WYHPartnership

New fellows sought to help improve population health in West Yorkshire

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West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Improving Population Health Fellowship is back for a second year, and is looking for more fellows to help make a positive difference.

If you want to find out more, we are hosting two events on 8 and 23 November from 2pm to 3:30pm. Contact verity.phillips3@nhs.net and caroline.andrews16@nhs.net for an invitation.

You can also visit our website for more information.

The Improving Population Health Fellowship, which is part of West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) expands on the successful first year of the Health Equity Fellowship, launched in 2021. The Health Equity Fellowship saw 33 fellows from health and care sectors carry out projects aimed at tackling health inequalities, including projects targeting children’s health, mentoring people and self-managing diabetes.

We are now looking for a total of 70 fellows across four different areas of the Improving Population Health Fellowship:

  • Health Equity: 30 fellows
  • Adversity Trauma and Resilience: 30 fellows
  • Suicide Prevention: five fellows
  • Climate Change: five fellows

Dr Sohail Abbas, Deputy Medical Director, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Chair of the Health Inequalities Network, for WY HCP said: “We are delighted to launch year two of our fellowship now even bigger than before. If you are passionate about making a real difference to our local communities this could be the programme for you. That might be about tackling health inequalities, addressing barriers that people affected by trauma can experience when accessing services, protecting our environment or helping to prevent suicide.”

Being a fellow involves working on a project relevant to your fellowship theme and delivering it in your workplace, or by joining a system-wide initiative across West Yorkshire. Fellows will need to dedicate a day each week to carry out the fellowship training (mainly delivered virtually) and the project work.

The Fellowship will run from March 2023 to March 2024. We welcome applications from all health and care sectors, including community and voluntary colleagues across West Yorkshire.

Robin Tuddenham, Place Lead for Calderdale and joint Chair of the Improving Population Health Programme Board said: “The fellowship is designed to attract applicants that are representative of the communities we serve. Last year we saw some fantastic projects being delivered and, in some cases, expanded to other areas helping to create more equitable health and care systems and reduce health inequalities. This year we look forward to welcoming 70 more fellows with new ideas, tactics and perspectives to pioneer change and meet our ambitions.”

Applications are open from 7 November and close on 9 December. To apply all you need to do is complete a statement of interest. The Fellowship is open to all primary, secondary, community and voluntary sector colleagues across West Yorkshire irrespective of current job role, grade or profession.

Aziz-ur Rehman, a Health Equity Fellow from year one, said: “This is the first time I have been valued for my overall knowledge around the wider health agenda and I felt totally comfortable with every aspect of the fellowship. It is certainly not there to trip you up but to nurture what you have and make it usef

NHS West Yorkshire partnership organisation meets in public 15 November

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The NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will meet in public for the third time on Tuesday 15 November at the Briar Court Hotel, Halifax Rd, Birchencliffe, Huddersfield HD3 3NT.

The Board is part of the legislation set out in the Health and Care Act 2022, which came into force on the 1 July 2022. It focuses on improving outcomes for people by addressing health inequalities, the difference in care received and effective use of budgets across the area. It is part of West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP), an integrated care system.

The board’s role includes agreeing a plan for health and care services in West Yorkshire that delivers the five-year strategy. Most decisions about circa £5billion budget and the services delivered locally are made in the five local places of West Yorkshire, via its strong local place partnerships in Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District.

The board also works alongside care provider collaboratives, such as The West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts, the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Collaborative, Community Care Collaborative and hospices working together.  The board has an independent chair, Cathy Elliott.  Its Chief Executive is Rob Webster CBE.

The meeting on the 15 November will include an update report from Cathy and Rob, as well as items on primary care, winter planning and updates from the five local place partnerships.

People are asked to contact westyorkshire.ics@nhs.net before Monday the 14 November at 9am if they would like to attend or submit questions. They can also call 01924 317659 to submit questions or to book their place to attend.

People can also read the papers, or watch live online by visiting www.wypartnership.co.uk/meetings/integrated-care-board

New People’s Panel for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Survey

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People across West Yorkshire are being asked to help shape a new people’s panel which will play an important role in advising health and care services across the area.  With already strong mechanisms in place to hear from people in Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield District, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP), want to build on this by giving people an opportunity to also have a voice at a West Yorkshire level.

Take the survey here : www.tinyurl.com/wypanel22 by November 11
or read to the end to find how you can complete a paper copy

WY HCP, which plans and delivers health and care services for people across the area, has asked West Yorkshire Healthwatch organisations, the independent health and care champions, to develop a new panel. The panel will be made up of people and communities from across the area. It aims to empower people to have their say about services and to put the voice of people at the heart of decision-making at a West Yorkshire level.

Working with existing and new networks across local areas, people will have the opportunity to get involved in influencing decisions made by the new NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Board.

Sharanjit Boughan, West Yorkshire Healthwatch said: “Ensuring diverse voices are heard from across the area is essential to help health and care services meet the needs of all our communities. We especially want to hear the voices of those who experience the greatest health inequalities and who we might not usually hear from. Please come forward and get involved”.

Cathy Elliott, Chair of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board said: “As the independent champion for anyone using health and care services, Healthwatch is a key partner within WY HCP and ideally placed to do this essential work on our behalf. We really want to reach as many people as possible, so that we can make sure people’s feedback and experiences of local services are heard at the highest level. This is ultimately all about making the right decisions and ones that make a positive difference to everyone’s lives”.

Anyone interested in helping to shape the panel is invited to take part in a survey and share their thoughts and ideas, including what the panel will be called and how people could be supported to get involved. The survey can be accessed at www.tinyurl.com/wypanel22 – alternatively, for a paper copy or to request alternative formats, or to be taken through the questions on the phone, contact your local Healthwatch. The survey closes for comments on the Friday 11 November 2022.

Partnership backs World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 and urges all those struggling to reach out

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West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) have once again pledged their support to World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 and urged anyone who is struggling with their mental health to reach out for help.

The theme for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day – spearheaded by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) – is ‘creating hope through action,’ aiming to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.

Suicide prevention is one of the ten ambitions of WY HCP with figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that the area has higher suicide rates than England as whole.

The latest figures released this week for 2021*, also show the three-year rolling rates have risen in all areas of West Yorkshire, except for Kirklees, compared to those three-year rates released in 2020.

In Leeds, suicide rates have risen from 13.3 to 13.9 per 100,000 people, in Wakefield from 16.2 to 17.3, in Calderdale from 15.6 to 16.9 and in Bradford from 9.2 to 9.8.

West Yorkshire also saw a rise from 12.6 per 100,000 people to 13.2 – compared to the England average, which has remained the same, at 10.4 per 100,000 people.

The suicide rate for Kirklees fell from 11.8 to 11.2 per 100,000 people.

[NB It’s helpful to note that the registrations of deaths with coroners are up to end of 2021 and this may not be reflective of the current position now.]

Rob Webster CBE, CEO Lead for WY HCP said: “It’s clear that periods of recession and financial distress increase the chances of suicide in our population.

“We can prevent this from becoming a reality.

“Knowing the signs and being able to have the conversation with someone is a skill that we can all develop.

“This Suicide Prevention Day I’m urging everyone to take the free 20-minute training provided at www.zerosuicidealliance.com – you might just save a life.”

Jess Parker, project manager for WY HCP’s Suicide Prevention Programme said: “These figures show that on average, over the last three years to 2021, there have been rises in suicide rates across West Yorkshire, except for Kirklees.

“With the economic pressures faced by people and communities, the risk of suicide may increase going forward.

“We know that households are struggling with financial worries at the moment, so we want them to be aware of the support that is available and to reach out if they feel they need it.

“Feeling suicidal is something that we don’t want anyone to go through alone. We realise that many factors can be at play, like relationship breakdown, bereavement, financial difficulties, addiction and ill-health.”

The WY HCP Suicide Prevention website brings together the broad range of support on offer across all areas of West Yorkshire for anyone struggling with their mental health or in a crisis – including for gambling issues and self-harm, young people, LGBTQ+, parents, veterans, and bereavement.

It is also a hub of information on suicide prevention including latest news and blogs, resources for professionals and the training available to all, including that offered by Zero Suicide Alliance.

Jess added: “We all need to be aware of the risk of suicide – residents, employers, colleagues, workers across the public sector – take the training and you could potentially help save a life.

“To all those struggling, know that support is out there and reach out – there are people ready and waiting to help.”

WY HCP’s Suicide Prevention Programme has been carrying out intensive work – based on its five-year strategy launched earlier this year – towards an ambition of reducing the suicide rate by ten per cent before 2027.

Recent measures include recruiting people with personal experience of suicide into a project to help shape future prevention work, improvements to the sharing of real-time information on suspected suicides across West Yorkshire and securing funding to invest in suicide prevention training for frontline workers.

For the full range of suicide prevention support and resources available in West Yorkshire visit www.suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk.

The Samaritans provide 24-hour support on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.uk.

West Yorkshire Partnership Shortlisted for the 2022 HSJ Awards

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SETTING THE STANDARD FOR HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE: WEST YORKSHIRE PARTNERSHIP SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 HSJ AWARDS

 West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) is proud to reveal that they have been shortlisted for several awards at this year’s HSJ Awards, recognising outstanding contribution to healthcare and earning the opportunity to showcase their achievements on a national platform. This includes being short listed for Integrated Care System (ICS) of the Year and Communications Initiative of the Year Award for their Root Out Racism Movement, developed in partnership with West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit. West Yorkshire Vascular Service has also been shortlisted for the HSJ Provider Collaboration of the Year.

Other organisations which make up WY HCP, including Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, were shortlisted in the Performance Recovery Award Category for Technology and Relationships Improving Flow. Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust has also been shortlisted for the Staff Wellbeing Award.

WY HCP won the HSJ Award for ICS of the Year in 2021.

The pressures faced across the healthcare sector haven’t been far from the headlines over the past 12 months – yet the quality and overriding positivity of the award entries this year highlight the enduring devotion of workers within the health and social care industry, dedicated to improving patient outcome.

A staggering 1067 entries have been received for the HSJ Awards 2022, with 219 projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist (from across 162 organisations). The high volume – and exceptional quality – of applications is once again reflecting the breadth of innovation and care within the UK’s healthcare networks.

Now in its 42nd year, the HSJ Awards continue to provide an opportunity to shine a light on the outstanding efforts and achievements that individuals and teams across the sector deliver daily.

Of the 25 categories, three are new for 2022, representing some of the recent challenges and triumphs within the NHS. These comprise new awards for Covid Vaccination Programme, Reducing Healthcare Inequalities and Performance Recovery Award.

The judging panel was made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including; Sarah-Jane Marsh (Chief Executive, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); David Probert (Chief Executive, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust); Dr Bola Owolabi (Director Health Inequalities, NHS England and NHS Improvement); Eugine Yafele (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust); Tracy Allen (Chief Executive Officer, Derbyshire Community Health Services Foundation Trust)

Following the thorough judging process, WY HCP was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year (November 17th).

Shortlist for ICS of the Year: Since 2016, WY HCP focus has been on the collective difference they make to people’s lives, improving quality and efficiency of services. This long-term change covers all aspects of integrating health and care and making lasting improvements to inequalities by concentrating on wider determinants of health as set out in WY HCP’s improving population health annual report 2021/22. The five local places (Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District), provider collaboratives, primary care networks, VCSE, communities and local people are the vehicles for change. WY HCP tackle issues reaching far beyond the ‘NHS norm. WY HCP won the HSJ Award for ICS of the Year in 2021.

Being short listed for Communications Initiative of the Year, a WY HCP race review (2020) identified the need for an anti-racism movement aimed at colleagues and communities. The Partnership serves one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the UK (20% of people are from minority ethnic communities), and its structure offers a reach of 100,000+ workforce, with a population of 2.4 million. The Root Out Racism Movement was co-created with a project group of 42 colleagues and over 100 other staff involved in focus groups, the majority of whom have a lived experience of racism. The movement has over 550 organisations and community champion supporters.

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, said: “On behalf of all my colleagues, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate WY HCP on being shortlisted as a finalist in the category of ICS of the Year and Communications Initiative of the Year. All of the applications represent the ‘very best of the NHS’ and often leave our esteemed panel of judges with an impossible choice!

 

“Year on year the number of entrants continue to rise which I find so encouraging and is testament to the effect that HSJ Awards can have on improved staff culture and morale.

 

“We’re all very much looking forward to welcoming our finalists to the awards ceremony in November, celebrating their impressive achievements and jointly acknowledging our values of sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes and continuously driving for better service. But we never forget that the award ceremony is not just a celebration within a night, but a platform to recognise the hard work of all our NHS staff, all year round.”

The full list of nominees for the 2022 HSJ awards can be found at https://awards.hsj.co.uk/ alongside details of the Awards partners; https://awards.hsj.co.uk/partners

The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the Battersea Evolution Centre, London on November 17th, 2022.

Climate change toolkit launched across West Yorkshire

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Excerpt – Read Full Article here

In May the WY HCP asked over 100,000 staff and volunteers to be ‘All hands in for a better future’ when they launched their first climate change campaign.  The toolkit is an extension to this work and provides West Yorkshire healthcare providers such as GP practices, pharmacies, opticians, and dental practices with guidance and resources to address climate change.

Climate change poses a major threat to everyone’s future and is one of WY HCP big ten ambitions and where they aspire to become a global leader.  For the WY HCP to lead the way in responding to the climate crisis, and to meet their vitally important goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2038, they are committed to making fundamental changes to the way they work, through increased investment, mitigation, and culture change throughout the local health and care system.

The toolkit covers key areas including: understanding carbon; cutting carbon; cutting costs and improving health; community regeneration and primary care in a changing climate. It also includes simple things that healthcare providers can do that can start to make a big difference such as calculating their carbon footprint, using the green impact for health toolkit to reduce it, and taking advantage of local sustainability grants.

The online primary care climate change toolkit is available to download by visiting the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) website bit.ly/PcClimateChange

Look out for each other during the heatwave and rising Covid cases

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Residents across West Yorkshire are urged to take precautions and look out for each other during the heatwave and as COVID cases rise

Summer events and social gatherings are returning as part of our lives, but COVID transmission rates are rising sharply in West Yorkshire. The numbers of people with COVID in hospital beds are now greater than during the previous wave, our social care sector is under huge pressure, and we should remain cautious warns West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP).

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Director of Public Health for Kirklees Council and Public Health Lead for WY HCP said: “Our NHS and social care system is under pressure, especially with extremely hot weather alongside increasing rates of COVID. But there are a few simple things we can all do to help. Being cautious about mixing with groups of people if you’re feeling unwell is a good way of stopping the spread. Those other basic steps, like keeping rooms well ventilated and good hand hygiene, will also help. Above all, being up to date with your jabs is the best way you can protect yourself and our health service. It’s never too late to get protected”.

Information about how to get your COVID-19 vaccination can be found at nhs.uk and via the NHS App. Whether it’s a first, second or a booster dose no appointment is necessary – visit www.nhs.uk for a walk-in site near you.

The Met Office has also issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat from Sunday 17 July and WY HCP are reminding everyone to be sun smart and to choose health and care services wisely.

The main risks posed by a heatwave are not drinking enough water, overheating – which can make symptoms worse for people with heart or breathing problems – and heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Rob Webster CBE, CEO Lead for WY HCP said: ‘The consequences of a heatwave can affect anyone, including older people, and those who live on their own or in a care home, people who have a long-term health condition, babies and the very young. Please check-in on your vulnerable neighbours across Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District to make sure they are following the advice and stay well during the heatwave. If you do become unwell it is important that you get the right care in the right place.  Please choose the best service for your needs across West Yorkshire. If you have a medical problem and aren’t sure what to do visit 111.nhs.uk’.

For more information on summer health advice visit  Seasonal advice – NHS – Together We Can (togetherwe-can.com)  https://togetherwe-can.com/seasonaladvice/

Families can also visit Healthier Together, a free website developed by local healthcare professionals to help parents and carers keep their children safe and healthy. It has a wide range of information and is available by visiting https://www.wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/

The team behind the website have ensured the online advice complements local advice given across health and care services. Information has been reviewed by local paediatricians, GPs, community pharmacists, health visitors and other professionals across the region to ensure it is the most current, and up to date information available.

It also offers practical advice on whether a child should go to nursery or school if unwell, along with advice on keeping children safe, well and in good general health.