Working in partnership across the North East and North Cumbria

In March 2019, NHS England confirmed that the North East and North Cumbria would be included in a third wave of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) for England.  Partners across health, local government and the voluntary sector are working across organisational boundaries to redesign services, ensure greater integration and collaborate at a much greater scale than ever before to bring the greatest health benefits to a population of 3.1 million people. 

In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, healthcare leaders in our region have committed to work together on six shared priorities to help build a health and care system which is fit for the future (click here) by improving:

• population health and preventing ill health by increasing public awareness on living healthy and well, better managing the biggest causes of premature death and continuing to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption
• the quality and sustainability of local health services by working with frontline clinical teams, across organisational boundaries, to develop services which give equal access to safe, effective, high quality care and the best possible clinical outcomes
• use of technology to deliver more efficient, effective services and transform outpatient care by helping people make appointments, manage prescriptions and view health records online to reduce unnecessary visits to hospital or other services
• the health, wellbeing and sustainability of the NHS workforce by giving staff the skills and support they need, developing collective recruitment, retention and training programmes and supporting staff to work differently and more flexibly in future
• access and standards of mental health care by breaking down barriers between physical and mental health, supporting people with severe, enduring mental illness and better supporting children and young people
• access and standards of care for people with learning disabilities so that more people can live in the community, with the right support close to home and receive the best possible outcomes. 

As the largest ICS in the country, the North East and North Cumbria will realise its vision through four Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs):

• North Cumbria
• North of Tyne and Gateshead
• Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland
• Tees Valley.

We are leading work across the Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland ICP area, working with our partners and across organisational boundaries, to plan and shape how we can deliver the best possible care to meet the needs of our local populations and communities for the future.  Our Path to Excellence programme is already guiding a five-year transformation of local hospital services.  Phase Two of the programme also involves partners from Durham and those people living in parts of North and East Durham who regard Sunderland Royal Hospital as their local hospital.  A number of ‘working ideas’ for improvements to services have been shared with a formal public consultation expected in 2020.  These ‘working ideas’ include: 

• creating a centre of surgical excellence at South Tyneside District Hospital, to improve outcomes and experience by separating planned operations from emergency surgery
• creating a new integrated diagnostic and imaging centre at South Tyneside District Hospital, to help with the rising demand for diagnostic tests and scans - subject to a formal business planning and approval and capital investment
• continuing 24/7 access to urgent or emergency care for both local populations
• quicker assessment for older people to reduce unnecessary admissions and improve support services seven days a week, to aid recovery and reduce the length of hospital stay
• providing more care closer to peoples’ homes.

Partners across South Tyneside and Sunderland are also actively working on a range of plans to provide more care to people outside of hospital in their local communities, with a strong emphasis on supporting people to stay fit and well and live healthy lifestyles.  This work is being driven by All Together Better in Sunderland and the South Tyneside Alliance Group with shared priorities to:

• develop ‘primary care networks’ of local GPs and community integrated teams working together to proactively care for populations of around 30-50,000 people  
• improve the ‘urgent community response’ for people who are particularly vulnerable by working systematically better to prevent emergency hospital admissions.

For those who cannot attend a roadshow, a short online survey will also be available for people to feedback views: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FutureNHS

For more information click here: https://nhsjoinourjourney.org.uk/