Currently, residents of nursing homes, residential homes and extra care housing are registered with their local GP practice. Over recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for GP practices to provide the high quality care they aspire to for care home residents, who have complex and ongoing care needs that require considerable dedicated time. Following over a year of extensive engagement with general practices, care homes, patients, local healthcare providers and commissioners, Bromley CCG decided to commission a dedicated primary care (GP) provider to look after all nursing home, residential home and extra care housing residents in Bromley. The CCG is now pleased to announce that the Bromley GP Alliance has been awarded the contract for this service. Bromley GP Alliance is a network organisation of Bromley Practices, which works to enhance the health and wellbeing of Bromley residents.

The practice set up by Bromley GP Alliance will be called 'Bromleag Care Practice' and will provide enhanced primary care for residents, including:

• Regular weekly/biweekly visits to all homes
• A comprehensive medical assessment of each resident upon admission to the care home and follow up medical assessments at least twice a year
• A comprehensive medical assessment and medicines review following any patient who has been admitted to then discharged from hospital
• A medicines review at least once a year
• Urgent same day visits
• Close working with care home staff and other health and social care services

Bromleag Care Practice will be liaising with the care homes and the residents and their families to promote and explain the benefits of the new service.

Patients shared their views about this at a focus group which you can read about here. The following themes arose as part of the discussion: 

• The importance of continuity of care in terms of seeing the same member of staff where possible
• Ensure appropriate GP provision to staff this service.
• Sensible approach and if it works it will make a big difference.
• Assessment and monitoring criteria are key to ensuring the service is well run
• Appreciation at having the opportunity to inform and shape this new approach.