Moira Mae Underwood, operational lead and the Community Linking Project team, Edberts House.
Nominating the team, Jackie Jamieson, development manager, says: ‘Our team of link workers across Gateshead have risen to the challenge of responding to COVID-19 in so many ways; contacting 2,500+ shielding, vulnerable and high risk patients; providing an effective and supportive remote service to patients, offering practical and relevant advice to address COVID related concerns and issues; sharing and collating local intelligence across the team of how partner organisations have adapted to compile a comprehensive summary of services and support available; implementing remote access to EMIS to support home working and efficient patient contact and updates; providing effective peer support to each other and virtually to promote and maintain positive wellbeing for link workers; increased awareness of social prescribing and its flexibility in adapting and responding to community needs; working with local partners and agencies to achieve a co-ordinated response across the borough; maintaining effective links and relationships with GP surgeries and staff; managing existing caseloads of patients providing ongoing support and reassurances throughout COVID.
These are just some of the highlights of how our social prescribing service has risen to the challenge and adapted to unprecedented circumstances, plus a wealth of individual patient stories and positive feedback of the impact and difference link workers have made, often by just being at the end of the phone, so it’s not always about innovation just staying connected – we couldn’t be more proud of such an awesome team! ‘
