Keeping people at the heart of discussions at Alliance Away Day

The Dorset General Practice Alliance came together this week for a team away day, and local people and neighbourhoods were at the centre of the conversation.

Established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) since the end of last year, the Alliance is the collective voice of general practice across Dorset. They bring together practices, Primary Care Networks, GP Federations and the wider general practice workforce.

The Alliance Board reflects the breadth of modern general practice, including elected representatives from each of Dorset’s 18 PCNs, alongside leads for Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacy, Nursing and Patient and Public involvement.

That mix was in evidence at the Away Day, with clinical voices, operational expertise and patient perspective around the table.

Discussions ranged from Alliance governance, through to the bigger picture about how general practice can work alongside healthcare partners to genuinely shift care closer to home.

What stood out throughout the day was the consistent thread running through every agenda item, that real progress in primary care comes from understanding and responding to the needs of people and communities. Whether mapping frailty pathways or exploring how the Primary Care Training Hub can better support the workforce, the team kept returning to what matters most which is building services around local people, not the other way around.

The day wrapped up with agreed next steps and shared messaging to take back to Alliance members. It was a productive day of thinking and collaboration.

Find out more about the Alliance and how we represent general practice across Dorset: Working With Our Practices — Dorset General Practice Alliance