New NHS England chief visits Frome GP Practice

The new national medical director for NHS England, professor Steve Powis, has made a personal visit to Frome to see at first hand the impact of community working together.

He visited the facilities at the Health Park at Enos Way, and talked to GPs and the broad team working to deliver the compassionate care across our town.

Dr Helen Kingston, who is the senior partner at Frome Medical Practice said, “We are all absolutely delighted that professor Powis found the time to come and visit us and see for himself the efforts that we are making to provide to our patients a health service that is second to none.

“It is great to see the hard work of the team and its achievements recognised and so encouraging to hear of NHS England’s support for holistic and integrated care.

“By speaking directly with those involved, professor Powis was able to see for himself how the nationally-acclaimed ‘Frome model’ of enhanced primary care works in practice, supporting  individuals to focus on what is most important to them and creating an environment where staff are really able to make a difference.

Professor Powis said, “Being able to see first-hand how innovation at this forward-thinking practice has been implemented in Frome is impressive.

“What the team has achieved with their model of working, within and for the community, is just the start of how we can integrate services to provide even better care to the local population. The outstanding facilities at this practice, teamed with the community hospital on the same site, offering a number of treatments, puts patients at the centre of their care.

“It is a credit to the staff here that this remarkable model is being acknowledged. What I’m really looking forward to is the evaluation of this promising work to see how it can shape future integration in local communities.”

: Members of Frome Medical Practice and Health Connections with Professor Powis back row centre and with Dr Helen Kingston front row centre to left of Professor Powis.