Together We're Better Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP Newsletter (September 2018)

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September 2018


News from Together We're Better


Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent set to be at the forefront of the NHS digital revolution

Mobile phone

Staffordshire has been chosen as one of only five areas of the country to pilot the new NHS app for patients that will be at the forefront of the digital healthcare revolution. The app, which it is hoped to rollout nationally next year, will undergo “beta testing” in Staffordshire until the end of the year. Patients with either iOS or Android devices will be able to use it to book and manage appointments, order repeat prescriptions, check symptoms and get advice; and sign up to become an organ donor. The announcement was made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at the Health and Care Innovation Expo.

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£8.8m extra Government winter funding for UHNM welcomed

UHNM

Together We’re Better Director Simon Whitehouse has warmly received the announcement of £8.8m of extra Government money for University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) to fund two new modular wards at Royal Stoke University Hospital. “This significant investment to support the local health and care system to prepare for winter is very welcome,” said Simon. “This new funding will greatly support how the health and care system in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent prepares for winter and I’m delighted the application was backed by the Department of Health and Social Care.” The announcement is part of a £145m funding package for NHS trusts nationally.

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Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent patients benefiting from more flexible GP appointments

Extended GP hours

Patients across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are now able to access primary care services for longer under a new NHS initiative. Additional appointments are being made available to patients during weekday evenings and at weekends. Together We're Better Director Simon Whitehouse said: "This is welcome news and it is fantastic that this is being delivered by local GPs. We need to support our GPs as they are the cornerstone of our care model. We can’t expect them to simply do more with the same staff; it's not sustainable or good for staff or patients."

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Together We're Better leadership sees work of Integrated Care Teams first hand

ICTs

Together We're Better Chairman Sir Neil McKay and Director Simon Whitehouse received a first hand look at how Integrated Care Teams are helping to improve services for the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Integrated Care Teams (ICTs) are being developed to:

  • make it easier for health and social care staff to work across different organisations and with the voluntary sector;
  • be reflective of the needs of their population;
  • help people remain independent and at home for as long as possible.

Sir Neil and Simon visited early implementer sites in Meir in Stoke-on-Trent and Lichfield. Two other early implementer sites are operational in Leek/Biddulph and Stafford.

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Book now for Together We're Better Suicide Prevention Conference 

Suicide Prevention Conference

The first Together We’re Better Suicide Prevention – Making a Difference Together Conference is being held on Friday 30 November at the bet365 Stadium in Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG from 9am-4.30pm and will feature a number of key speakers, including:

  • Mr Ian Smith, HM Coroner - providing a local picture of suicide;
  • Dr Anja C. Gysin-Maillart - Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Programme (ASSIP);
  • Richard France – a survivor's story;
  • Dr Faraz Mughal, GP and NIHR in practice fellow.

The free conference will also include a series of workshops, while lunch and refreshments will be provided. Places are limited, so please click on the link below to make your booking.

Book Here >


Second Symphony of Hidden Voices inclusion conference a success

Inclusion

The second Symphony for Hidden Voices Inclusion Conference was held on 7 September. The conference was hosted by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and supports the work of Together We're Better's Organisational Development and Leadership programme. It saw the launch of TWB's Stepping Up Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Leadership Programme, which supports existing and aspiring BAME leaders to further develop their skills. Keynote speaker for the event was award-winning nurse Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, while other speakers spoke about how their lives have been shaped in different ways by their experiences of inclusion and exclusion.

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MPFT features in national quality report

Quality Improvement

Congratulations to Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which has been profiled in a national report for its focus on continuous quality improvement. The trust features in the ‘Quality improvement in hospital trusts – sharing learning from trusts on a journey of QI report’, published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The report includes a number of MPFT case studies focus on celebrating, learning and success which highlight how the trust celebrates success by proactively engaging with staff using numerous methods.

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New non-executive directors at UHNM

UHNM

Three new non-executive directors have been appointed to the Board at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. Prof Gary Crowe, Peter Akid and Leigh Griffin were appointed as non-execs on 1 September 2018, and will be joined by Ian Smith as an associate non-executive director in early 2019.

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New drug and alcohol service to provide continued support in Stoke-on-Trent

People needing support for drug or alcohol misuse are set to benefit from a new service in Stoke-on-Trent. The city council has awarded a new contract to North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust – in association with Addaction and BAC O’Connor – for delivery of drug and alcohol services over the next five years (with the option to extend for a further two). This will give improved long-term support for people in need and will ensure stability, be more consistent and effective, and deliver more value for money.

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