Primary Care Network (PCN) 1, also known as One Network Alliance, is made up of four practices in Tower Hamlets. They came together to engage with the local Somali community, at a community event for senior citizens on Wednesday 29 November 2024, and gather their views about the Covid vaccine, provide health checks and raise awareness about bowel cancer.
Leena Khagram, from the Bowel Cancer Screening programme, was invited to talk to the group about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and explained how the screening test works. Tower Hamlets Council Public Health’s older adults team also supported the event by providing an additional staff member to support with carrying out health checks.
Annie Robertson, Network Manager for One Network Alliance, said: “We are fortunate that we have a diverse workforce within the PCN, and we have two Somali-speaking staff members who were able to converse and translate for the wider team.”
With the several health partners attending the event, they were able to deliver:
One of the participants fed back: "The clinicians and other professionals were very dedicated. I have never seen Somali speaking professionals coming to our centre before... I hope that this kind of community health and wellbeing is continued and adapted."
