The challenge
A large primary care network (PCN) in the South of England identified a gap in their service for patients who were unable to visit their practice – either due to immobility or because they were living in care homes. With reduced general medical services (GMS) budgets and increasing demand for face-to-face care, GP capacity was stretched, leaving little room for community visits.
This lack of capacity led to delays in the initiation of end-of-life care and missed early signs of disease exacerbation, resulting in unnecessary hospital admissions and compromised patient safety.
At the same time, the PCN had access to Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding, designed to support the recruitment of a broader range of healthcare professionals. However, like many PCNs across the country, they faced challenges in recruiting, training, and managing these roles. In recent years, up to 40% of ARRS budgets have gone unspent – representing a significantly missed opportunity to enhance patient care and relieve pressure on clinical teams.
The solution
To address these challenges, the PCN partnered with the Primary and Urgent Care Alliance (PUCA) – a clinical led CQC-registered organisation – and Reed’s health and care division to implement a cost-neutral, ARRS-funded home visiting and enhanced access service.
The model was designed to be simple, scalable, and effective. Experienced paramedics were recruited through Reed’s extensive clinical network and deployed by PUC Alliance, supported by a team of care coordinators. These clinicians were trained on local referral pathways – including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) assessments, wound care referrals, and community phlebotomy – and equipped with EMIS-enabled laptops to ensure seamless integration with the PCN’s systems.
When a patient needed a home visit, the process was efficient. A practice clinician would first carry out a quick telephone triage to assess the situation. If a visit was required, they’d complete a referral using a pre-populated EMIS form. From there, a care coordinator would step in to assign the visit to the nearest available paramedic. After seeing the patient, the paramedic would update the clinical notes directly into EMIS and, if needed, consult with a duty clinical lead to arrange prescriptions or further care.
Laura Inman, Business Manager at Reed, said: “Our deep understanding of healthcare staffing allowed us to respond quickly, providing the PCN with high-quality, vetted clinicians.
“We’re proud to have helped deliver a service that not only improved patient care but also made full use of available funding.”
The results
The one-year trial delivered impressive results. Patients were often seen on the same day, emergency department attendances were reduced, and patient satisfaction increased significantly.
The service proved so effective that the PCN commissioned a further two-year contract, expanding the scope to include Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) - claimable activities such as diabetic foot checks, community electrocardiograms (ECGs), ear irrigation, and respect form completion. In February 2025, the service also began delivering Covid-19 vaccinations in the community.
The streamlined referral process meant that care was delivered promptly and with minimal disruption to practice operations. The quality of service provided by the paramedics and Reed also left a lasting impression, with a practice manager at Parkwood Family Practice stating: “We have been using the services of PUCA and Reed for a few years. We have always found service provision to be good and the paramedics that are provided to be extremely knowledgeable and kind.”
Alex Dawson, National Director of Reed’s health and care division, added: “This partnership shows what’s possible when clinical innovation meets workforce expertise.
“It’s a scalable model that delivers real impact for both the practice and its patients.”
The additional clinical capacity created by the service allowed GPs to focus on in-practice care, while patients benefited from timely, community-based interventions that helped avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
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