This week’s leadership message is a video blog from Rob Webster looking back at 2019

What else has been happening this week?

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Clinical Forum – development session

The forum includes medical directors, GPs, pharmacists, allied health professionals and lead nurses. The development session took place on Friday 6 December. The session was all about giving clinicians dedicated time to reflect and review the effectiveness of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Clinical Forum. This included discussing the role of the forum, its purpose and how well forum members are connected to other parts of the Partnership.

Joint Committee of the Clinical Commissioning Groups – Public, Patient, Involvement Group

Public, patient, involvement lay members from the nine clinical commissioning groups met on Monday. It was chaired by Stephen Hardy, lay member for Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group and also the lay member representative for the Joint Committee. The members’ role is to provide assurance that the public and patient voice is represented and heard, and that public and patient views and experiences inform decisions on the planning, development, design and implementation and evaluation of commissioned services.

Members received an update on the NHS 111 Service User Experience Survey for the Integrated Urgent Care Service (IUC) in Yorkshire and Humber (Y&H). The IUC service is commissioned on the footprint of Yorkshire and Humber (Y&H) covering a population of 5.4 million. The current provider is Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS). Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group is the ‘Lead Commissioner’ of the service on behalf of 21 CCGs in Yorkshire and Humber.

Health Inequalities in West Yorkshire and Harrogate was also on the agenda. We have made a commitment as a Partnership to contribute to a reduction in health inequalities by understanding and addressing differences in the things that; keep us healthy (e.g. access to green space to exercise), contribute towards ill health (e.g. smoking), provide opportunities for earlier diagnosis (e.g. cancer screening) and allow us to receive health and care services when we need them (e.g. medicines and operations). We will improve our understanding of health inequalities by using data to tell us which people are affected. We will then work together with people with lived experience to better understand the differences we have found and work to find solutions.

One of the areas of inequalities we reviewed in 2019 was the difference in our populations of people receiving hip replacement surgeries. We reviewed the figures on people receiving hip replacements and we found there are differences between those living in our most disadvantaged communities and the rest of the population. We took into account differences in age and found that those living in disadvantaged communities were less likely to have a hip replacement than the rest of the population. Members were asked how we can engage further with our communities to better understand the barriers people may face in accessing hospital care such as hip replacements.

In West Yorkshire and Harrogate, eye care is one of the most challenged specialities with a high level of outpatient activity. Each year, almost 10% of all our hospital appointments are for eye conditions and this is why transforming eye care services is one of the Partnership’s key priorities. Members reviewed the eye care services work summary document and suggested amendments before it is shared further. The intention is that this document is made available at meetings, especially those attended by members of the public. At such meetings, we are often asked ‘What exactly is the Improving Planned Care Programme doing in relation to eye care services?’ This document will help us answer that question at meetings, and will also be available to view online.

Members also discussed assessment treatment units for people with learning disabilities.

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Communication and Engagement Network

26 members of the network met on Wednesday in Halifax at the Artworks (a community venue). The network is made up of communication and engagement colleagues from councils, NHS, Healthwatch, the community sector and charities.

Working together gives us the opportunity to share resources and make the most of our communication channels. At the meeting colleagues heard from Andrew Greenway from Andy’s Mans Club, a social movement; the work of Active Calderdale from Carl Fisher. Colleagues also received an update on the work of the Cancer Alliance, our draft five year plan and public engagement activity. There were some great tips and ideas for shared learning on campaign planning.

In support of the fabulous work Andy’s Man Club are doing, colleagues at the meeting made a pledge to support the social movement by sharing across our networks and social media what the club is doing and where they are located in our areas. Here is a link to their website, so please share and tweet and let’s get the message out there that ‘it’s ok to talk’.

The next network meeting will be held in Leeds on the 27 February 2020.

Primary and Community Care Programme Board

The Primary and Community Care Programme Board met on Tuesday. The group discussed a collaborative approach to the delivery of the new Ageing Well Programme and received an update on primary care workforce development initiatives and the emerging digital first offer. An interim update on progress of the primary care network (PCN) development support offer was provided and board members also received a presentation informing them about the work of the voluntary and community sector (VCSE) across the system and the valuable contribution they can offer PCNs and the system.

Board members have committed to taking part in organisational development, including an effectiveness review to strengthen and enhance the role and purpose of the Board.

Board members are now working towards the mobilisation and implementation of the agreed Primary and Community Care Strategy for the Partnership - working with existing forums and ensuring right mechanisms are in place to communicate to wider stakeholders. We will be publishing this soon.

Peer to peer support

Leeds Mind has been awarded funding by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Workforce Action Board to review and evaluate models of peer support that are being delivered within statutory services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Carley Stubbs, a peer researcher at Leeds Mind, is looking for contacts within the Hospital Trusts who are involved in delivering/championing peer support, particularly in more rural areas like Harrogate and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven. If you’d like to be involved email carley.stubbs@leedsmind.org.uk