Reimagining how we provide care for our local communities

“It’s a really pivotal time for the NHS” and if we lose or break that connection we have with the public, “we are in really big trouble”.

This was the warning that NHS England’s new transition Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey gave to over 7,000 delegates at the packed-out NHS ConfedExpo health and care conference in Manchester last week.

I have attended this conference for several years and it provides a welcome space to exchange ideas and explore how the latest innovations can transform health and care services.

Many of the NHS delegates I spoke to found the focus on local connections refreshing. The NHS is set for a significant change, but despite this and all the other challenges in our health service, there was an overall sense of optimism at the conference and some consensus about what needed to be done

We know that the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan will set out a future vision for the NHS and outline how we can make the government’s three big shifts in healthcare become a reality, but one clear theme that overwhelmingly stood out in the sessions I attended and with all the people I spoke to was the need to build a “neighbourhood health service”.

In north east London, our seven place-based teams are really focussed reimagining what this new model of care could look like. We want to deliver more coordinated and proactive care to our local communities, that is designed around what matters to them and closer to home. Colleagues from City and Hackney were able to showcase their neighbourhood work at the conference, at panel events and in a roundtable discussion with the Secretary of State.

In City and Hackney, professionals involved in a patient’s care meet together in local neighbourhood areas to make joint decisions. Health and Wellbeing Coaches are on hand to support residents with any lifestyle changes and Community Navigators help patients to access local services like exercise groups and advocate for their health needs.

We know that when services work together in this way, we can deliver more coordinated support for local people and improve patient outcomes. We have been rolling out this model of care out across north east London, and recently opened the new St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Havering.

St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub hosts a GP surgery and range of other services under one roof. This includes blood testing and access to specialist NHS teams such as health visitors, dieticians, children’s speech and language therapists, mental health and wellness services, talking therapy services and diabetes, respiratory and cardiac support for those with long-term conditions. It also acts as a community hub with a café, providing a free space for community groups to come together.

The government has set out ambitious plans to transform the NHS. We know we can achieve this and keep that connection with the public, through our continued collaboration with local partners in our neighbourhoods and building on the great work already underway.

Adam Croom, Communications Lead, NHS North East London