Our services

Our services are designed to help general practice in Somerset succeed. We act as an extension of your team by reducing administrative pressures, supporting innovation, and making sure your voice is heard across the system - because we believe trust is built by being transparent, consistent, and true to our word.

Everything we do fits into four areas of focus: digital and data innovation, business support and infrastructure, workforce planning and development, and service transformation. In each, we bring the curiosity and fresh thinking that comes from our creative approach - always looking for the smarter solution or the clearer way to communicate.

Together, these services give practices the tools, resources, and system support they need to focus on what matters most: delivering excellent care for patients. That's our ambition - to make a real difference to general practice in Somerset, setting high standards and never losing sight of the impact we have for practices, staff and patients.

• Practice, PCN and neighbourhood support

  We provide hands-on support to help GP practices manage operational pressures, improve internal systems, and engage with local neighbourhood initiatives, while ensuring their voice is heard.

  • HR and people management - We coordinate a Somerset-wide workforce strategy, including employment arrangements and the identification and alignment of people-management support and best practice across GP practices. 

  • Clinical Directors Board - We coordinate the Clinical Directors Board, supporting the management of actions and workstreams across GP practices and system partners. 

  • PCN managers’ meetings - We host PCN managers’ meetings to share information, provide peer support, and strengthen collaborative working and trust across PCNs. 

  • Neighbourhood working - We support GP practices in Somerset by promoting the Open Mental Health Alliance, expanding referral options, strengthening community partnerships, and reducing GP workload for complex mental health cases.

• Workforce planning and development

  We work with GP practices, PCNs, and system partners to develop, retain, and support the general practice workforce across Somerset, now and for the future.

  • Spirometry training - We provide training and qualified trainers to GP practices to improve the quality, safety, and consistency of spirometry, enabling better respiratory care, reducing unnecessary referrals, and easing GP workload. 

  • Diabetes education and training - We support GP practices and PCNs with diabetes education and training, providing workshops, study days, and resources to improve staff knowledge, standardise care processes, and enhance patient outcomes. 

  • Careers + programme - The Careers + Programme supports clinical and non-clinical staff in GP practices, promoting development, peer support, and retention to reduce sickness and keep colleagues fit to work. 

  • ICB Workforce Committee - We support the ICB Workforce Committee to advise on workforce issues across Somerset, helping GP staff, secondary care, and non-clinical colleagues thrive and improving their overall experience. 

  • Neighbourhood engagement (NAPCC) - Through NAPCC, we support neighbourhood engagement in Somerset by auditing local services, identifying gaps, and helping develop a shared vision to improve care and community support. 

• Clinical innovation and development

  We help practices improve how clinical services are designed, delivered, and evaluated, focusing on innovation, redesign, and aligning services with local priorities.

  • Teledermatology service - We manage the teledermatology service on behalf of Somerset Foundation Trust, enabling GP practices to offer community-based skin cancer assessments with faster diagnoses, reduced hospital referrals, and improved patient care. 

  • COVID-19 Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) - GPSU holds the CMDU contract in partnership with Brisdoc to deliver oral COVID-19 antiviral drugs directly to patients in Somerset, reducing the assessment and prescribing burden on GP practices. 

  • Clinical Reference Group (CRG) - We chair the Clinical Reference Group, bringing clinicians together to develop and standardise clinical guidance and pathways, providing GP staff and system partners with consistent, high-quality advice and support. 

  • Children and young people asthma pathway - We support PCNs and system partners to implement a consistent asthma care pathway for children and young people, improving diagnosis, treatment, and overall care. 

  • EOT2D - We support GP practices and PCNs in engaging 18–39-year-olds with Type 2 diabetes through second reviews, education, and innovative clinic models to improve care and patient outcomes. 

  • Clinical research - We support GP practices and system partners to increase clinical research activity, helping practices offer opportunities to patients, attract funding, and recruit high-calibre colleagues. 

  • Clinical Support Information (CSI) - We manage and maintain Clinical Support Information by uploading and reporting on referral pathways and forms from secondary and third-party providers, helping GP practices and PCNs avoid delays to patient care. 

  • Digital clinical safety - We support GP practices with digital clinical safety by providing guidance, resources, and expertise to complete DCB0129/0160 requirements and ensure safe digital systems. 

• Collaboration and engagement

  We support GP practices in understanding and responding to system priorities, connecting them with key partners, reducing duplication, and providing clear guidance on requirements.

  • Interface Group - We chair the Interface Group, bringing together Somerset Foundation Trust and GP colleagues to improve the primary–secondary care interface, gather GP feedback, and promote practical solutions that reduce wasted time and improve service delivery. 

  • Communications and campaigns - We provide system-wide communications support, including the development and delivery of coordinated campaigns and content for practices and PCNs. 

  • ICB and SFT TeamNet content support - We provide ad-hoc content advice and support for ICB and SFT TeamNet to ensure services and resources are clearly accessible to practices and PCNs. 

• Digital and data solutions

  We help GP practices and PCNs use digital tools and data safely and effectively to improve patient care, population health, and operational efficiency.

  • Digital tools implementation support - We support GP practices and PCNs to safely and efficiently implement digital tools by providing guidance, resources, and assurance frameworks aligned with NHS standards. 

  • Learning disability annual health checks - We work with Maldaba to help GP practices deliver annual health checks and health action plans for people with learning disabilities, improving patient outcomes and engagement. 

  • Optum population health pilot - We lead a 12-month pilot with three PCNs, using Optum’s Pathway and Pathfinder tools to harness population health data, enabling proactive care for high-risk patients and reducing avoidable demand on general practice. 

  • Digital Reference Group - The Digital Reference Group provides expert guidance to GP practices and system partners to implement and evaluate digital strategies that improve efficiency, patient care, and population health outcomes. 

  • ICE system roll-out - We support the roll-out of ICE and its various modules across GP practices, working with SFT digital services to ensure smooth implementation. 

  • Digital maturity assessment - We assess digital maturity across GP practices and internal systems to understand current capabilities and inform future improvement. 

  • SFT Dermatology system support - We provide advice, training, and support to the SFT Dermatology service to set up systems that help GP practices access and use the service effectively.