NESCHA has been instrumental in relaunching the PPG (Patients Practice Group) which has been inactive since Covid restrictions were put in place in January 2020. The NESCHA Chair Ron Wood and Vice Chair David Morris met with the PPG Chair in January 2022. Following this meeting, contact was made with all members of the individual PPG groups consisting of Chairs, Vice Chairs and Patients to endeavour to re-start the group again.
NESCHA agreed to fund the expenses for the venue ie. the cost of the meeting room and refreshments as they were informed that no funding was available from the CCG as was previously the case by the Commissioning Group.
The present position is that since February 2022 regular monthly meetings have been instituted with an average attendance of Seventeen GP practice groups. The meetings have been well attended and a representative from the new Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been present also.
Presentations have been given from CQC Health Watch and Social Services regarding vulnerable adults in the local community; also a presentation was given by NESCHA Board member Mike Maguire, the local professional Network Chair (pharmacy) on Best Practice involving pharmacy issues.
It is essential that these meetings continue with the attendance and support of the ICB in order that Best Practice in all Health and Social Care matters can be discussed and escalated to the ICB where appropriate, action taken and feedback provided during the next meeting together with any new information affecting Health and Social Care matters in Redcar and Cleveland.
In order to ensure excellence of care in all Health and Social Care matters affecting patients these meetings must place an emphasis on Best Practice at all organisational levels.
Through these meetings three new recruits have been brought on board to participate in assessments of the care environment (PLACE – Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environments)
Interviewed by Matt Bailey at 7.10am on 29th July about NESCHA views on imminent Andy Burnham announcement later that morning. I was greatly encouraged by his feedback ( he said it was interesting and ran over time!) and wrote the paper attached.
I never dreamt that one day I would be living the system!.
Sadly Robert my co-author , died when I was in hospital some years ago but my wife visited daily and then she lived with a diagnosois mixed dementia for over four years, was admitted to hospital last October and, following a rapid discharge to a care home, died peacefully in December .
Despite a professional background in social work and years spent working on improving health and care systems, nothing fully prepares you for living that experience. It brought into sharp focus both the compassion of frontline staff and the frustrations families can face when services are not as joined-up or consistent as they should be.
NHS de-frazzle new book and brilliant review