29th August 2025
Welcome to August’s blog – this month I wanted to focus on primary care.
Many of us might instinctively think of GP practices when we hear that term, but primary care also includes community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry. I’m pleased to be able to share some of the latest updates and feedback from across these important areas.
General Practice and GP Patient Survey
The GP Patient Survey is a national survey which gives valuable insights into patients’ experiences of general practice across England. The latest results have now been published and it’s great to see patient satisfaction with GP practices, NHS dental and pharmacy services has increased this year across both Norfolk and Waveney and Suffolk and North East Essex.
In both areas, 78% of patients reported a good overall experience of their GP practice, up from 77% last year and above the national average of 75%.
Feedback on pharmacy services was also very positive, with satisfaction rising to 87% in Norfolk and Waveney (from 85% last year) and 88% in Suffolk and North East Essex (from 87%). This puts both systems broadly in line with the national average of 88%.
While dental services continue to face the greatest challenges, the survey shows encouraging progress. Satisfaction increased to 61% in Norfolk and Waveney (from 56% last year) and 68% in Suffolk and North East Essex (from 63%), compared with a national average of 71%.
These results reflect feedback from more than 24,000 patients across both systems and highlight both the improvements being made and the areas where further focus is needed.
This work is a real testament to the dedication of our primary care teams. I would also like to thank those patients who responded. Their feedback has highlighted where progress has been made and areas where we need to focus our efforts further.
We’ve also seen a significant reduction in antibiotic use in primary care in recent months. This is excellent news and reflects the hard work of colleagues, supported by our infection prevention control and medicines optimisation teams.
Antibiotics are a precious resource. Prescribing them wisely reduces the long-term risks of antimicrobial resistance and, in the short term, helps prevent side effects such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
We are also very keen to build on our amazing research capability across primary care. To supercharge this, we have just opened a round of funding opportunities for primary care to build their research capability. We want to extend the reach of research outside of our hospitals and universities and right across our communities. For more information please contact e.oneill@uos.ac.uk for SNEE practices and you can complete the application here: RCF application form and for N&W practices contact NWICB.ResearchDevelopment@nhs.net for more information.
Optometry and dentistry
It is extremely pleasing to see that Suffolk and North East Essex ICB has been given an opportunity to pilot a scheme where clinicians in some NHS dental and optometry practices can access Summary Care Records (SCR). A SCR is an electronic record of important patient information, created from primary medical care records. These can be accessed and used by authorised staff in other areas of the health and care system involved in the patient’s direct care, no matter where they live. NHS dentists and optometrists currently do not routinely have access to this information.
We anticipate this initiative will further improve patient care. As part of our preparation work, we are working with one optometry practice and one dental practice in SNEE to work through all the IT / Information Governance steps required by NHS England. We anticipate going live with our other sites during September.
Our work to improve access to NHS dentistry is starting to make a real difference.
Over the past year we’ve made real progress in improving access to NHS dental services across Norfolk and Waveney and Suffolk and north east Essex. Thousands of additional dental appointments have been provided to those patients in need of urgent dental care.
This has supported our population to access care as close to home as possible and has increased access to treatment for those who live in communities with the highest need. We are delighted to have made such progress, but we are not complacent and recognise there is still much more to be done.
Anyone who thinks they need treatment from the Urgent Care Dental Service should contact NHS 111 where they will be supported to access the most appropriate care for their needs. Patients who have had NHS dental care from a practice in the last 12 months are advised to contact that practice first to ask if an appointment is available and, if not, to then contact NHS 111.
Community Pharmacy
Community pharmacies are also evolving rapidly. No longer just the place to collect prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, they now provide a wide and growing range of services.
Almost all now offer Pharmacy First, where patients can receive treatment for seven common conditions directly from their high street pharmacy, without needing a GP appointment. Despite this increase in workload, it’s fantastic to see such positive feedback for pharmacies across both systems.
We’re also delighted that both Norfolk and Waveney and Suffolk and North East Essex have active programmes to reduce wasted medicines. This benefits GP surgeries and dispensaries by reducing unnecessary workload, protects the environment by cutting waste in production, packaging and disposal, and saves NHS money too.
Vaccination Season
Community pharmacies also play a vital role in delivering vaccinations.
- Flu vaccinations start on 1 September for pregnant women and children, and from 1 October for other high-risk groups.
- COVID vaccinations will also be offered from 1 October to people who are immunosuppressed, as well as older people and residents of care homes.
The easiest way to arrange either vaccination is via the National Booking Service, which goes live for public bookings from 1 September.
A Flu Walk-In Finder is also being developed and will be available from October 2025 to help patients easily find local pharmacies offering walk-in flu vaccinations.
More information about vaccinations can be found here:
Tackling Red Tape & Improving Interfaces
With so many services under pressure, it’s vital we continue to work together across health and care.
Locally, we’ve been improving how we share and resolve issues at the primary/secondary care interface. From 1 September 2025, a new Interface Reporting Process and Primary : Secondary Care Interface page will go live on Connect NoW.
- The new Microsoft Form will make it easier to raise operational concerns, directing them straight to providers while keeping the ICB and LMC informed.
- The Interface page will provide updates, documents, meeting minutes, and resources including the Red Tape Challenge report – “Getting It Right First Time”, which will shape our future action plans.
Interface is built on collaboration, so we encourage everyone to use these tools and share feedback.
As always, there’s so much more happening across our systems. Next month, I’ll be sharing updates on the development of our Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and other key national programmes.
A huge thank you to all our primary care teams for everything you do to support patients every day.
Warm regards,
Frankie