used so that project outcomes are sustainable into the long term. 

Contact information

For more information about this project, please contact Amanda Cole, Business Development Manager, Changing Lives.