Helen Holmes-Fogg believes there is a need to move away from short-term solutions to a more sustainable ongoing system support for primary care – and delivery hubs can help meet this need.
General Practice finds itself needing to rapidly transform ways of working, in an already extremely challenging period. If they are to successfully respond to winter pressures, whilst also maintaining business as usual and protecting staff wellbeing, this must be tackled together.
We know there is strength in numbers and over the past two years, collaborating general practices have achieved things that would have been impossible on their own – from the rapid organisation of ‘hot hubs’ and co-ordinated care home support to joined-up delivery of Covid vaccination.
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In the recent digital primary care update, NHS England discussed the support for primary care through the winter period and beyond. The main aim is to expand capacity and reduce burden through collaboration. The announcement of capital funding to invest in frontline service delivery and the introduction of the new Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme digital transformation lead provides an opportunity to focus on the next steps forward.
Collaborative working brings people, systems and technology together to cut duplication, reduce workload, save money and improve staff and patients’ lives. Having managed direct patient services, I have seen and felt the positive impact of collaborative working. The challenge is the resources to do this.
Primary Care Network shared delivery or function can be achieved through collaboration in a number of ways, for example access hubs, combined multidisciplinary team through ARR roles, scaled clinical pathways, admin hubs, remote care hubs or non-clinical triage. Linking operating processes and technology supports admin, back office and clinical services, with significant knock-on benefits for staff wellbeing and resilience.
We need to move away from short-term solutions to a more sustainable ongoing system support. Hub delivery creates legacy and a framework for combined and optimised working, through integrated technology and harmonised operating processes.
The use of at scale and hub service, particularly for managing patient access and workforce resilience, is again highlighted in NHSE’s monthly update, September 2022. Redmoor Health can support networks to apply for funding under winter resilience. Many teams want to change ways of working, but simply don’t have the capacity or even energy. Leveraging funding gives PCNs, GP Federations and partners the extra pairs of hands they need.
Experts at Redmoor Health have brought together years of frontline NHS experience in the form of a Hub delivery programme. Redmoor practically guides networks, with a personalised focus. Each PCN or delivery service will have its own needs, challenges and opportunities, within Redmoor’s support programme we are able to provide both quick interventions and side by side holistic support.
We optimise what’s already there to realise immediate benefits during the crucial winter period, resolving gaps and duplication through more effective use of technology or workforce, while embedding new ways of working that will benefit your practices, staff and patients for years to come.
For more information contact hello@redmoorhealth.co.uk or visit us at the Best Practice Show, Birmingham NEC, 12th - 13th October where I will be speaking about collaborative delivery. Book your ticket here.
