New health strategies approved

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Plans to reduce growing demand on hospital services and improve community services were approved by NHS Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton on Wednesday (24 November).

Two new strategies outlining how unplanned and scheduled care will be developed and delivered over the next five years were reviewed and accepted by board members.
Urgent healthcare will be covered by the Unplanned Care Strategy, which aims to inform patients about what is the right service to use and should increase capacity within GP practices so more people can get appointments on the same day.

It also looks at what support needs to be provided to people suffering from alcohol misuse and long term conditions they do no control.

The Scheduled Care Strategy applies to planned services that are not used in an emergency and should mean patients will be prioritised by who needs services the most.

David Edwards, Acting Chair of the board, said the strategies should help people live longer, healthier lives and allow them to manage their care better with alternative services in the community.

Mr Edwards said: “The NHS is facing considerable financial challenges and whilst we are on track to make our required savings this financial year, next year will be even tougher.

“That’s why it is vital that we have robust strategies in place that will help us to identify where improvements need to be made with plans for how we are going to make them.”
NHS North West’s review of the Healthy Futures programme that will see changes at Rochdale Infirmary was also discussed.

The review warned the pace of change may need to be accelerated despite confirming that Healthy Futures does meet clinical and patient engagement requirements.

The Board were informed that GPs will become Consortia within the next two years, with clinical leadership being central to the changes.

As part of the Government’s plans to establish community provider organisations, the move of local provider services into Pennine Care Foundation Trust, along with services from Bury and Oldham, is due for 1st April 2011.

Mr Edwards said: “This provides us with an opportunity to transform community services, to work more closely with primary care and to deliver services closer to people’s homes.”