Joint working in action: New centre launched in Swindon to better coordinate patient care

A new coordination centre at Great Western Hospitals (GWH) NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon is bringing a wide range of health and care staff together to better coordinate patient care.

The new Swindon Integrated Care Alliance Coordination Centre will physically integrate colleagues from the BSW health and care system, removing organisational boundaries so that they can better coordinate care, from the moment a patient dials 111, 999 or walksthrough the hospital doors.

The centre will be staffed by a wide range of people including clinical call assessors alongside representatives from community services, VCSE sector organisations, transport groups and ambulance services. People from these teams will work alongside therapists, end of life specialists, health and social care staff, locality leads, mental health workers and many others.

The new coordination centre aims to deliver on Great Western’s vision of providing great joined up services for local people at home, in the community and in hospital.

Dr Timea Novak, Deputy Associate Medical Director for Integrated and Community Services and Lead for the Navigation Hub said the centre would help to improve care for patients, staff and the wider community.

“Our aim is to get things right for patients the first time, so they are treated by the right team, whether that’s at home in the community and treated by the community team or anywhere in the hospital.

It will reduce unnecessary attendances and admissions to hospital and make sure we are focusing on what the patient wants and how they want to be treated.

It will also help staff, decreasing workload and the pressures they are under.”

You can hear Dr Novak explain more about the Swindon Integrated Care Alliance Coordination Centre In this video: Swindon ICA Coordination Centre