Information on Loughborough

Our NHS Our Future - the verdict

Posted on 07/02/2008
T. Robson

medication and pills

People from Loughborough and elsewhere in the Leicestershire want care closer to home – but not at the expense of expertise.

This is one of the findings of a report into the views of 101 people invited to a special event as part of a review into healthcare services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The audience were recruited to test responses of a series of proposals developed by clinicians who are leading the Our NHS, our future next stage review, which aims to develop NHS services over the next 10 years.

Overall people supported moves to bring care closer to home, but generally wanted specialist care provided in a specialised centre. The groups highlighted the importance of keeping things simple, such as providing a single access point for emergency care, and key workers for children with serious injury and those with long-term conditions.

The attendees were also interested in ensuring the ideas were affordable and that the NHS budget was spent in the best possible way. Proposals include patient-held personalised care plans for everyone with a long term conditions and a rehabilitation unit for children with serious head injury.

The audience felt mental health care was one of the most important areas of healthcare. And they applauded the work going on to help dying people choose where they die with dignity, respect and sensitivity and would like more NHS investment to further develop services.

People agreed healthy living messages needed to be hard-hitting, but needed more assurances on more radical ideas such as offering midwifery services in non-medical venues like supermarkets.

Mum-of-two Carrie Dean, 25, from Braunstone was among the audience. She said: “I really enjoyed the day and would do it again. The best thing for me was it made me realise I knew more about the NHS than I thought I did – and obviously thanks to the day, now I know even more.

“Clinicians gave us the right information so we could discuss the ideas. My own opinion is that I do feel that I would rather go to a specialist centre for acute care where everything is readily available than somewhere down the road.”

Dr Chris Trzcinski is a county GP and chair of the Professional Executive Committee for Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT and heads the clinical task group for long term conditions. He said: “The event gave us the opportunity to compare what we think are the priorities with public perception. We also used the day to test out some of our ideas for improvements or changes to services. The responses show that we are generally on the right track.

“The people that attended were enthusiastic about the day and wanted to make a real contribution. They’ve given is plenty to think about!”

"We were also very pleased to receive very positive support from members of the public on our plans for patients with long term conditions to have comprehensive patient held care plans."

 The Our NHS, our future review is split into eight clinical task groups led by senior clinicians and other staff from healthcare, social care and the voluntary sector to discuss key priorities for improvements. The workgroups are looking at:

  • Maternity and new born
  • End of life
  • Long-term conditions
  • Acute (emergency) care
  • Planned (elective) care
  • Staying healthy
  • Mental Health
  • Children

There were also a number of themes discussed which cut across the eight task groups including cancer.

A number of other issues were also raised by the audience including Healthcare Acquired Infections (HCAIs) and fluoridation of water to reduce dental decay.

A whole host of events and activities are being held to gather more public opinion on the proposals, including writing to more than a thousand patient groups. Two more events with recruited audiences are also being planned over coming weeks.

Matthew Roberts, project manager for consultation and engagement, said: “We plan to hold similar events around Leicestershire and Rutland in March. Together with our new websites and phone lines, were asking our patients to get in touch with the NHS and have your say on its future.”

People can log on to www.haveyoursayleicestershire.nhs.uk to have their say on NHS services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

More Information:

These where just some of the proposals discussed at the event

Maternity –

Increase the number of Child Centres (currently Sure Start) so they are within walking distance of harder to reach groups

Offering community-based care for straight-forward births

Basing midwives in non-medical venues such as supermarkets

Children

A named key worker for each child suffering a serious injury

A dedicated rehabilitation unit for children with serious injury

Integrated services for children with serious injury 

Staying Healthy

Reduce the number of smokers

Improve physical activity and diet

Reduce the harm caused by alcohol

Mental Health

Create a single site for older people

Provide more community services and more treatment in patients’ homes

Combine other sites through refurbishment/extensions

Long-term health conditions

Provide every patient diagnosed with one or more long term conditions with a patient-held personalised care plan to include information on diagnosis and treatment and a single point of access for urgent advice

Planned (elective) care

Provide patients with discharge and recovery plans before surgery/treatment

Acute (emergency) care

Reduce the need for those with minor injuries to go to A&E

Ensure patients are seen and treated as effectively as possible

End of Life Care

Extend the DALE (Decisions at Life End) project to people aged over 65 across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to choose where to die