Dear Colleagues,
As we move through the summer months, I hope everyone has been able to enjoy some of the warmer weather. With temperatures continuing to rise, I would also encourage colleagues to take care, stay safe, and keep hydrated during what can often be a busy and demanding period for General Practice teams.
Shareholder opportunity & federation future direction
The most important update I would like to share is regarding our recent Shareholder Opportunity Webinar and the ongoing engagement work taking place with member practices.
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who attended the webinar and contributed to what was a constructive and positive discussion about the future direction of East Lancashire Alliance. The level of engagement demonstrated the commitment practices continue to show towards shaping the future of our Federation and ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of General Practice.
Following the webinar, a further update was circulated to practices on 25th June 2026, providing additional information, responses to frequently asked questions, and clarification on several points raised by practices.
As a membership organisation, practice engagement is fundamental to the future success of the Federation. The conversations taking place over the coming months will help shape how East Lancashire Alliance continues to support practices, develop services, and represent General Practice across the wider health and care system. Maintaining open communication, transparency, and engagement with practices remains a priority for the Board and Executive Team, and we remain committed to ensuring practices have the information.
I would like to thank all practices for their continued engagement and support throughout this process. The strength of our Federation has always been its membership, and it is important that we continue to work together to shape a sustainable and ambitious future for primary care across East Lancashire.
Mobilisation of LES gap services
I am pleased to confirm that East Lancashire Alliance is now mobilising the LES Gap Services, which are scheduled to commence from 1st August 2026. These services include:
- Vaginal Pessary Management
- Wound Care Services
- Diabetes Services
Significant work has been undertaken with commissioners, practices, and system partners to support a safe and effective mobilisation. These services represent an important opportunity to strengthen community-based provision, improve access for patients, and provide additional support to practices while helping to reduce pressure elsewhere in the system.
Neighbourhood Development & Collaborative Working
Neighbourhood development continues to gather momentum across East Lancashire, both at system and PCN level, as we work towards delivering more integrated, population-focused care. The Alliance remains actively involved in supporting these developments and ensuring that General Practice has a strong voice in shaping future neighbourhood models.
As neighbourhood arrangements evolve, it is essential that they build upon the strong foundations already established within Primary Care Networks while creating opportunities for closer collaboration with community services, mental health teams, social care, the voluntary sector, and acute providers. We continue to work closely with PCNs, Place teams, and system leaders to ensure neighbourhood development remains practical, clinically led, and focused on delivering tangible benefits for patients and practices.
System Leadership & Advocacy for General Practice
Alongside neighbourhood development, the Alliance continues to represent General Practice at system level, ensuring the voice of primary care is heard in key discussions regarding service transformation, pathway redesign, and future commissioning opportunities.
Our focus remains on ensuring services are delivered in the right place, at the right time, and by the right provider for the benefit of our local population. We will continue to advocate strongly for General Practice while supporting collaborative approaches that improve outcomes for patients and strengthen the sustainability of primary care across East Lancashire.
Looking Ahead
The coming months will be busy as we mobilise new services, continue our shareholder engagement programme, support neighbourhood development, and contribute to ongoing system transformation. I would like to thank all practices, PCNs, and colleagues for their continued support, professionalism, and commitment to delivering excellent care for our patients.
For those fortunate enough to be taking annual leave over the summer period, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break, spend time with family and friends, and return refreshed. Thank you once again for everything you do to support patients and communities across East Lancashire. I look forward to working with you all as we continue to strengthen and develop primary care across our area.
Kind regards.
Nigat Sultana, Chief Executive Officer
Table of Contents
Compliance update
Since taking up the role of Compliance Officer earlier this year, Carly Fletcher has been getting to grips with the Alliance’s various policies and procedures.
Maintaining CQC readiness is an integral part of ELA’s governance framework. Carly is working with the Operations Team to continually review our processes, strengthen assurance arrangements, and ensure our evidence accurately reflects the high standards of care, governance and service delivery provided across the Alliance.
As Carly reflected, “The aim is to ensure we continue to meet the required standards and demonstrate compliance across all areas of our service.”
Carly is also finalising policy reading lists for each team. Once approved, these will be shared across teams to ensure all staff have easy access to the latest policies, procedures, and important updates.
Finally, work is well underway to improve patient feedback surveys across all ELA services. By integrating the survey infrastructure with the Alliance website, Carly hopes to make it easier for patients to share their experiences and easier for the Alliance to collate these into actionable insights.
Research Team update
Research Team hits the road
Research Nurse, Shereen Farooq, recently joined upwards of 8,000 visitors and enthusiasts at the Burnley Classic Vehicle Show in Towneley Park. Thanks to a complimentary stand from hosts The Rotary Club of Burnley, Shereen was on hand to showcase the important work taking place across our practices and raise awareness of opportunities to take part in health and care research.
The event offered a fantastic opportunity to speak with people from across the community about the role research plays in improving healthcare. Through a range of conversations, Shereen was able to understand more about guests’ experiences of research and challenge common misconceptions that research only takes place in laboratories or hospitals.
Visitors also learned about Genes & Health, a study exploring how DNA can improve our understanding of health and disease. The simple saliva sample required for the study proved to be an accessible way to engage with people and encourage participation, particularly within our ethnically diverse communities. Shereen was even able to recruit several new participants during the event.
Reflecting on the event, Shereen said, “I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and promote the work ELA has been doing to increase research activity across East Lancashire”
Research Huddles
Elsewhere, the Research Team has created a focused space for colleagues to share insights, explore emerging ideas, and strengthen connections across our research community.
The ‘Research Huddles’ will be held on the 1st Tuesday of ever month with agenda highlights to include:
- Brief project updates.
- Open discussion on current challenges.
- Idea-sharing and cross-team opportunities.
- Next steps and actions.
If you would be interested in attending, please email: elalliance.ela.research@nhs.net
Community Nurse Team update
ACP Conference champions accessibility:
Advanced Care Planning Practitioner, Sarah Drachenberg, recently attended The National Advance Care Planning (ACP) Conference. The conference, delivered as a hybrid event, formed part of the UK’s National Advance Care Planning Day and aimed to promote awareness, education, and good practice in advance care planning.
For this year’s conference, the central theme for was:
“Supporting people and communities who are marginalised.”
The conference highlighted the need to ensure advance care planning is accessible, inclusive, and person-centred for individuals and groups who may face barriers to participation in healthcare decision-making. Speakers explored ways to empower people whose voices are often underrepresented and to tailor ACP approaches to diverse communities. Some of the main learning points included:
- Advance Care Planning should be an ongoing conversation rather than a one-off event.
- Professionals must actively engage with individuals who may be disadvantaged by disability, communication barriers, social exclusion, or health inequalities.
- Effective ACP improves person-centred care by ensuring people’s wishes, values, and preferences are understood and respected.
- Collaboration between healthcare providers, social care teams, voluntary organisations, families, and communities is essential for successful ACP implementation.
The programme featured presentations from recognised experts in palliative and end-of-life care, including:
- Dr Kathryn Mannix, author and retired palliative care physician.
- Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, discussing involvement of people with learning disabilities in end-of-life care planning.
- Dr Jed Jerwood and other national leaders in ACP and community engagement.
Topics covered included:
- Involving people with learning disabilities in advance care planning.
- The role of volunteers and community-based conversations.
- Improving communication and reducing inequalities in end-of-life planning.
- Building confidence among professionals to initiate sensitive ACP discussions.
For healthcare professionals, the conference reinforced the importance of:
- Early and proactive ACP conversations.
- Shared decision-making.
- Recording and reviewing patient wishes.
- Reducing health inequalities.
- Ensuring ACP processes are accessible for vulnerable and marginalised populations.
The conference was also an opportunity for the team to access new information and resources to support their work and ongoing development. This included a new guide from Kingston University London, created in partnership with Paradigm, titled ‘End of life care planning with people with a learning disability’. The guide offers a useful introduction to end of life planning and how these conversations can (and should) be approached with people with a learning disability. You can download the guide using the link below.
‘Newly Diagnosed’ event receives high praise:
The Parkinson’s Community Nurse team received high praise from attendees of their recent ‘Newly Diagnosed’ event. Held on the 22nd May at the Leisure Box in Brierfield, the event brought together experts from Parkinson’s UK, speech and language therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, and local community groups to share a wealth of information with attendees. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with 100% of attendees agreeing that they would recommend the ‘Newly Diagnosed’ event to others.New Parkinson’s-friendly class available
A new and completely free Parkinson’s-friendly class is now available to support physical fitness. Held weekly at Clayton Amateur Boxing and Community Club, the class aims to:- Strengthen overall stability.
- Ease muscle tension and rigidity.
- Give greater freedom of movement.
- Build self-assurance
- Create all important social connections.
Starting 1pm every Wednesday, the class is approved and supported by the Parkinson’s team and Parkinson’s UK.
HR Team update
Preparing for changes to employment law
From Wednesday 1st July 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 has been amended to reduce Qualifying Service Requirements. This change has implications for probation periods and when employees are able to claim unfair dismissal.
Previously, an employee had to be employed for two years before being able to claim unfair dismissal. This has now been reduced to six months.
In preparation for these changes, due to take effect in January 2027, a key focus for the HR team has been reviewing contracts of employment, probationary arrangements and people management processes. The team has been busy updating probation clauses, developing structured probation review processes and providing practical guidance for managers to ensure concerns are identified and addressed early.
Over the next two months, the team will continue supporting clients with reviewing contracts, updating policies and ensuring managers have the confidence and tools to manage performance effectively during probation and beyond.
HR will also be keeping a close eye on further consultations and developments arising from the Employment Rights Act. We will be providing timely updates as new guidance is published to ensure ELA clients remain compliant, well-prepared and equipped with practical HR advice that supports both their organisation and their people.
Useful links for staff:
- Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They also offer training and help to resolve disputes.
- NHS Pensions can be contacted using the following methods:
- Email: nhsbsa.pensionsmember@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
- Online Form: Use the online contact form available on the NHSBSA website.
- Phone: Call the NHS Pension Scheme Helpline at 01253 774774.
- General Inquiries: For pay and pension inquiries, you can call 0303 123 1144, available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Clinical Coding Team update
Our Clinical Coding Service continues to provide flexible, high-quality support to GP practices across the region, delivering both short-term and ongoing solutions tailored to individual practice needs.
Our experienced clinical coding team continues to process documents efficiently and accurately in line with the latest coding standards and NHS guidance. By providing timely coding, filing, and forwarding of documentation, the team helps practices reduce administrative pressures, maintain accurate patient records, and support smooth day-to-day operations.
Whether your practice requires additional support during periods of increased demand or is looking for a longer-term coding solution, our service can be tailored to meet your needs.
If you would like to find out more about how we can support your practice, please get in touch:
- 01282 222 074
- eastlancs.alliance@nhs.net
Paid opportunities for practice-paid personnel:
We are currently offering flexible document coding work for experienced practice-paid personnel. If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please contact us by clicking the button below:
Communications Team update
A new look for the Alliance
Since assuming the role of Communications and Marketing Coordinator back in February, I’ve been steadily getting to grips with the Alliance brand and giving our key channels a much-needed refresh. If you have visited the Alliance website lately, you will have hopefully noticed a marked improvement. Extensive work has been done to:
- Improve the site’s structure
- Simplify navigation
- Employ engaging visuals
- Bolster service pages with additional information
- Create a refreshed staff area – more on this soon!
All of this work has been underpinned by a comprehensive rebranding covering everything from visual guidelines to tone of voice.
As we continue to develop and distribute communications over the coming months, these changes will hopefully become even more apparent – ensuring we bring the highest levels of consistency and professionalism at all times.
Recruitment news
Advanced Care Practitioner
The Alliance is currently looking for an experienced Advanced Care Practitioner to join the Burnley West Primary Care Network. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a close-knit, friendly and highly supportive team, offering an excellent salary, NHS Pension Scheme and the chance to make a genuine difference to patient care every day.
Explore the full job description and submit your application using the link below:
Simple Wound Care opportunity
We are looking for Practice Nurses with experience in simple wound care who would be interested in delivering clinics as part of the Alliance’s new LES gap service. The position would offer:- An opportunity to undertake additional paid sessions
- Flexible shifts to fit around existing commitments
- Chance to develop skills in basic wound care
Be sure to check our recruitment page regularly to find the latest opportunities to work with us.
Employee Assistance Programme
HA | Wisdom Wellbeing provides 24-hour access to confidential mental health and wellbeing support for you and your immediate family. The service can be used to discuss a huge range of topics including:
- Family issues
- Consumer issues
- Housing concerns
- Bereavement
- Alcohol or drug issues
- Low mood
- Stress & anxiety
- and much more…
Service contacts
Need to speak to the team regarding one of our services?
You can find contact details for each of our main service areas below:
Coding Service
01282 222 074
Enhanced Access
01282 222670
HR & Recruitment
01282 222955
elalliance.hr@nhs.net
Finance
01282 222677
elalliance.finance@nhs.net
Community Nurse Service
01282 222 688
parkinson.comnurse@nhs.net
Driving quality through partnership.
If you have any questions or would like to feature an update in the next newsletter, please contact: iain.schofield@nhs.net
East Lancashire Alliance, Empire Way, Burnley BB12 6HH