December 2021
In response to the new Omicron variant and high COVID-19 transmission rates in the community, additional measures are in place including mandatory face coverings in most public venues and on public transport and guidance to work from home for those who can from today. Also, this week the use of the NHS COVID Pass will be mandatory for entry into venues where large crowds gather such as nightclubs.
Please do continue to take precautions including ventilating rooms, maintaining a safe distance from others, using face coverings, testing regularly, and isolating when symptomatic.
It is extremely important that if you are eligible, you get your COVID-19 vaccination now – whether this is your first, second or booster does. It is a tremendous achievement that in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent we have now delivered over 2 million vaccines, which is thanks to our vaccination teams.
Rising cases is concerning, as I am very conscious of the pressures and media attention currently on our primary care colleagues. Demand for primary care has accelerated since the pandemic, combined with shortages in the workforce. This is unsustainable, and our practices are having to work differently to deliver safe care. There is a lot of work happening in partnership with practices to share learning, reduce variation and support them to meet demand this winter. I’d like to reiterate the Board’s commitment to supporting practices and continuing to work together through this difficult time.
At our last Board meeting, it was shocking to hear the examples of the abuse our primary care, and other frontline staff, are experiencing. As a Board, we have a zero-tolerance policy to the abuse of any health and care staff and are reiterating this message publicly over the coming weeks. COVID-19 is still with us, and everyone is continuing to manage under the most difficult circumstances, we all need to show kindness in these challenging times. I would also like to thank the majority of our patients and residents who are continuing to support us.
Last month, Peter Axon was announced as the new interim Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Integrated Care System (ICS) Chief Executive. Peter needs no introduction; he is well established within the system and is highly respected. He has a strong collaborative style and approach and his background as a Finance Director, previous experience in commissioning and in community services and now as a Mental Health Trust CEO, all of which means that he is well placed to take on this system role. He knows the system well and has played a key part in our ICS development journey, leading on place-based partnerships, culture, and occupational development. With his knowledge of the system as well as his established relationships, Peter will be able to step into the role seamlessly.
There is a huge amount to do within the ICS in the coming months, supporting the system to get through the significant pressures of COVID-19 and winter, improving our performance and delivery and transforming care for residents.
We have started the process of recruitment to the Board for Executive and Non-Executive roles so that we have the capacity and capability to undertake the functions of the ICB. These arrangements will enable us to move forward as a system with some confidence in undertaking all that needs to be done to get through the next period and establish the ICB board by April 2022.
I am sure you will join me in supporting Peter in his leadership task ahead. You can read more about our transition below.
I would also like to place on record my appreciation and thanks to Simon Whitehouse and Marcus Warnes for their contribution to date and continued leadership.
Rightly so, our focus is on the day job and managing our system pressures. However, it is important that we also take time to focus on our future and the health needs of future generations. Over the past few weeks, climate change has been in the spotlight. Locally this is a priority for us, as climate change affects us all. If we want to deliver our vision of a healthier population, we need to do our bit towards climate change. You can find out more below.
I’d like to finish with a thank you to everyone who is sharing their insight and helping to shape the future of the ICS, whilst continuing to balance the day-to-day job.
Prem Singh, ICS Independent Chair
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Welcome to Peter Axon who joined us on 01 December as the interim Chief Executive for the ICS/ICB. Peter joins us from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust.
Here is a short video from Peter introducing himself to the system.
Chris Bird, at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust, has taken on the challenge of leading the ICS’ sustainability programme. All systems are required to have a three-year strategy by March 2022. There are challenging national targets for all partners and we will need everyone to get behind them, from tackling waste through to larger discussions about estate management. The role of an ICP is to focus on long-term strategy and tackling climate change is key to safeguarding the future health of local people.
We will be sharing more information over the coming weeks and you can follow our progress on our website. You can also hear from Chris in his short video, about the challenge ahead and our collective commitment to a Greener Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Following the appointment of Peter as Interim Chief Executive Officer, the process of the recruitment to the Board for Executive and Non-Executive roles will commence. The four Non-Executive Directors posts have been advertised nationally and it is expected that the other ICB Executive board designate roles will be advertised early in the New Year. We are continuing to work through the national assurance process to become an established ICS from 01 April 2022 and we have made significant progress working with partners across the system.
Demand on our system, and especially urgent and emergency care, continues to remain exceptionally high. This affects all parts of our system, including social care, primary and community care, secondary care and mental health and we’re continuing to work together to manage this through our surge plans.
With COVID-19 cases rising we are facing a difficult winter, as we deal with lower immunity to common colds/flu, manage increasing numbers of acutely ill patients in our hospitals and at the same time tackle the backlog for routine care. The increased national funding to tackle this backlog is welcome, however there is no doubt we face a difficult season ahead.
We’d like to encourage anyone, staff or resident, who has not had their winter vaccines (such as flu, COVID-19 boosters) to do so without delay – we need your help if we are to maintain routine care this winter. Find out more about how to get your vaccine on our website (click here).
Healthier Ageing and Frailty Strategy
We’re making good progress against a number of projects under this priority including:-
Community Rapid Intervention Services (CRIS) Strategy
The CRIS rollout across the ICS continues to meet national standards and is a key part of our preparation for winter. We have received funding to support the evaluation of CRIS, which is expected to be completed by April 2022. An evaluation protocol has been developed and agreed upon and will inform the development of our long term CRIS strategy (expected in June 2022).
Prevention
The workstream is in the start-up phase and initial meetings have taken place and next steps identified. Work has commenced in the following areas:
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Physical activity and other interventions to delay onset of frailty
- Engagement with Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (76 questionnaires returned)
- Work with Staffordshire University is in a conceptual stage in developing the methodology
Slowing down progression: mild to moderate frailty
This is also in the start-up phase with a project meeting held in September with various colleagues across the system. A proposal for the outcomes framework has been received which will inform the baseline for the programme. This work should be completed in the next few months.
Falls
A stocktake of all commissioned services for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent footprint has taken place and a ‘What looks good’ document has been produced with good clinical engagement.
Task and finish groups are now underway to support the business intelligence and finance element and a baseline data review against the Project Implementation Plans (PIPs) metric has taken place.
Engagement with the place-based partnerships (PBPs) is now starting to take place for the delivery arm.
In addition to the above, the Frailty Strategy has been finalised and circulated across partners.
System Savings
The system has made further progress with the implementation of the actions underpinning the financial strategy.
The Health and Care Senate agreed ten system metrics that would indicate the success of the strategy to limit activity growth. The top ten system metrics and the more detailed Project Implementation Plan (PIP) level metrics show encouraging signs that a number of interventions are working. For example, despite a rise in calls to 999, the overall level of conveyances to hospitals fell compared to the pre-Covid period, and the ambulance provider, WMAS, advise that the system now has the lowest level of conveyancing in the region.
The Senate has agreed to establish a small group to further develop the metrics to ensure that they are reflecting the aims of clinical improvement.
The implementation of the system strategy is now well embedded across all stakeholders. Plans are described and implemented at the system levels where appropriate, or at Place level where local implementation is required.
The system is now in a good place to respond to the expected financial challenge of 2022/23.
Health Inequalities
The Community Health Champions programme in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have adopted the Community Health Champions approach to reach out to communities, recognising the need for trusted, clear and effective communication and engagement approaches with communities.
The system has undertaken concerted efforts to reach out to the most at risk from COVID-19 and boost vaccine take-up by promoting positive messages around ‘living safely with COVID-19’ and dispelling myths by providing accurate, up-to-date information. Champions supported the promotion of pop-up clinics specifically targeting marginalised communities. The community champion programme is engaging with communities on messages to protect those most at risk across the city including understanding symptoms, compliance with restrictions, accessing and promoting testing, accessing support and services, tackling misinformation and encouraging take-up of the vaccination programme.
Further work is being done to engage with Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities and residents living with disabilities and limiting long-term conditions. The programme will improve clarity about variants of concern/ infections and links to testing and vaccinations. It will also help to evidence the different impacts of COVID-19 on the community particularly in areas of mental health, housing (e.g. rent evictions), food poverty, educational needs/catch up. Read more.
Restoration and Recovery: Focus on Primary Care
Primary care access update
Last week we saw the reintroduction of some preventative measures, such as wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport. However, the extra measures and restrictions never went away in healthcare settings, and the local health and care system is still feeling the impact of COVID-19, including primary care. Infection prevention control measures remain in place, with strict cleaning measures adding to the time it takes for a single appointment, and social distancing meaning that waiting rooms still have limited capacity.
Practices continue to use telephone triage to help manage demand, whilst keeping patients and staff safe. However, face-to-face appointments are available where there is a clinical need to be seen in person. Read more.
Our transformation programmes restarted in August 2021, having been paused since March 2020, to allow partners to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During September/October we held a number of surveys and events to understand if there is anything new we needed to consider as we develop proposals for Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) services (Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent) and the mental health services that were formerly provided at the George Bryan Centre (Tamworth, Lichfield and Burton).
In addition to this work, we have also had several other surveys open, now that involvement work has picked back up. Read more.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
Acceleration of the vaccination programme
Following the government announcement regarding accelerating the vaccination programme, the NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot/attend a walk-in clinic to guarantee their vital jab.
All over 18s will be eligible to receive their booster vaccinations.
Please do not contact your GP for a vaccination appointment, you can book an appointment through the online National Booking System, calling 119, or by visiting a walk-in clinic.
Programme milestones
Last week was the first anniversary of the region’s COVID-19 vaccination programme – an effort which has seen more than two million jabs administered to patients across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The national vaccination campaign was launched on 08 December 2020, with the local campaign starting two days later, initially focused upon offering doses to people aged over 80 and health and care workers.
Since then, the campaign has expanded to offer first, second and booster vaccines, as well as third jabs for immunocompromised patients. The range of patients being offered jabs appropriate to their age has expanded from people over 80 down to children aged 12-15, with the rollout currently being accelerated to help counter the threat of the new Omicron variant.
This effort has involved all of our local NHS services, both Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police, the military and the voluntary sector, so thank you to everyone, together we are working towards keeping Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe.
By the start of December, 87.1 per cent of patients in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire had received their first dose, 83.6 per cent had received their second dose and 70 per cent of those eligible for a booster jab had received their dose, with 77.7 per cent of care home residents having had a booster – the highest figure in the Midlands.
Some 66.1 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds have received their first dose, along with 44.8 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds.
12-15 vaccinations
As a reminder, parents/guardians of the younger age groups between 12-15 can book their COVID-19 vaccinations in three ways:
- Visit a walk-in clinic (no appointment needed)
- Through the School Aged Immunisation Service visiting local schools
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National Booking System or calling 119
We are working on providing more clinics for 12-15 vaccinations. For more information about the 12-15 programme please visit https://www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk/coronavirus/12-15-year-olds
Winter vaccinations
It is important to boost your immunity this winter with both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccinations. If you had your second dose three months ago, you are now eligible for your booster vaccination. You can attend a walk-in clinic (no appointment needed), visit the National Booking System to book an appointment or call 119. Stay protected this winter by boosting your immunity.
To learn more visit: https://www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk/news-and-events/flu-vaccination-2021-2022
NHS 111
National 111 Further Faster Project
In September 2021 the system was asked to support a National programme called NHS 111 Further Faster as one of only six Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to work in the implementation of innovation and safe, rapid and effective progression of the NHS 111 service. Supported by the national team the aim is to have an “art of the possible” approach, test new concepts and lead the way in changes required within the 111 service that offer patients right care first time, avoiding unnecessary moves to acute care seeking treatment where alternatives within the community are available.
The aim of the programme is to support the three key components of the service. These are 111 telephony, 111 on-line and 111 validation and streaming. A set of core work streams are in place that bring the programme into one overarching plan, which includes technology, evaluation and communication to name just a few.
The programme will run from October 2021 until March 2022 and we will keep you updated with the latest developments from the programme and the wider 111 First service as it develops across our system.
NHS 111 First ‘Help Us, Help You’
On 01 November, NHS England and NHS Improvement launched the next phase of the latest ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign which focuses on NHS 111 online.
The activity will also seek to increase awareness and understanding that NHS 111 online makes it easier for patients to get the treatment they need in the right place. NHS 111 online can also direct patients to urgent treatment centres/walk in centres, GPs, pharmacies and emergency dental services and, if needed, arrange a call from a healthcare professional. The target audience for this campaign is all adults with a focus on young people (20-29) and parents of children aged 5-12 years.
The ‘Help Us, Help You’ NHS 111 campaign will run from 01 November 2021 until the end of March 2022. Assets including TV advert, campaign posters, a social content calendar and alternative formats will be made available from the national Campaign Resource Centre, as well as our Resource Folder on the Together We’re Better website.
Alternative access to NHS 111
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can:
NHS England has produced this video to help people with a learning disability, autism or both, to use the NHS 111 service.
Other resources are also available on the NHS 111 service including:
For any further information, or if you would like to support the 111 First campaign across your network, then please contact mlcsu.staffsccgscomms@nhs.net
Finance team shortlisted for prestigious HFMA award
The finance team led by Paul Brown in the CCGs has been shortlisted for the HFMA finance team of the year award. The award was submitted on behalf of the system, recognising the work across all partners to tackle our financial deficit by focussing on the patient pathway and working with clinicians to design the solutions. We are the only ICS to have been shortlisted, so congratulations to everyone involved.
Patients welcomed at Longton's new £5 million health centre
Patients are now being welcomed to the new £5 million Longton South Primary Care Centre. The centre has become home to two of the area’s GP surgeries, Willow Bank Surgery and Longton Hall Surgery. It is now catering for around 20,000 patients. Take a look around and see how patients and staff will benefit.
New clinic providing specialist children and families health services opens in Cannock
Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust has relocated its Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Community Paediatrics and Paediatric Occupational Therapy teams from their current base at Cannock Chase Hospital to a new and improved location at West Chadsmoor clinic. The move to West Chadsmoor, in Clarion Way will be carried out in a phased approach. Full information can be found here.
Blood Bikes volunteers receive special honour
The Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes team have been given an honorary Chief Executive’s Award. Tracy Bullock, University Hospital North Midland’s chief executive, presented the team with a certificate to say thank you for the service they provide to patients and staff at UHNM. The team ride through all weathers at short notice to transport everything from blood and organs to breast milk.
Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes are a registered charity and all members are unpaid volunteers. The riders drop blood samples to all the Birmingham Hospitals on a daily basis free of charge, along with nighttime call-outs to transport blood for the UHNM blood bank. They save the hospital thousands of pounds per year as previously taxis had to be used for every run.
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust wins top industry equality, diversity and inclusion award
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust has been announced as the winner of a prestigious HPMA (Healthcare People Management Association) Award for its work on leading in equality, diversity and inclusion.
The award, for the Trust’s ‘Delivering on Diversity: Achieving a major shift in our culture of race inclusion’ work, was presented at the HPMA Excellence in People Awards Ceremony on 7 October 2021. You can read more here.
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