Hello everyone - welcome to my midweek blog!
I do like to keep in touch with you all.
I spent most of yesterday at a tripartite Board meeting with our Trust Board and the Governing Bodies of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen CCGs. We are all working together in an alliance - along with other organisations in local government and the VCF sector - as a local Integrated Care Partnership TOGETHER A HEALTHIER FUTURE.
The sustainability of our health and care services is dependent upon us collaborating in this way, addressing the same priorities and objectives and contributing to the NHS Long Term Plan. This partnership has developed and deepened over the last few years and we are recognised as one the strongest ICPs nationally. This is good news for Pennine Lancashire. We are in a good place, with firm, agreed plans.
The most rewarding aspect of this partnership is the knowledge that we are all clear about our shared goal - to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes.
I am really proud of the progress we have made, as a Trust, and as a part of the ICP. That, of course, is down to many things, but a huge part is the fantastic work of many of the staff of ELHT, and I sincerely thank you for it. But it's also really important to acknowledge - and we do - that the other major partner in this is the community itself.
The establishment of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) is the key to effective implementation of the Pennine Plan. We have 13 PCNs across Pennine Lancashire and I am really looking forward to seeing them develop into the beating heart of good health and social care delivery. It is incredible to think that health inequalities in some respects have widened in recent years and we must find a way to reverse this.
I was delighted to hear that our Communication and Engagement Department has been shortlisted in the North West Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride Awards for 'Share 2 Care'. This is a publication produced by the team in conjunction with our Quality Improvement Department and aims to share lessons learned from incidents, errors and mistakes. The issue dedicated to 'Human Factors' has been identified as particularly impressive. The publication (and of course the stories it tells, and the education it gives) is testament to the Trust's commitment to openness, honesty and transparency - something we are totally committed to and I am really proud of. Well done to all concerned, fingers crossed!
Until next time........
Kevin.