Community Linking Project

Through chatting to our local GPs, we discovered that lots of patients who go to the doctors have problems that the GP can’t solve with a tablet. Maybe they have issues with their housing, benefits, relationships, or something else. Sometimes these things are making them feel anxious, stressed, or impacting on their health in different ways.

Through our Community Linking Project we try to sort out the problems that are causing the issue by listening to patients, helping them to overcome their problems, and linking patients to services in the community that can help. Our workers walk ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with patients, for however long it takes, to resolve the issues that are troubling them. This type of support is often referred to as “social prescribing.” We have helped patients with housing problems, benefit claims, financial worries, overcoming loneliness, exercise and much more.

Our teams run a number of proactive social prescribing groups across Gateshead as well. These include menopause cafes, Sporting Memories, financial support drop-in sessions and respond directly to the needs of patients in our local communities. In the East and Central South Primary Care Networks we also partner with Public Health on an Active Travel and Social Prescribing Project which encourages people to walk, cycle or wheel for short journeys across Gateshead to promote health and wellbeing.

We currently have Community Link Workers in twenty-five surgeries across Gateshead and are able to support patients registered in:

East Gateshead Primary Care Network

Longrigg Medical Centre

Crowhall Medical Centre

St. Albans Medical Group

Pelaw Medical Centre

Central South Gateshead Primary Care Network

Fell Tower Medical Centre

Bensham Family Practice

Fell Cottage Surgery

Millennium Family Practice

Wrekenton Medical Group

Bewick Road Surgery

Central Gateshead Medical Group

Beacon View Medical Centre

Bridges Medical Centre

Inner West Gateshead Primary Care Network

Whickham Health Centre

Chainbridge Medical Partnership

Glenpark Medical Centre

Sunniside Surgery

Teams Medical Practice

Outer West Gateshead Primary Care Network

Crawcrook Surgery

Rowlands Gill Medical Centre

Oldwell Surgery

Chopwell Primary Healthcare Centre

IJ Healthcare (Hollyhurst)

Grange Road

Blaydon GP Practice

What our patients say:

Taking part in meaningful activities has changed my life and put me in a more positive frame of mind. I knows it’s early days but I’m happy with how I feel most days.”

I feel more motivated and am building confidence to join groups.”

Thank you for all your help and support, I now no longer worry about parking and losing my independence, without your support I don’t know what I would have done.”

I was overwhelmed by it all but now I’m so very happy, feel like I am starting my life again at age 76. I am even looking for love.”

I know I can go out now, it’s not nice when you cannot go out or must rely on other people. I can please myself with what I do now and am sometimes I’m out twice a day just because I can!”

The support has been great. You’ve been lovely and welcoming and understanding.”

I am relieved and not so worried. I was really happy with the quick response from the Community Link Worker and ease of communication.”

Thank you for liaising with housing on my behalf. I am now very settled in my bungalow.”

I feel better now I’m addressing my issues, rather than avoiding them which was impacting my mental health. I am able to concentrate better at work as a result.”

"Medicines are not the whole answer to patients’ problems, there’s a lot of social deprivation in the area that the Community Linking project can address.”

(Dr Fozia Shah)

“Finding employment is hard. They use all those big words I can't understand but [the community link worker] was there, she answered the questions I couldn’t answer.”

(Ian Lowery, Gateshead patient)

For more information contact:

07947 223173