This month, we caught-up with Wigan GP Dr Liam Hosie, pictured right, who is our primary care palliative care lead GP.
He tells us about his work, why our networks are so important to him and his love for Manchester City.
What is your clinical title and where do you work?
I am a 6 session GP Partner at Dicconson Group Practice in Wigan, where I have been a GP partner for 18 years. I am also the Primary Care Palliative Care Lead GP for GM EC SCN, and also have a Wigan locality clinical lead role that encompasses cancer and end of life care.
What makes you tick?
I really enjoy the variety of work that my roles give me. I enjoy patient interaction, but I also relish the challenges of system change
Why is the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Strategic Clinical Networks important to you?
The network really does allow a strong clinical voice that can help influence the implementation of national strategy. Sometimes national policies, whilst well meaning, can be difficult to implement, but the strength of the network is a strong clinical voice that can help formulate plans and approaches to implement such policies or guidance.
Equally the support of senior clinicians within the SCNs is invaluable - there are years of experience to draw on.
The end of life team is a small one, but has individuals who are so committed to improving palliative care across the region. It is a pleasure and privilege to work with them
"The support of senior clinicians within the SCNs is invaluable - there are years of experience to draw on."
Which network programme you have been involved with which you have been particular proud of?
The network was heavily involved with the development and continued testing of the EARLY system, which is an IT based search tool that can help primary care clinicians identify patients who may be in the last 12 months of life. This can then help clinicians offer a greater level of support to those patients.
What future network initiative will most excite you?
I really am excited about the continued role out of the EPACCS system. This is an existing programme, but is really developing (so really is one for now and the future).
This is a system where key information about end of life care can be electronically shared with professionals, which really should enhance patient care.
Tell us about a typical working day?
This will depend a little on the role I am acting in on the day.
As a GP I will often arrive at the surgery early (just after 7am), and this is often a 12-hour day (I am sure many GPs will identify with this currently).
If I am working in a network or local lead role, then the day will often be interspersed with a variety of meetings, often virtual.
As a network team we have a weekly catch up on Wednesdays at 8am, which I really value. I have very understanding GP partners (as we all have multiple roles), so I can often change round working days when needed too.
What do you do outside of work to re-energise yourself?
I am a lifelong Manchester City supporter and have had a season ticket for 35 years (I have seen many lows and now some highs), and I go to as many home and away games as I can with my dad and son.
I also have a rather crazy English Springer Spaniel, who does require a lot of walking. A few football injuries ended my rather recreational football career, so I try and keep fit by cycling (very slowly!).
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 Palliative and End of Life Care Network
The network is holding an event in September called ‘Palliative and End of Life Care: A right or a privilege? Working together to create an all ages vision for anticipatory care and dying well in Greater Manchester’.
Specifically for professionals with an interest in all-ages palliative and end of life care from across Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire, the one-day event will bring together leaders, policy makers, commissioners, providers and other stakeholders, from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, to share their experiences, initiatives and vision from across palliative and end of life care for adults, children and young people.
The event is being held on Wednesday, September 14, 9am, for a 9.30am start, and will run until 4pm.
Please save the date. A full programme and formal registration link will follow shortly together with venue details.
The programme team has enjoyed getting back to face-to-face networking over the last month.
The team met in Manchester for an away day, focussing on the programme and the future opportunities for palliative and end of life care.
There will continue to be a strong focus on the Greater Manchester Commitments for Palliative and End of Life Care which outlines the responsibility of services and professionals in Greater Manchester and also what an individual with palliative and end of life care needs should expect.
Pictured above: Left to right, Lynne Partington, Dr David Waterman, Shelley Cunliffe, Christine Taylor, Gill Bailey, Dr Liam Hosie, Laura Linford.
There was also a return to face-to-face meetings for the Palliative and End of Life Care Education Network at Springhill Hospice Education Unit.
The membership consists of staff who have a responsibility to deliver palliative and end of life care training to health and social care staff that are place-based across the geographical footprint. If any professional would like to enquire about joining the education network please contact christine.taylor41@nhs.net.
Pictured above: members of the Palliative and End of Life Care Education Network Group 2022.
The network recently appointed Julia Birchall-Searle (pictured right) as its new clinical nurse advisor.
Since qualifying as a registered nurse (child) in 1993, Julia has held a variety of positions in nursing, human resources and operations. She has a passion for education and workforce development and completed an MSc in Health Care Education in 2001.
She moved into the specialised division at the University Hospital of North Midlands as associate chief nurse in June 2014, before moving into the medical division in the same role in May 2015.
Julia joined Manchester Foundation Trust in November 2016 and currently holds the position of director of nursing and health professionals/deputy chief executive at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
She is a self-motivated, dynamic senior nurse, committed to improving services for children and young people by building successful positive relationships across organisations. She has a personal interest in promoting an inclusive culture that enables people to perform at their best.
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The Network’s new primary care staff training package is now live!
The training is designed to help primary care staff increase the attendance of patients at structured diabetes education (SDE).
It has been designed in partnership with GP Excellence and the training is aimed at staff who support people diagnosed with diabetes in primary care to learn through SDE how to better manage their condition.
The launch webinar can be viewed here.
- The training attracts 16 CPD points and includes modules on:
- Shared decision making
- Motivational interviewing
- Creating a high-quality person-centred support plan
- SNOMED coding
The programme consists of eLearning modules, webinars and face-to-face sessions with the eLearning being available from next month.
There is still time to register your interest in the programme through the Eventbrite programme page.
The Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Programme is delighted to welcome Lucy Archer to the Heathier You programme in Greater Manchester.
Lucy (pictured left) is a health and wellbeing manager for Reed Wellbeing and will be leading the implementation of the Healthier You contract in Greater Manchester.
She will be available to promote the programme with practices and primary care networks across Greater Manchester and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how Reed can support patients at risk of diabetes.
Reed delivers a number of clinically credible high impact lifestyle and wellbeing programmes that help people lead healthier lives and have been working with NHS England to provide Healthier You since 2016.
In that time, more than 40,000 people have used the service to help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Reed will be accepting GP referrals from the beginning of August. Practices can continue to refer patients to the current provider, Xyla Health and Wellbeing, until the end of this month using the direct referral form on clinical systems.
We have answered some frequently asked questions about the transition and what is means for patients hereand GPs here.
For more information on the Reed programme please contact Lucy.Archer@reedwellbeing.org.uk.
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Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
Presently, only very few people attend these sessions and we want to reach out to more people who will benefit.
The services which provide PR in Greater Manchester have submitted their funding plans for 2022/23, with ideas including a taxi scheme for patient transport to PR sessions and iPads to allow people who cannot attend the exercise classes to take part virtually.
A small working group has started work on a patient education booklet, which covers areas such as exercise, medication, self-management and diet.
The guide will have the same branding as the website and campaign which are being created to increase the number of referrals which are made to the services. It is hoped both will be launched in August.
The website is now taking shape. It will give information about the PR sessions, details on the 13 local services and signpost people to follow-up services.
The Network helps to coordinate the work of the local PR providers, bringing them together as a Greater Manchester group to improve services.
The long Covid research project in Greater Manchester – supported by the Network - is continuing to progress.
The programme will be supported by four people from Salford Council’s vaccination staff this month and a new staff nurse has started working 50% of her time on the project.
Also, North West EHealth – an organisation which collates patient data for clinical trials – will be contacting people at 50 GP sites to encourage them to take part in the research.
And GP endorsement has been granted to promote the project to the Covid vaccination cohort in Salford and Tameside and Glossop.
The SCNs are also supporting the research programme with communications, with a plan being drawn-up to promote the research across the media.
The North West Maternal Medicine Network (NWMMN) has a new obstetric medicine physician, following the awarding of a diploma to Dr Clare Mumby.
Dr Mumby was awarded the professional diploma in obstetric medicine this month from the Royal College of Physicians and will now start work to improve services for women and their families in the region.
The news marks the latest development in the establishment of the NWMMN, which is an organisation set-up last year to help improve safety for women with co-existing medical conditions, and their babies, during pregnancy and childbirth. They will ensure women with acute and chronic medical problems have timely access to specialist advice and care at all stages of pregnancy.
They are central to NHS England/Improvement strategy for reducing mortality for all pregnant woman and reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Dr Mumby, who has been a consultant physician at Manchester Royal Infirmary and St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, since 2017, said: “We need to make sure we improve care for women with medical problems, ensuring that they get the right medical care, including any imaging or medications they need.
“Often, when you look at cases where women have died during or after pregnancy, there are a lot of cases where care could have been better for those women.”
In the North West, the MMN will cover the three Local Maternity System (LMS) areas: Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire, Cheshire and Mersey and Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The LMS teams have collaborated closely to develop their proposal for their MMN. There will be a phased approach to full implementation, with an initial Maternal Medicine Centre at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, with two further networked centres in Liverpool and Preston.
The GMEC SCNs are a part of the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Local Maternity System.
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We have a new starter this month, Karen Clough, who joins our Maternity Network as Safety Lead Midwife for the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Local Maternity System.
Karen introduces herself here:
“Hello my name is Karen Clough and I am your new Safety Lead Midwife for the LMS. I am really looking forward to building relationships within the wider network and across Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire with the ultimate aim of delivering safe and effective care to families across the region.
“I have worked clinically as a midwife for 23 years, firstly within the hospital then working out in the community. The last four years I have spent in a specialist role, implementing the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle- reducing stillbirths and serious brain injuries to babies during childbirth.
“I am proud to be a midwife and I am completely committed to improving the maternity experience of those using our services – this means providing safe, personalised and family orientated care.
“We know that there are many changes and challenges ahead to reach our national ambition of reducing stillbirths, implementing the Ockenden recommendations and delivering the Continuity of Care to name a few, however, I am honoured to be working with such a dedicated team which demonstrates dedication, commitment and innovation.
“Now my three children have grown up, but not yet fled the nest, I have a little more time to indulge myself with my gardening passion. I love the outdoors, being at one with nature and most of my summer months are used preparing my garden for our opening events for charity.
“Looking forwards to my new challenges ahead!”
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We have lots of events planned for this autumn - keep your eyes open for further details and links to registrations.
As well as the dates mentioned above, September sees a maternity event with the Caribbean and African Health Network and an acute coronary syndrome and primary percutaneous coronary intervention event.
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