Photo: Mary Sunderland (Transformation Manager, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust), Dr Phil Huxley (Chair, East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Chair @DrHuxley1) and Kirsty Hamer (Locality Manager, East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group)
A ground breaking Rossendale health service to prevent the trauma of unnecessary hospital visits for children and young people has won an innovation award.
East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (ELCCG) and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, in partnership with nine local GP practices launched the new Paediatric Hub in 2017.
And in less than 12 months, the Hub is transforming the way in which healthcare is delivered in Rossendale by bringing more paediatric services out of hospital to help children maintain healthy lives and make it easier for families to access advice about healthcare when they need it.
“The new Paediatric Rossendale Hub is making a real difference,” says Christine Goodman, Commissioner for Paediatric and Children’s Services at East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group.
What’s different about the Rossendale Paediatric Hub is that it brings together specialist paediatric staff and the health services most frequently used by children and young people in a convenient location.
“The Paediatric Rossendale Hub project is based upon a similar child health hub, operating at the Imperial Hospital in London,” explained Christine Goodman.
“The project improves working relationships between NHS staff through closer links and multi-disciplinary team working.
“Previously you had some specialist staff working in hospital and others working in GP practices and health centres. Now they come together to streamline care; it means fewer appointments, quicker decision-making between health professionals and faster treatment for children."
Having the Paediatric Hub in Rossendale means children and young people can in many cases be managed without referral to hospital, and specialist opinions from paediatricians and mental health teams are available to GP’s school nurses and health visitors who are often best placed to deliver care more locally.
GP practices supporting the Paediatric Rossendale Hub include Waterfoot Health Centre, Whitworth Health Centre, Irwell Medical Practice (Bacup), Ilex View Medical Practice, St James Medical Centre and Fairmore Practice (Rawtenstall) and Dr Mackenzie & Partners, Rossendale Valley Medical Practice and The Surgery (Haslingden).