There are 8 GP practices in the Lower Lea Valley locality covering the areas of Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Broxbourne.  They provide care for a population of around 75,000 people.

The NHS is investing in primary and community services with a programme of planned changes being implemented in Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals which will improve access to high quality care closer to home for local people. 

Who's who

Vacant Locality Co-Chair Lower Lea Valley

Vacant Locality Co-Chair Lower Lea Valley

During 2016/17, the eight practices in the Lower Lea Valley locality led a number of projects to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients including:

Helping families live healthy lifestyles
Childhood obesity in the borough of Broxbourne is higher than the regional average, so GPs in Lower Lea Valley are working with the Allsorts Children’s Centre in Cheshunt to refer families into a programme to help them manage their weight and make healthier choices. More than 50 families have benefitted from the programme this year. The locality has developed an integrated local service to support children and families to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, supported by the local strategic partnerships. 

HomeFirst
This ‘hospital from home’ project has continued very successfully for another year and has been extended to include four mental health nurses, a specialist palliative care nurse and a pharmacist as part of the multi-disciplinary team. In addition to a rapid response and virtual ward function, the team provides support to patients who have just come home from hospital. 97% of GPs and 96% of patients in a recent survey would recommend HomeFirst to family and friends.

Supporting carers
The Supporting Carers project is enabling primary care services in Lower Lea Valley to deliver their commitment to support carers and increase the number of unpaid family carers who know where to turn when they need help. Crossroads Care is working with the CCG to provide carers with regular breaks and access to support from the voluntary sector. Each practice has a carers’ lead and many now have a ‘Carer Champion’ working to support carers in their surgery and at the newly formed Carers Café in Cheshunt.

Promoting self-care
The locality has been working with other organisations including HealthWatch England, community pharmacies and the local district council to get messages about self-care out to patients. The aim of this is to empower people to live independently, stay healthy and make the most of their lives by helping them to manage their long-term conditions and other needs. This work is ongoing and will be the focus of 2017/2018.

Auditing demand for NHS services 
For a two week period in November 2016, all GP practices in the locality, the minor injuries unit and some pharmacies took part in an audit to see how patients are using services in their local area. Data from this audit is currently being analysed and results will be used to plan what services are needed in the future. 

Online services and websites
All the GP practices are working together to develop a website aimed at local patients that gives clear, consistent and accurate information about all the local NHS services that are available.