Achieving results for Bradford District depends on everyone, across different sectors and communities, pulling together. So it was satisfying that the Care Quality Commission’s review of health and care services to older people found that committed leadership across the whole system and a skilled, dedicated workforce are translating strategic goals into real difference on the ground. Health and care budgets are squeezed though and demand is increasing. Extra Government money for health won’t solve the problems facing the NHS without similar support for social care. There’s a clear relationship between the health of people and the health of the economy and our best chance of reducing pressure on services lies in economic growth that offers everyone chances to prosper. June sees Bradford Literature Festival return, a great reminder of the part culture plays in stimulating growth. The Bradford BID team understand this and we look forward to seeing their plans for a vibrant city centre with more cultural events and activities.

Kersten England
Chief Executive, City of Bradford MDC

Bradford’s health and care system has a clear shared purpose, vision and strategy that is articulated throughout all levels, and a high degree of trust and commitment between system leaders and councillors. The strategic plan and partnership approach are delivering better outcomes for older people needing care. These were among the findings of a review undertaken by regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to see if the system is effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The Commission looked at how hospitals, community health services, GP practices, care homes and homecare agencies work together to provide seamless care for older people. It found that agencies were working to keep older people safe at home rather than hospital, where possible, and help them move between services when that was necessary.

Innovative practice and effective collaboration included:

• the efforts of the Bradford Enablement Support Team (BEST) and the Multi-agency Discharge Team (MAIDT) to support people to live at home and ensure safe, timely hospital discharges.
• the intermediate care hub - the first point of contact to enable people to receive care or support when their needs change.
• the work of the Medicines Service at Home Team,
• good work with the voluntary and community sector to deliver services in partnership.

Inspectors found that sharing information was an occasional barrier, although some processes were well developed and that access to GPs and district nurses was variable, especially out of hours which meant that sometimes people had to rely on emergency services. Overall though, partnership working was strong, mature and delivering improvements.

Find out more about Bradford’s vision, “Happy Healthy at Home” (PDF).

With health and social care services under significant pressure, working together across the whole system is critically important to sustaining good services.  Likewise, investment is also needed across the whole system. The Government’s announcement of a £20.5bn funding boost for the NHS has led public sector finance experts to call for similar injection of cash into social care without which pressure on the NHS will continue to grow.

Increasing numbers of people needing care, along with spiraling costs and higher numbers of complex cases, mean that social care services are facing unprecedented and unrelenting financial stress.

Action being taken to manage demand and address the challenges in adult social care includes:

• Focus on ensuring people are cared for at home first by making sure they get the right service in the right place at the right time.
• Close and more integrated working with health services.
• Using technology to improve efficiency

However, the Council’s latest financial forecasts show a continuing reduction in financial resources with a funding gap of £32.5m by 2024. This is on top of almost £300m in savings already identified since 2011.

Without a long-term funding solution for adults social care it will consume an increasing share of a reducing pot of money - half of all Council spending goes on adults and children’s services - and the less there will be to invest in the other activities and services that help to keep people well and healthy and with good quality of life. A Government Green Paper on the future of Social Care has been put back until Autumn 2018.

You can find out more about the issues affecting Adult Social Care here.

The fifth Bradford Literature Festival looks set to be the best yet with more than 500 events over 10 days from the 29 June to 8 July. Star turns include former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno, 70s rock icon Suzi Quatro and Mobo award-winning hip-hop artist Akala alongside a host of literary names like Jeanette Winterson, Ben Okri, and Jackie Kay.

With a growing reputation as one of the UK’s most inspirational festivals, the event, backed by Provident Financial Group, is one of the unique cultural assets which are central to the district’s distinctive offer and play a key role in our economic strategy, “Pioneering, Confident and Connected”. Our unique architecture, heritage and cultural assets can support the development of the district’s offer to investors and contribute to an environment for growth as well as attracting visitors and keeping Bradford on the cultural map.

Last year’s festival attracted over 50,000 people – an increase of 18,000 over the previous year and around 40,000 more than 2014’s inaugural event. Nearly two thirds of those involved last year were 18 and under.

That rapid expansion in visitor numbers is reflected across the wider visitor economy which is now estimated to be worth £656m, supporting over 13,500 jobs. Recent analysis shows total spending by visitors increased by 10% between 2015 and 2016 and the number of related jobs by 4%. The district attracted an estimated 2.25m visitor nights in 2016 and around 11.6m day trips.

A vibrant city centre, building on events like the literature festival and a programme of new activities is a central part of the plan for a Business Improvement District (BID) to be unveiled on June 27. Business leaders backing the BID aim to increase visitor numbers, instil civic pride and invest over £2.5m in the city centre, £425,000 of which would support events and animation of the city centre.  If the BID goes ahead it would secure funds from an annual levy on 6,000 city centre businesses. Businesses will vote in September on whether the proposals should go ahead. The BID business plan is launched on Wednesday 27 June, 6pm at Pictureville Cinema, all welcome.