Health leaders across the Fylde Coast have welcomed the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan.

The 133-page plan, which was published today (Monday 7 Janaury 2019), outlines the priorities for the health service over the next decade.

It describes how the NHS will make sure people get the best start in life, and how patients can expect world-class care for major health problems.

The plan also details how different organisations should work closer together to make sure health and care services are more joined up and delivered in the right place and at the right time for local people and their families.

It outlines how services should be joined up within neighbourhoods – geographical communities with populations of typically between 30,000 to 50,000 – to support people to stay well.

Moreover, the plan describes how the NHS needs to take stronger action to reduce health inequalities, citing premature deaths in Blackpool – the most deprived part of the country – as being twice as high as affluent areas of England. To address health inequalities, the plan states that a bigger share of funding will go to areas with the highest health inequalities.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a local GP and chief clinical officer for both NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “We are delighted that there will be a significant increase in relative investment in primary and community care, which will see expanded neighbourhood teams working together in a more joined up way – from GPs, pharmacists and district nurses to physiotherapists, social care workers and colleagues in the voluntary sector. We also applaud the move to strengthen work on preventing ill health and tackling health inequalities. I am proud that we are going further than ever before to improve care quality and outcomes for key priority areas, including cancer, mental health, learning disability and autism, diabetes, stroke and children’s health.

“The plan clearly endorses what we have been doing for some time in terms of partnership working and bringing services together. We enjoy extremely strong working relationships with our local authority partners, as well as those from the voluntary, community and faith sector and the many groups of people who volunteer their time to help shape and improve health and care services.

“We are confident that closer integration of services and partnership working is vital to improve the experience of patients and also to support people to keep well. People often fall through the gaps which exist between organisations; bringing services and teams together will help to stop this.

“We are looking forward to working in partnership with local authority, public sector and voluntary and community organisations over the coming months to involve local people, health and care staff and our partners in the detail of the work which is taking place and how we will deliver the Long Term Plan.”

One example of how closer collaborative work has improved services on the Fylde Coast includes neighbourhood care teams, which bring groups of GP practices together with community health services, social care, mental health services, and others, to provide joined-up health and wellbeing services.Working together in this way, the teams can make a complete assessment of a person’s health, wellbeing and social needs and liaise with their colleagues to make sure they receive the right support.

Another example is work being done in neighbourhoods, often led by patients and the public, to improve health and wellbeing through initiatives which reduce social isolation and boost physical and mental health. Examples include Just Good Friends in Lytham which provides a lifeline for many people who feel isolated and a series of citizens’ inquiries in Blackpool which have opened up conversations with some of our seldom heard residents.

Dr Doyle said: “On the Fylde Coast we were an early pioneer of neighbourhoods and these have helped bring health and care services together with the voluntary sector and local people to improve health and wellbeing. The 10-year plan endorses this and will allow us to further build on this important work.”

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Notes to editors

 

• For more information about the NHS Long Term Plan visit: www.longtermplan.nhs.uk
• For more information about the work and priorities of Healthier Fylde Coast, the partnership of NHS, local authority, public services and community organisations for the area, visit: https://healthierfyldecoast.nhs.uk
• Dr Amanda Doyle is also chief officer for Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria

 

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People living across the Fylde Coast have been invited to have their say on a proposed new NHS policy for arthroscopic shoulder decompression (surgery) for subacromial pain (a common cause of shoulder pain and disability) in both men and women.

It comes as part of work by the NHS across Lancashire to standardise policies to ensure a consistent and fair approach; update current policies in accordance with national guidelines and best clinical practice; and to make sure it is using its limited resources to maximum effect.

Full details of the changes can be found within the policy. People are invited to read the revised draft policy and to complete a survey by visiting www.healthierlsc.co.uk/arthroscopic-shoulder-decompression-policy.

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Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a Fylde Coast GP who is also accountable officer for NHS Blackpool CCG and interim accountable officer for NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG, said: “We need to ensure this is done in an open, fair and transparent way while also taking into account the limited resources we have.

“A key role for the CCGs is to develop clinical policies that help us make decisions about the use of those limited resources.

“I would encourage any resident with an interest in these policies to visit the CCG websites and have their say.”

The survey will close on Friday 1 February 2019.

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The Joint Committee of CCGs has been cancelled on Thursday 10^th January as the agenda had been structured to focus around the NHS Long Term Plan which has not yet been published.

Focus on the publication, which had originally been timed for December, would have enabled system leaders and committee members to examine some of the current work taking place in Lancashire and South Cumbria on several of the plan’s priorities as well as holding a discussion about the Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria approach to engagement with the public and other stakeholders.

Publication of the NHS Long Term Plan has been delayed into January with timing subject to agreement of ministers.

The next meeting of the Joint Committee of CCGs is scheduled for Thursday 7th March 1pm to 3pm.

For more information email [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @HealthierLSC

Appointments with GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals have been made available between 8am and 2pm every Saturday in Garstang.

The service, initially at Garstang Medical Practice in Kepple Lane, is in addition to the evening and weekend appointments already on offer to people living in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre based at Blackpool, Fleetwood and Freckleton.

To book an appointment, people can either contact their own GP practice or call 01253 952950 after 6.30pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

Dr John Miles, senior partner at Garstang Medical Practice, said: “The extension to the service is an exciting opportunity to provide access to general practice in a way that suits the needs of the population.”

Pre-bookable and same-day routine appointments are available to anyone who lives in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

The service is also available at Whitegate Health Centre in Blackpool from 6.30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm at weekends; Fleetwood Health and Wellbeing Centre in Dock Street from 6.30pm to 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 6.30pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 8am to 2pm at weekends; and Freckleton Health Centre in Douglas Drive on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and 8am to 2pm at weekends.

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[column]People living on the Fylde Coast have been asked to give their views on what is good and what could be improved about where they live.

Healthier Fylde Coast – a partnership of local organisations working together to improve health and wellbeing – has launched the ‘Your Community Neighbourhood Plan’ survey to better understand people’s perceptions about where they live.

There are 11 neighbourhoods across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre covering populations of between 30,000 and 50,000. GP practices, community health services, councils, the voluntary sector and local residents work together within neighbourhoods to improve health and care.

Bosses at Healthier Fylde Coast want to use the information gathered from the survey to help the neighbourhoods develop their own individual plans for how to make improvements to the communities they serve.[/column][column]

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, accountable officer for NHSBlackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said:“If you live in Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre we want to hear your views about yourcommunity.

“We also want to ask how the organisations within your community, such as GPs, social care and councils, can work together to improve health and wellbeing in your community.

“I would urge everyone in the area to complete the survey and be a part of real change for your local area.”

To complete the survey, visit http://bit.ly/surveyNHS18

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[column]People living in Fylde and Wyre are invited to seelocal NHS decision-making in action next week.

The next meeting of the NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Governing Body will take place at the NHS Wesham Offices in Derby Road, from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday 20 November 2018.

The role of the Governing Body is to oversee the work of the CCG and ensure arrangements are in place to allow the organisation to effectively carry out its duties.

Members of the public are invited to attend andobserve the meeting and can also submit any questions they want to be asked inwriting in advance of the meeting. There will also be an opportunity during themeeting to ask questions about any item on the agenda.[/column][column]

Mary Dowling, chair of the CCG’s Governing Body, said: “The CCG Governing Body makes some very important decisions and we encourage people to come along and be part of it.

“We believe it is important to hold meetings across Fylde and Wyre, not just at our Wesham offices, to give everyone an opportunity to come and see how we make these decisions.”

Questions can be submitted via http://www.fyldeandwyreccg.nhs.uk/contact-us. Alternatively, people can write tothe Governing Body secretary at NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG, Derby Road, Wesham, PR43AL.[/column]

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Notes:

• NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the organisation responsible for planning and buying health services in the area to meet patients’ needs. This is known as ‘commissioning’.
• Led by family doctors (GPs), the CCG currently serves a population of 176,000 people across approximately 320 sq km of coast and countryside. The majority live in the urban towns of Fleetwood, Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Kirkham and Lytham St Annes, but a significant proportion live in rural villages.
• The CCG receives a set amount of money from the government and is committed to spending this wisely for the benefit of local people.
• Giving you more choice is a priority of the modern NHS. More information is available at www.fyldeandwyreccg.nhs.uk/choice 
• The NHS Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient: www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Overview.aspx
• There are many ways to get involved in health service developments, including joining our Influence membership scheme or your practice’s patient participation group.

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It’s World Diabetes Day and to mark the occasion health and care organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria are celebrating the success of a flagship NHS diabetes prevention programme which is helping prevent Type 2 diabetes, with more than 7,000 people being referred to the programme.

The national Diabetes Prevention Programme, a partnership between NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, is a free programme available to people who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The initiative offers tailored, personalised help to support people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is the first ever nationwide Type 2 diabetes prevention programme and the largest undertaking of its kind in the world for those at risk of

These figures are being released to further increase awareness of the risk that diabetes poses to people living in the region.  It is estimated that nearly 200,000 people are currently at risk of developing type 2 diabetes; which can lead to other serious conditions including strokes, heart disease, limb amputation and early death.

Diabetes and its complications cost over £6 billion every year to treat and one in six patients in hospital has diabetes. Around nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes which is closely linked to obesity and yet is largely preventable by eating healthily, being more active and losing weight.

ClareHowarth, head of the North at Diabetes UK, said: “There are 12.3 million peopleat risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by a variety offactors, some of which are out of people’s control. However, we know that threein five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by makinghealthier choices, helping everyone understand their own risk of developing thecondition − and how to reduce it − and securing early diagnosis for those athigh risk.”

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The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free local service for those who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The Programme is designed to stop or delay the onset of the disease through a range of personalised lifestyle interventions, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.

Dr Kieran Murphy, Medical Director, NHS England (Lancashire and South Cumbria)said, “Many people are at high risk of pre-diabetes but are probably completely unaware of it. This is because the condition often develops gradually without any warning signs or symptoms.

“We are delighted with the results that we are seeing locally thanks to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire County Council Director for Public Health, said: “Preventing diabetes is a key priority in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition which is affecting many people but that is also largely preventable.”

“Organisations are working in partnership across Lancashire and South Cumbria to put people in control of their health by giving them the tools, information and support they need to make changes to their lifestyles that can significantly reduce their risk of the disease and the potential complications associated with it like stroke and kidney failure.”

Dr Murphy added “This world diabetes day we are calling on all of those who are at risk of developing diabetes to speak to their GP practice around taking part in the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”“The theme of world diabetes day this year is family, we have evidence that taking part in the diabetes prevention programme can help the entire family become more fit and healthy.  You can check to see if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes at diabetes.org.uk/risk.”

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A new breast screening unit at Palatine Leisure Centre, in Blackpool, has opened its doors to women in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and Preston.

The unit, which can screen up to 50 women a day, replaces a 20-year-old service at Whitegate Drive Health Centre, Blackpool. It has disabled access including a lift, state-of-the-art mammography equipment and car parking facilities.

The service is appointment only and runs five days a week.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is commissioned by NHS England to provide a breast screening service to eligible women between 50-70 in North Lancashire and South Cumbria.  The programme currently serves an eligible population of approximate 134,000 women.

UHMBT has delivered the service across North Lancashire at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary since 1991 and South Cumbria at Westmorland General Hospital and Furness General Hospital since 1999.

Alison Webb,Head of Department for Breast Screening, said: “The equipment at WhitegateDrive had reached the end of its lifespan. [/column][column]

“The new GE Senographe Pristinamammography system has cutting edge technology designed to ease anxiety and increase comfort of women whilst having a mammogram. There are also technological advances that enable a much improved experience for our mammographers.”

Patient feedback has included:
“The new unit is much more comfortable.”
“I feel I have had a better experiencein the new unit.”

Fylde Coast GP NeilHartley-Smith said: “It’s great that such a crucial service for local women isreceiving this much-needed investment.

“As with any cancer, early detection is vital to the successful treatment of breast cancer and in many cases the disease can be completely curable when found at an early stage.

“As always, I would urge all women who are invited for breast screening to make every effort to attend.”

An official opening is planned in thenext few months.

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Dr Amanda Doyle OBE has this week been appointed by NHSEngland as the accountable officer for NHS Fylde and Wyre ClinicalCommissioning Group (CCG). This is in addition to her existing appointment asaccountable officer for NHS Blackpool CCG and means that she is now the jointaccountable officer for the Fylde Coast CCGs.

Dr Doyle, who has been a GP for more than 20 years, has been working as the Fylde and Wyre CCG interim accountable officer since September following the retirement of Dr Tony Naughton.

Dr Doyle said: “I am delighted to have been appointed. Inthe short time I have worked at the CCG I have been impressed by the dedicationand professionalism of staff, as well as the strength of the links it has withits partners, including clinicians, patients and the public. There is a highlevel of commitment across all sectors to making a difference to people’shealth and wellbeing.  We have a great team; together we can reallyimprove health and healthcare across the Fylde Coast.”

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NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG chair, Mary Dowling, added: “Amanda is a great asset with a huge amount of energy and experience. She is joining us at a time when we are seeking to join-up services as much as possible, and I am confident that through her leadership we will be able to further improve care and people’s experiences of that care.”

NHS Blackpool CCG chair, Roy Fisher, continued: “We congratulate Amanda on her appointment with Fylde and Wyre and have every confidence that her leadership of the two CCGs will make a real difference to health and wellbeing on the Fylde Coast.”

While the two Fylde Coast CCGs will remain as separate statutory bodies, under Dr Doyle’s leadership they are working more closely together, reducing duplication wherever possible.  A joint accountable officer for the two CCGs is an essential first step on the journey to further integrate health and care across the area as part of Healthier Fylde Coast. Healthier Fylde Coast is a partnership of local organisations working togetherto improve health and wellbeing across the area.

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Big White Wall, the digital mental health and wellbeing service available free to all people using a Fylde and Wyre postcode, was presented with the Tech4Good award for its outstanding social impact mission at the Investor Allstars 2018 ceremony.

Now in its 16th year, the annual event celebrates the achievements of investors and entrepreneurs that are shaping the future growth and impact of the European digital economy.

Investor Allstar 2018 winner, Big White Wall, received the Tech4Good award at the London ceremony for its founding mission to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the UK and beyond.

Dr Kath Greenwood, a Poulton GP who is the clinical lead for mental health at NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Big White Wall is an excellent resource that can be accessed free of charge by anyone using a Fylde and Wyre postcode. It is also available in some other areas of Lancashire.

“I’m delighted to hear the service has won this award which is very well deserved. The service provides on line support manned and  monitored 24 hours a day, by trained counsellors, as well as many self help resources and a peer support network. It is a responsive service but completely anonymous to ensure patients safety.

“I would recommend it to anybody in Fylde and Wyre who has mental health problems as an extra support tool they can use, at any time of the day or night, and be sure that somebody will get back to them. It is especially useful if somebody is on a long waiting list and needs some more immediate support.”

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Liam Black, executive chair of Big White Wall, said: “Being shortlisted for this award in 2017, and then announced as the winner this year is a phenomenal achievement for us, and one that we are extremely proud of.

“It is fantastic to be named alongside some of the most innovative companies in the technology sector that are shaping and changing the way that technology is used for the better. Our social mission is clear, we want to transform mental health services in the UK and beyond.”

Big White Wall is active in helping shape policy that supports transformative models of healthcare through digital offerings. Its social mission is to transform mental health services in the UK, improving the wellbeing of thousands of people, with investment from Impact Ventures UK allowing the business to scale in activity and bring innovative solutions to reach even more people.

Big White Wall is accessible to 15 million people in the UK and is widely commissioned across the NHS, employers, universities and the military. The service gives its users access to 24/7 professionally moderated online peer support and can provide online 1:1 therapy as part of its offering. Thus far, Big White Wall has reported that 95% of users have seen overall improvements in their wellbeing.

Big White Wall is the first digital mental health service to be registered by the CQC, and in 2016 received a coveted ‘Good’ rating. In addition, is influenced and evidenced-formed in alignment with NICE guidelines, enabling Big White Wall’s online therapy segment of the service to achieve outstanding recovery rates for depression and anxiety.

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