February 2022
The COVID-19 case rates in the community are coming down, but they are still extremely high, and our hospitals and local health and care services remain under significant pressure. Staff absences due to COVID-19 have reduced but are still causing a strain on services. Partners are working closely together to manage the increased demand in services due to coronavirus and to work through the elective recovery backlogs.
As restrictions ease, vaccinations remain our best defence against the virus and will also help to reduce the strain on our health and care services. In relation to the vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) we are awaiting additional national guidance on this, I know that colleagues and partners are working closely with individuals to understand hesitancy and to provide support to our staff across the system.
In Integrated Care System (ICS) news, the national target date for the establishment of statuary ICSs has been revised to 1 July 2022 providing increased flexibility and additional capacity to ensure that arrangements are in place to meet the new timeline.
Over the past few months, the ICS transition has made some really positive steps forward, firstly, following a national recruitment process, the anticipated Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) has now appointed five independent non-executive directors (NEDs).
We’re really pleased to welcome these compassionate and inspirational leaders who all have a strong desire to improve health and care for local people. There is more information in the update below.
With the non-executive directors now in place, work has started on the recruitment of the executive directors with applications open for the positions of Chief Medical Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Transformation and Delivery Officer and the Chief Nursing and Therapies Officer. Details of these posts and how to apply can be found in the update below and on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS website here.
The successful candidates will make a significant contribution to achieving the key purposes of the ICB and will be part of the executive team that will lead the development of the ICS. These appointments will provide a springboard for the system to move forward in terms of executive portfolio structures.
In other news, preparations are underway to transition the ICS Partnership Board into an Integrated Care Board format. We plan to operate the ICB in shadow form from April 2022 and the first meeting of the ICB as a statutory organisation will be in July 2022. You can read more about this in the update below.
Last week, the Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board launched a public conversation on their new draft strategy which is an important piece of work to help to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live in the county. There is more information below and you can take part in the survey here.
Our continued thanks go to partners and staff supporting the transition although we can’t underestimate the work needed over the coming months, our focus is absolutely on our priorities in terms of tackling inequality and improving health outcomes for local people.
Peter Axon, Interim CEO for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS and the anticipated ICB
|
Following an open and competitive, national recruitment process and with a particularly strong field, five key appointments have been made by the anticipated Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s Integrated Care Board (ICB).
The five non-executive directors have been appointed in designate roles, subject to legislation and the formal establishment of the ICB in July 2022.
The independent non-executive directors for the NHS ICB will help to shape a long-term, viable plan for the delivery of the functions, duties, and objectives of the ICB, and for the stewardship of public money.
Prem Singh, Independent Chair for the ICS and ICB Chair Designate, said: “I am pleased that we have secured such a high calibre and diverse range of individuals to join our quest to improve the health of our population, improve outcomes and experiences of health and care services. Importantly, together with our partners, we will also strive to tackle the wider inequalities our citizens and communities face.”
Following a robust process, these five people have been appointed to the following areas of interest:
- Chair of Remuneration Committee – David Pearson
- Chair of Finance and Performance Committee – Megan Nurse
- Chair of Audit Committee – Julie Houlder
- Chair of Quality and Safety Committee – Josephine Spencer
- Chair of People, Culture and Organisational Development Committee – Shokat Lal.
Prem Singh added: “They are all compassionate and inspirational leaders, driven by the values of social justice and inclusion, with a strong desire to improve health and care for local people.”
Full biographies can be found on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS website.
Now the ICB has recruited its five independent non-executive directors the recruitment process for the executive directors has begun.
For information and to apply for each of these roles, please click on the links below:
To support the recruitment process, we have pulled together an introductory pack to our ICS, which can be found by clicking on the link here. We hope that this is helpful and that it encourages a broad range of applicants.
The ICS needs inclusive and compassionate leaders who not only reflect the community they serve, and the staff employed, but have the leadership style and breadth of perspective to make effective decisions and a positive impact. The roles will be advertised widely with the aim to recruit Board members from diverse backgrounds.
For more information visit the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) website.
The closing date for applications is as follows:
- Chief Finance Officer – 23:59 on 16 February 2022
- Chief Medical Officer – 23:59 on 17 February 2022
- Chief Transformation and Delivery Officer – 23:59 on 17 February 2022
- Chief Nursing and Therapies Officer – 23:59 on 20 February 2022.
Preparations are underway to transition from a Partnership Board to an Integrated Care Board (ICB) format. Initial discussions suggest that we will operate the ICB in shadow form from April 2022. Where possible we will also operate governance arrangements that underpin the ICB for example the ICB Shadow Audit Committee meetings to support due diligence activity as we head to 1 July.
On this basis, the meeting on 17 February will be the final ICS Partnership Board meeting in public. The meetings in March and April will be private ICB Board meetings/development sessions. We will hold a public meeting of the Integrated Care Board in May to transact any formal transfer requirements and introduce the public to our new arrangements.
To ensure that we adopt responsibilities/processes in a timely manner we plan to hold the first meeting of the ICB Board as a statutory organisation on 1 July 2022.
The Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board has launched a public conversation on their new draft strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in the county.
People are invited to share their thoughts and ideas on the draft strategy, which aims to tackle the underlying causes of poor health and wellbeing across the county.
For further information and to share your thoughts follow this link.
NHS England and NHS Improvement has committed to reducing its direct emissions to ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040, with most of the reduction by 2030. The Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) programme was developed with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. It aims to provide the healthcare workforce with the knowledge and skills to deliver healthcare for financial, social and environmental sustainability.
This ESH e-learning programme includes 3 e-learning sessions; Building a Net Zero NHS, Sustainable Dentistry and Measuring Carbon in Healthcare and Environmentally Sustainable Anaesthetic Practice and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
More information can be found here.
Healthier Ageing and Frailty Strategy
Crisis Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS) Strategy
The evaluation timescales have been put back several months due to the Omicron surge. CRIS rollout across the Integrated Care System continues and is commencing in the South. Monies released to support the CRIS evaluation is to be completed by April 2022.
Evaluation will inform the development of the CRIS Strategy from June 2022 onwards. Keele University has agreed to support the evaluation in terms of the evidence review, the community of practice, qualitative interviews and an academic report.
The system Quality Improvement (QI) function, led by John Costello, is supporting the QI and qualitative elements of the evaluation.
CRIS audit has been initiated and the information and clinical governance permissions have been put into place for clinical audits.
Prevention
This is in the start-up phase, initial meetings have taken place and the next steps identified. Work has commenced in the following areas:
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Physical activity and other interventions to delay the onset of frailty
- Engagement with BAME communities
- Work with Staffordshire University
- Project Groups have been established with a draft Project Implementation Plan to be created.
The Healthy Ageing Project proposal has been re-scoped following feedback from system partners.
Mild to Moderate and Severe Frailty
Work has been carried out to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to the proactive identification of patients at high risk of admission. The team have been exploring the evidence base around best practice to influence current service delivery and make recommendations for potential future service models.
An outcomes framework is being developed for moderate frailty and Public Health are facilitating an evaluation of existing services. This includes work to improve the staying well service in the south and expand the hub capacity, the clinical model for the North Integrated Care Hubs, the clinical reference group for long term conditions and making closer links with the local authority work to ensure pre frailty and mild frailty are aligned, accessible, and there is no duplication of effort. A comprehensive best practice guide will be developed.
Falls
Refreshed steering group decision to pave a clinical strategic view of a best practice model, this work will progress in the coming weeks and will map out the clinical model for adaptation and delivery in the localities.
System Savings
The Health and Care Senate has supported system finance teams in the development of metrics that evaluate the impact of systems savings. Evidence grows that key interventions are improving alternatives to acute admissions for patients from care homes and those dialling 999. Whilst we face incredible levels of pressure on front-line services, the reductions in referrals in targeted cohorts are making a significant contribution to service delivery which would otherwise be even more pressured.
Project Implementation Plans (PIPs) have been developed and we now have 19 in place. This month the PIP for medicines optimisation was completed and approved with a financial target to reduce drug spending from primary care by £6,359,480 (gross) / £4,728,098 (net).
Significant work has also taken place on the development of PIPs for the ‘back office’ functions of IT / Digital, Estates, HR, and Finance and Payroll. These are targeted to save cash to recycle to meet service pressures and also to support the wider transformation programme. Bringing together a programme that helps the system get the most from its people, estate, digital systems and money is a key enabler of the service improvements we plan for our population.
Health Inequalities
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS has a vision to further develop and expand upon a coordinated, evidence-based approach to engaging with communities as part of a long-term community development approach via a network of Community Health Champions.
The ICS has been successful in securing a £200K bid for increasing uptake of preventative services within our population and are working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to engage with communities adopting a citizen’s/communities inquiry approach to understand the key factors that impact the health and well-being of communities. This will provide local insights and a richer understanding of existing community assets and relationships which can be used to co-develop and co-produce local solutions and innovations to prevent and reduce existing health inequalities. You can read the full report. Read more.
Restoration and Recovery: Elective Recovery
As an ICS, elective recovery is one of four main priorities for 2021/22. Over the past 18 months, as COVID-19 numbers have risen, NHS organisations have had to re-prioritise the patients that it treats, as a result of the increased pressure that has been placed on health services. At times of peak demand for COVID-19 services, elective activity such as outpatients, surgery or diagnostic procedure has had to be postponed in order to be able to prioritise and care for those patients needing our services.
Towards the end of last summer plans were put in place, to help address the significant backlog that had been created as a result of the COVID-19 pressures, which looked to maximise our collective physical capacity and workforce to treat patients. For Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and other ICSs, we have been fortunate in being able to access capacity from within the independent sector to be able to support our elective recovery. From the late summer until December 2021 significant levels of elective activity were undertaken, which saw the numbers of patients waiting longer than both 104 and 52 weeks starting to reduce. Though the recent wave of COVID-19 has meant that a good deal of this activity has once more been paused, we will be restarting our elective activity as soon as capacity allows.
We already know that elective recovery will be a key focus once more in 2022/23 and we are already having discussions across the ICS as to what more we can do collectively to support that recovery.
With the current system pressures, we have had to pause some of our activity on the Transformation Programme, although work is continuing in the background to progress the programmes for Urgent and Emergency Care, Difficult Decisions and the long-term solution for inpatient mental health services previously provided from the George Bryan Centre.
We are continuing to recruit to the reference groups (a representative group of people from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for each of the programmes of work) to help us to sense-check what we have heard and understand to be the priorities when designing local health services for our population. We are encouraging staff, patients and service-users, as well as other stakeholders with an interest in these programmes, to register their interest.
The reference groups will meet up to three times, depending on which programme they are discussing. You can read more about the work of a reference group, check the dates for meetings and register your interest on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS website.
Keep checking on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS website and social media channels for updates about the Transformation Programme.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
Thank you to everyone who has supported our vaccination programme, whether it is vaccinators, staff or volunteers. As of mid-January, an impressive 82% of over 18-year-olds have come forward for their booster vaccination, and we’re amongst the highest systems in the region for uptake. However, our local ambition is higher, and we want to go beyond these numbers and ensure we are reaching into local communities to increase uptake. Our focus in January and February, working across partners, is to continue our targeted approach to reach local communities. In particular, we need to do more work to encourage people aged 18-40 to take up their vaccine (currently around 60% have had their vaccine).
COVID-19 cases are still rising, although we hope there are early signs that the rate of increase is starting to slow down. As expected, we are now seeing an increase in hospital admissions and staff absences due to COVID-19 remains a significant challenge. We need everyone to do their bit and have their vaccine as early as they can. Partners are continuing to work with our healthcare staff to increase the already high take-up of the COVID-19 vaccination.
12-15 vaccinations
As a reminder, parents/guardians of the younger age groups between 12 to 15-years-old 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
-
National Booking System or calling 119
Find out more information about the 12-15 programme here.
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Vaccination Programme has arranged a webinar to answer questions from parents and guardians about the COVID-19 vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds. Local clinicians and members of the school vaccination service will be on hand to give the latest advice and respond to queries.
The free webinar will take place on Monday 7 February 2022 at 7pm online. To join, click here.
Winter vaccinations
It is important to boost your immunity this winter with both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccinations. If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine, it is not too late, contact your GP or pharmacy today. Read more.
Spring inclusion school update
Due to the very significant operational pressures facing the local system over the coming weeks the decision has been made to postpone the upcoming Inclusion School on Inclusion and Intersectionality with Mr John Amaechi OBE, occupational psychologist and Founder of APS Intelligence. The session was originally planned for Wednesday 16 February. Revised arrangements and booking are as below:
Inclusion and intersectionality: the big questions with John Amaechi OBE
Revised date and time: Tuesday 10 May 2022, 1.30 – 3.30 pm link to register on Eventbrite.
Enhance your disability awareness
In the meantime, further to our Autumn inclusion school on understanding and supporting people who are differently-abled, we would like to share details of a three-part series by Pearn Kandola on enhancing your disability awareness. In these sessions, you will hear from Pearn Kandola’s psychologists exploring how organisations can break down stereotypes surrounding disability and neurodiversity, and create a disability-inclusive workplace. Watch the series (3 x 30-minute recordings) here: Watch now! How to make your organisation disability inclusive - Pearn Kandola.
Clinical and Professional Leadership
The first multi-organisation and multi-professional networking event for clinicians and care professionals will take place on Wednesday 16 February 2022 12pm – 2pm. If you would still like to attend this event, please register your attendance by Thursday 10 February 2022. Previous registrations will not be carried forward.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS are engaging with clinical and care professionals across the area to shape plans for a local distributed clinical and professional leadership approach. To get involved and have your say please take part in this survey. Please note that the survey closes at midnight on Sunday 20 February 2022.
For more information about the local emerging clinical and professional leadership approach here.
Mental health support service helps people "Step On" into employment
A pioneering mental health support service in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has helped over 334 people to find jobs and given many more the vital skills they need to help them get back into work.
The Step On Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service was established in 2013, it has been jointly delivered by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust since April 2018 and has supported over 1,062 clients so far. Read more.
Have your say on local pharmacy services
Does your local pharmacy meet your needs? The local authorities are conducting patient/public surveys for revising Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent's pharmaceutical needs assessments. The surveys for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can be completed by clicking on the relevant link above.
National awards recognise efforts to protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19
Efforts to reach the parts of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent others couldn’t have helped get vaccinators shortlisted for a national award.
The multi-agency approach by councils, the NHS and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service targeted communities where take-up of COVID-19 vaccinations was known to be low. These included a number of communities where English is not the first language, people who are not registered with a GP surgery, and people who are homeless.
A roving team, known as the Targeted Vaccination Team, were able to go out and launch pinpoint operations to make sure that no one was left behind in the quest to get everyone protected. Examples include Dearnsdale Fruit Farm near Stafford, and Equality House Community Centre in Hanley.
The work has now earned Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS a shortlisting for the Partnership Awards run by national trade publication HSJ (Health Service Journal).
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS finance team highly commended in the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) team of the year awards
The finance team at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS have been highly commended in the recent HFMA awards. The team works across ten statutory bodies and uses an ‘intelligent fixed payment system’ that supports a focus on system financial balance. The reduced burden on agreeing on finances has enabled the deployment of finance skills to help clinicians drive improvements in care and quality. The judges also highlighted the opportunities for staff to progress and share best practices.
Local health trusts' research teams awarded for joint COVID-19 work
Research teams from Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust have been recognised for their collaborative work on a national COVID-19 study and West Midlands commercial COVID vaccine study - NOVOVAX. Read more
Royal Stoke's '999: Critical Condition' returns to Channel 5
Award-winning documentary 999: Critical Condition, which takes an up-close look at the moments when critical patients in a life-threatening condition come through its hospital doors, returned to television screens on Thursday 6 January. The third series of Channel 5’s critically-acclaimed series, filmed exclusively at Royal Stoke University Hospital, will once again grip viewers with the work of the UHNM team, saving lives with split-second decisions that are often the difference between life and death. Read more.
'Pod B' in Burton's Intensive Care Unit reopens following £5m improvement works
A newly refurbished area of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Queen’s Hospital Burton has now opened as is caring for acutely unwell patients following £5 million of improvement works. The area, known as ‘Pod B’, has been expanded from 10 to 14 beds with the inclusion of two additional isolation units which allows patients carrying infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 to be effectively isolated to reduce the spread of infection. Read more.
Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent public survey
Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent is the independent local champion for health and social care services in Stoke-on-Trent. Part of their role is to understand the experiences of people who are using respective health and social care services and to give people an opportunity to speak up and have their voices heard.
Healthwatch has a priority survey available for sharing or completing, if you want to have your say please complete the survey now as it is closing soon:
|
