The Rural Practice Network

26/03/2026

26/03/2026

Today we say a heartfelt thank you and farewell to Sue Crisfield as she retires, recognising the incredible impact she has made across our Primary Care Network and local communities.

Over the past four years, Sue has led and grown the Live Well With Pain (LWWP) programme across five GP surgeries, creating a compassionate and supportive network for people living with chronic pain. What began as a small pilot in Milborne Port in 2022 has flourished into a well-established programme, with monthly pain cafés continuing across our practices, led by our dedicated LWWP-trained Health Coaches – Beth Wickes (Bruton), Emma Pike (Milborne Port), Steph Burr (Castle Cary), Tracy Kendall (Queen Camel), and Megan Perrin (Wincanton).

Sue’s work has gone far beyond establishing groups. She has helped develop structured support through small group consultations using the Ten Footsteps programme, co-created resources including practitioner handbooks and patient workbooks, and supported innovative approaches such as introductory presentations and ongoing peer support through cafés and community connections.

She has also played a pivotal role in bringing people and organisations together – from establishing the Somerset Pain Management Community of Practice, to creating the RPN Neighbourhood Health & Wellbeing Forum, which continues to connect partners across the system.

Sue has championed initiatives tackling loneliness and isolation, including Good Neighbour Schemes in Bruton and Castle Cary & Ansford, and has supported wider work such as falls prevention by helping to bring partners together to expand local exercise provision.

Her passion for community, collaboration and person-centred care has left a lasting legacy. The programmes, partnerships and networks she has built will continue to grow and support many people for years to come.

On behalf of everyone across the PCN, thank you, Sue, for your dedication, energy and vision. We wish you a very happy, fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.

24/02/2026

Are you a member of a community or social group in Castle Cary or Ansford? Would you like to join us for a Good Neighbours workshop to explore ways of warmly welcoming new members and supporting people to join who might otherwise be lonely and isolated? There are three workshop dates to choose from (you only need to attend one!) - Thursday 5 March from 2-4pm or Wednesday 11 March from 10am to 12 noon or Monday 30th March from 6.30-8.30pm.
For more information, please click on this link -

Help tackle loneliness and isolation in Castle Cary

24/02/2026

If you live with long-term pain, why not come along to one of our Live Well with Pain cafes? If you are registered with the GP surgeries in Milborne Port, Queen Camel, Wincanton, Bruton or Castle Cary, please call the surgery and ask for the Live Well with Pain health coach. Our pain cafes are friendly, welcoming, social and supportive. Meet with others who understand the impact of living with chronic pain and find ways together of living better with it.

📍 Pain Cafes are free to join across Somerset helping you to have a better quality of life despite long-term pain.
💙Find your nearest group here: https://bit.ly/PainCafeSomerset

05/02/2026

Members of our Live Well with Pain cafes had a wonderful art and craft workshop in Wincanton this week.
Distraction is a key part of living with and managing pain so there was much happy chat and beautiful creations making cards, decoupage hearts, Indian block print bags, and needle felting.

07/01/2026

If you're registered with Wincanton Health Centre you are welcome to attend one of these two information sessions about Live Well with Pain.

Join us to learn practical self-management skills and build confidence in living well with pain.

31/12/2025

If you live with a long-term pain condition, we know the impact that can have - it seems to dominate every day, affects your mood, your sleep, your ability to do the things you want to do, and much more besides.

The Rural Practice Network is made up of the GP Surgeries in Castle Cary, Wincanton, Bruton, Queen Camel and Milborne Port. We run a programme called Live Well with Pain- the Ten Footsteps - which is a non-medical, skills-based, self-management approach to understanding, managing and living better with pain.

We have Live Well with Pain cafes in each of the towns and anyone registered with the practices is welcome to come along. They meet monthly for two hours and are friendly, social and informal groups where you can meet with others living better with their pain! Please contact the health coach at your surgery for more information.

Welcome to Ten Footsteps – and congratulations on taking the first step towards living well with pain!

13/10/2025

A new group for men in Bruton - all welcome.

08/09/2025

Unfortunately we cannot hold the Live Well with Pain cafe at Cleaveside Close this Wednesday, 10 September, but will be open again for the next one on Wednesday 8 October, from 10.30am to 12.30pm - if you live with a long-term pain condition and are registered at Queen Camel Medical Centre you are very welcome to join us.

13/08/2025

PLEASE NOTE - RE-ARRANGED PAIN CAFE DATE!

The Queen Camel Live Well with Pain cafe will take place next Wednesday 20 August from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Cleaveside Close community lounge (BA22 7PR).

Come along and have a cuppa and a chat with others living with long-term pain. We will be looking at the importance of communication when living with pain, and will be joined by staff from Wincanton Sports Centre to talk about the ProActive GP referral scheme and activities they have for people living with long-term health conditions.

12/08/2025

Unfortunately, due to illness, the Live Well with Pain cafe at Cleaveside Close in Queen Camel that was due to take place tomorrow, Wednesday 13 August, is postponed. We will post on here when the new date is to meet. Apologies for any inconvenience.

04/08/2025

If you are registered with Milborne Port Surgery and live with a long term pain condition, you are welcome to come along and meet others in the same situation and learn about how the Live Well with Pain Ten Footsteps can help you with managing your pain.

Come and join us at our Live Well with Pain cafe tomorrow, Tuesday 5 August from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Wheathill Close communal lounge, Milborne Port (DT9 5EU).
We will be looking at one of the Ten Footsteps on how the art of communication can help in managing pain.

We're a friendly bunch and look forward to meeting you!