GP Practices in Merthyr Tydfil have been working together in a “Cluster” & in collaboration with Merthyr Tydfil CBC Social Services have employed the services of GP Support Officers. The GPSO will be based at every GP Practice throughout the borough of Merthyr Tydfil.
The GPSO are will look at the holistic situation to “enable” the patient. The aim and purpose of this role is to enact behavioural change allowing the patient to take responsible for their own health and well-being. The GPSO will use resources and services within the community to include the third sector, counselling, volunteering, fitness, smoking cessation as examples.
Located within GP Practices, the GPSOs will create a fully integrated service provision which supports Primary Care and the Local Authorities in their workload allowing clients to be managed before their needs require greater intervention. The GPSO will offer timely support to clients to seek solutions and interventions which will enable them to remain independent before the patient requires greater support and becomes a crisis situation such as admission to hospital or residential care.
Patients will only be referred to Social Services as their needs are more significant and cannot be met by other networks or resources and the 3rd sector in accordance with the HSSWB-Act.