Gemma Kilbride
Community Linking Operational Lead
My name is Gemma Kilbride and I work in the Outer West Gateshead PCN as the Community Linking Operational Lead.
What I Do
My role is about empowering people to be able to reduce their health inequalities.
I work with any person who needs help - there is no age limit or restriction.
We are a lynchpin connecting them to other services in the community, we can advocate for them on a small scale but our ultimate aim is to get them connected to a specialist service.
How I Support Patients
We generally have an initial telephone conversation to establish their communication and meeting requirement needs, all information is taken verbally to reduce barriers to engagement.
There is no time or session limited aspect to our service as other social prescribing models have, they can work with us on as many occasions as they feel necessary as long as there is a need to be fulfilled. We consider the holistic aspects of their life and circumstances.