NHS England’s Chair Richard Meddings and Primary Care Medical Director Dr Claire Fuller visited East Birmingham Locality Hub on Tuesday 18 February to discover how it is transforming services to prevent patients needing hospital care or reduce their stay in hospital by providing treatment they need in the community.
The visit formed part of a regional event where over 100 frontline NHS staff were joined by NHS England leaders in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, to discuss what they want to see from the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
It was part of a series of events where frontline NHS staff across the breadth of the NHS workforce, as well as social care and public health staff, have come together to reshape the health service.
The discussions were led by independent facilitators, with senior NHS figures in attendance to hear the views of NHS staff on what the future of the NHS should look like.
Staff have been nominated to attend across a range of staff types, care settings and communities including GPs, nurses, optometrists, consultants, porters, pharmacists and more to ensure any impact on local services is kept to a minimum.
Part of the biggest listening event in NHS history, it follows seven nationwide public debates and a series of online staff events that took place last year about building a 10-year plan to make the NHS fit for future generations.
The East Birmingham Locality Hub and work of the wider Community Care Collaborative aligns closely with the Government’s vision to shift care from hospitals to communities.
Based at Washwood Heath Health & Wellbeing Centre, the Hub is part of Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System’s Community Care Collaborative. Led by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Collaborative is a partnership between primary, acute, community, mental health, social care and ambulance services, as well as the community and voluntary sector.
The Hub is home to an Integrated Neighbourhood Team of nurses, doctors, social workers, paramedics, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals who work together to ensure people can access the care they need at the right place and time.
During the visit, the national NHS leaders met staff and patients at the Hub’s newly launched Respiratory Same Day Emergency Care Service – operated by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust - which provides people across Birmingham and Solihull aged 17 and over with quick and easy access to specialist respiratory care in the community and helps avoid the need for hospital care. This is a bespoke service comprising respiratory consultants and specialist respiratory nurses, in a community setting to improve patient pathways and experience.
Richard Meddings, NHS England Chair, said: “Every day I see how committed and innovative NHS staff are at finding ways to do things differently to improve care for patients, but we know we need to make sure these ideas are spread across the country and the 10 Year Health Plan provides the perfect opportunity to do that.
“A key part of the plan will be how we can shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, and teams in East Birmingham have already made great progress to do this through their neighbourhood hubs which have a range support for patients close to their homes.
“There is still time to contribute your ideas to the 10 Year Health Plan whether you work in the NHS or not, so please visit change.nhs.uk or the NHS app to find out more.”
Lorraine Galligan, Deputy CEO and Chief of Nursing and Therapies, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to showcase how staff from all areas of health and social care are coming together to help local people live longer and healthier lives in their own homes and communities.
“Our innovative approach is truly transforming care to ensure we are making a real difference to improve healthcare for citizens in Birmingham and Solihull.”
Dr Rifat Rashid, Hospital Executive Director at University Hospitals, said: “We are proud to be working with the Community Care Collaborative and the work at East Birmingham Locality Hub is a shining example of how working together at a neighbourhood level not only helps in reducing growing pressures on our hospitals but also gives patients better access to care closer to home.”
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “Too many patients are left languishing on hospital waiting lists when they should be receiving care in the community.
“Our 10 Year Health Plan will reverse this trend and build a neighbourhood health service, but we can’t do it alone – we need to hear from those who use and work in the NHS.
“I therefore urge all NHS staff and the public across the Midlands to share their NHS story on change.nhs.uk, to help shape our plan and build a health service fit for the future.”
A further four listening events will be carried out across the regions, with upcoming dates across February and into March in London, Reading, Peterborough and Taunton.