Morecambe Bay to be part of national Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme
Thousands of people in Morecambe Bay are set to benefit from improved care closer to home, as the government begins to support further development of neighbourhood health services.
Morecambe Bay is among 43 places across England that will benefit from the support of national and regional teams to work with local leaders and communities to further develop neighbourhood health services.
Under the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, each place will draw together a range of professions and organisations to develop ‘neighbourhood health teams’ consisting of community nurses, hospital doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, paramedics, social prescribers, local government organisations and the voluntary sector – giving people easier and more joined up access to the right care and support closer to their own homes.
They will initially focus on supporting people with long term conditions such as diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and those people who are frail with multiple and complex health and care needs.
It will centre around areas with the highest levels of deprivation and inequalities. As the programme grows, it will expand to support other residents and priority cohorts.
The ICB’s chief nurse, Jane Scattergood, who has also led on bringing neighbourhood health services to Morecambe Bay, said: “Working in neighbourhoods alongside partners and communities is a really important part of the NHS’ 10-year health plan and a shift to supporting and improving health and wellbeing.
“It is great for Lancashire and south Cumbria to be part of this programme because it will support great work which is taking place in Morecambe Bay, but also in neighbourhoods across the region where we are also seeing some great collaboration and neighbourhood initiatives which are improving the experiences of our residents.
“Our footprint covers a wide geographic area, including urban, coastal and rural communities across three counties - Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
"Despite this huge geography, partners have a strong history of working collaboratively to support the needs of our residents in different areas and design services that respond to local challenges and maximise local community assets.
"Being selected to participate in wave one of this programme is a fantastic reflection of our hard work to date and an exciting opportunity for us to do much more in our neighbourhoods to offer preventative, person-centred care.”
Neighbourhood health will benefit patients by providing end-to-end care and tailored support, looking beyond a single condition and instead supporting individuals and their families with their overall health and wellbeing, helping to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, preventing unnecessary complications or exacerbations in managing their condition, and avoiding the frustration of being passed around the health and care system.
The wave one programme will begin this autumn, and as wave one participants, Morecambe Bay colleagues will learn from other sites nationwide and will share their learning with other places and neighbourhoods within the Lancashire and south Cumbria footprint.
Aaron Cummins, chief executive at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Morecambe Bay has been chosen to be part of wave one of this revolutionary programme.
“This reflects the incredible collaborative work that has been happening on the ground within our neighbourhoods over the last few years and will allow us to work even closer to bring the right care and support to the doorsteps of our communities.”