GNCR ambassador case study – Sangeetha Bommisetty, GP, Gateshead
Sangeetha is a GP and the Registered Manager at the Beacon View Medical Centre in Gateshead and has worked at the practice for over 14 years. She has an extensive background in women’s health and has worked as a mental health, learning disability, and autism lead. She is now working as Clinical Lead for Maternal Health, Children and Young People, Women’s Health, and Quality Assurance in Newcastle and Gateshead, on behalf of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB).
Alongside her day-to-day role, Sangeetha has a wealth of experience teaching resident doctors to become newly qualified GPs in the region, in her role as Training Programme Director for the Northumbria GP Training Programme.
How Sangeetha uses the Great North Care Record
In her role within primary care, Sangeetha sees around 30-35 patients each day, with a wide range of different health concerns and issues. Each patient interaction is recorded on her practice’s electronic patient record. When caring for patients who have many touchpoints with other health and social care organisations and staff in the region, it is vital she can see as much data as possible.
“I love being a GP and I’m passionate that our patients and wider community are given the best continuity of care wherever possible. Sharing information is vital to achieve this.
“Having previously sat on the Serious Incident Panel for the NENC ICB, I’ve witnessed first-hand how often patients come to harm due to a lack of shared information. The failure to communicate vital health data can lead to preventable errors and complications.”
It is because of the importance of sharing patient data that Sangeetha is such an advocate of the Great North Care Record. As her role sees her working with local healthcare providers, it is vital that she can quickly and easily access all the relevant patient information to provide the most informed care she can.
“General practice is the first port of call for everything. Even during a woman’s pregnancy and maternity journey, you will first find that they come into primary care. Not having access to information can lead to patient risk and harm.
“Having that summary of information through the GNCR and understanding of what is happening during every clinical contact completes the pregnancy record.”
Prior to using the GNCR, Sangeetha and staff at the practice would spend a great deal of time and effort communicating with staff across primary and secondary care, as well as mental health services.
“As a GP, I strongly support the use of the GNCR as it provides clear valuable detail for my admin and clinical staff. It allows us to quickly see exactly which clinician a patient has seen, along with detailed information on medication decisions and previous visits.
“Having such a comprehensive shared care record helps in joined up care between primary and secondary care and continuity. That is so key, certainly with delivering care and making sure that you have safe outcomes for both mum and baby.”
Why the Great North Care Record makes a difference
“It’s very helpful when you’re carrying out telephone appointments and it may be difficult to get clear, important information from a patient or their relative. I can use the GNCR quickly to get a full overview of their medical history, so I’m as best informed as I can be.
“The GNCR plays a critical role in reducing potential harm to patients by ensuring that the right information is readily accessible.”
Using GNCR in the future
“I believe the future of patient care lies in the further integration of pharmacy consultation data and information from opticians and dentists, into the GNCR. This will provide a more complete picture of a patient’s health, allowing clinicians to make more accurate and informed decisions.”
In Sangeetha’s role within the Northumbria GP Training Programme, she plays an important part in developing the skills of doctors training to be GPs in the region. By informing her peers about the impact of utilising data shared on GNCR, she is helping to increase the workforce’s awareness of accessing wider patient data and how it can influence the level of care they can deliver.
“I started using the GNCR back in 2022, when I fully recognised it as a strong data resource. I was introduced to it through a staff training session through a colleague who demonstrated our region’s shared care record.
“As a GP of many years, I think that engaging Primary Care Networks (PCNs) is an excellent way to inform more clinicians and GP practice managers,
demonstrating the clear benefits of the GNCR. By providing clear, hands-on demonstrations, we can ensure that staff fully appreciate how this system can make their day-to-day work more efficient and effective, ultimately enhancing patient care.”
