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Covid has presented many challenges for practices and networks but many have risen to this challenge and found that, as a result, they have been able to accelerate many existing projects and are seeing hugely positive outcomes. Sovereign Health Network, a PCN of three practices based in Hampshire, have enacted rapid change as a result of the crisis and are now at the point of considering what to keep, how to rebalance network versus local priorities and how to maintain momentum going forwards. Clinical Director Dr Tom Bertram, Network lead Amanda Gray and Nursing lead Laura Miller share their story of what they did, what they achieved and where they are now.

Introductions (0:39)

The first year as a primary care network (1:45)

Creation of a same day service (2:01)

Amanda’s transition from practice manager to practice manager and network lead (3:06)

When Covid happened (4:17)

A ‘command and control’ approach (5:01)

Mixing up the workforce; working by risk profile (5:35)

The challenge of losing a practice’s identity (6:53)

Staff reaction (admin and management) (7:59)

Support for the wider teams, both clinical and non-clinical (8:52)

What was the impact on the nursing teams and how did Laura manage this? (9:43)

How do the nurses feel now? (11:05)

Results from the staff survey (11:31)

What other changes have been made? (12:04)

A shared pharmacy service (12:31)

The telephone hub (13:25)

Single route access to the network (13:41)

Patient feedback (14:33)

Rebalancing network and practice priorities post Covid (15:05)

Population health management (15:54)

Juggling practice and network priorities as a local manager and network lead (16:58)

Summarising the overall effect of Covid on the network (17:54)

Getting in touch (19:09)

Amanda Gray, Sovereign Health Network lead: amanda.gray2@nhs.net

Dr Tom Bertram, Clinical Director, Sovereign Health Network: tom.bertram@nhs.net