COVID response

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, SWGP was able to mobilise additional resources at scale to support practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) throughout South Warwickshire maintain safe and efficient services for patients.

Hot hubs

Working in partnership with PCNs, SWGP set up and managed ‘Hot Hubs’ to support practices with infection control and protect staff.

We ran three ‘hot hubs’ for patients who had COVID or were showing COVID symptoms, including providing Hot Hub support during extended hours. Hot hubs were staffed by a GP and had a Healthcare Assistant or Practice Nurse on site to support them with patient consultations including infection prevention and control measures after each patient.

Vaccination clinics

SWGP was instrumental in supporting PCNs with vaccination clinics during the pandemic. In some cases, we provided the full service, from contacting patients to book them in, running the centres and providing all staff.

In other areas where PCNs were handling vaccinations locally, we provided staff to support the efficient rollout of vaccines.

Supporting Care Homes

In line with national guidance recommending that all care homes required a weekly ward, SWGP established financial support to help practices already providing ward rounds.

We also put in place Frailty GP support for care homes not already covered.

Additional COVID support

We also worked in close partnership with PCNs, to:

• Support PPE ordering and cleaning guidance during the first wave
• Re-establish daytime support for practices in the second wave
• Negotiate support from the CCG
  Set up a reporting scheme to support practices who self-report as being amber or red
• Provide resilience support, including access to extended workforce
• Provide AccuRx software, following the urgent need to move to online patient consultations