Going Local; working together and transforming health delivery in Adur and Worthing

Adur & Worthing Councils, the Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group and West Sussex County Council have launched a new health delivery programme to explore ways of improving community based health solutions.

In a new approach, Going Local aims to break down the current boundaries between primary care and communities and to encourage more focus on the needs and capabilities of individuals.  GPs will refer patients, needing non medical support and advice, to a Community Referrer who will explore with the individual their underlying issues and if appropriate, will refer them to a range of services and support in the community.  

It is understood that there are practical health care solutions; in combating loneliness, debt anxiety and stress about finance for example, to be found in the heart of communities, rather than through  prescriptive medicine, with many GPs often stretched, without the time to fully explore the many complex underlying social needs of their patient.

Going Local will launch with six GP Practices in Northbrook (Worthing) and Eastbrook (Adur) this month, along with three Community Referrers, recently employed by Adur and Worthing Councils.   All will work closely with services in the voluntary and community sectors in their areas to help residents source the right help and support to meet their own individual needs.

Councillor Val Turner, Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Wellbeing adds “I fully support this collaborative, forward thinking and innovative approach to health care in our community.  Worthing is lucky to have a wide network of voluntary groups who are best placed to work alongside residents and medical practitioners alike and in implementing social prescribing, as has been proven to be very successful elsewhere.”

Councillor David Simmons, Adur District Council Member for Health and Wellbeing said “At a time when all resources are stretched, this innovative way of helping people to deal with a range of personal problems is to be welcomed. This not only provides a proven way of increasing benefit to individuals, but also frees up resources to be invested elsewhere in the health service.”

Dr Rani Dhillon (GP Lime Tree Surgery, Worthing) adds “This new way of working with our community partners is an exciting prospect for our patients and staff.  Having the ability to offer patients help and guidance extending beyond our traditional medical role will help enhance the quality of our patients' lives, as well as increase job satisfaction for GPs. This approach , often called ‘social prescribing’ is crucial to all of us together supporting individuals achieve their maximum potential in the community.  I very much welcome it's introduction."