Local GP Practice recognised
Local Peterborough GP Practice, Thistlemoor Medical Centre, welcomed Professor Bola Owolabi, Director of Healthcare Inequalities at NHS England, to their practice today (Wednesday 21 May) to showcase their commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of its local community.
The visit provided the opportunity for Professor Bola Owolabi to see first-hand the latest innovative ways in which the practice tailor services to local needs, alongside meeting with staff and local patients to hear about their experiences of the services and support on offer.
This included the soon to open ‘The Health Pod’ that aims to provide a friendly, safe and non-clinical space where local patients can receive proactive support around health and fitness, nutrition, smoking, alcohol and wellbeing activities. The Pod will also be used to undertake NHS Health Checks and host planned health and wellbeing activities for the local community.
The visit also officially opened Thistlemoor’s new Endoscopy Unit that is helping to provide earlier access for the local community to high-quality diagnostic procedures to help with faster diagnosis and treatment closer to home.
Professor Bola Owolabi, a GP and NHS England director of healthcare inequalities, said: “The innovative and award-winning Thistlemoor Medical Centre is a prime example of how using a patient-centred approach can support the community's specific health needs.
“It is truly inspiring to see such a dedicated and committed team providing high-quality, inclusive, healthcare for local people and helping to tackle health inequalities head on – and it’s new Health Pod is an excellent example of their innovative approach to this.”
Dr Neil Modha, GP at Thistlemoor Medical Centre, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Professor Bola Owolabi to our practice. We’re exceptionally proud of the services and support we provide and are committed to providing the best possible care for all of our patients now and in the future.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase some of our latest projects and services and we’re excited to see the positive impact these have for our patients and the wider community.”
As part of the visit, Professor Bola Owolabi was also able to congratulate staff members on the recent prestigious Health Equalities Award that Thistlemoor Medical Centre received at the NHS Parliamentary Awards at the end of last year.
This award recognised their innovative Population Health Management project, which identified over 250 patients with frequent GP and A&E visits but no long-term conditions. By providing tailored support, the initiative led to a 75% reduction in GP appointments and a 30% decrease in emergency department visits.