Welcome to the Triangle – November 2024
A very warm welcome to the latest edition of the Triangle.
In this edition, you can read about new initiatives that will bring real benefits to the health and wellbeing of the people of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).
We also take time to reflect on national conversations about the future of the NHS and how these support what we are already doing in our area.
This is a particularly busy time for health and care services as we approach the critical winter months and, along with our partner organisations across BSW, we are working very hard to ensure we get through this challenging season safely.
Looking ahead to 2025, we were delighted to announce in October that HCRG Care Group will take the role of lead partner in driving forward our vision for community services from April of next year.
This new contract is the start of an innovative new community-based care partnership with the NHS, local authorities and charities that will transform the care and support that people get to help them with their health and wellbeing at every stage of their lives.
A new focus on community services means we can bring to life the ambitions set out in our Integrated Care Strategy and embraces the concept of ‘neighbourhood health’ focused squarely on the needs and experience of patients.
Local people can expect to receive more health and social care in or near their homes, in a more joined-up and streamlined way.
There will be upfront investment to kick-start new ways of working that make it easier for people to get care and support.
We are publishing regular updates about this exciting work and there will be opportunities for people to get involved in shaping the future of community-based care over the coming months.
Earlier this month, plans for a new state-of-the-art integrated care centre in Trowbridge were given a very welcome ‘green light’, and we’re pleased to say that work on the new build has already begun.
The new centre will stand on nearby land and replace the town’s old community hospital, improving patient and staff experience and demonstrating real investment in local services.
At a national level, recent weeks have seen the launch of the consultation on the 10 Year Health Plan, heralded as the biggest conversation on the future of the NHS in its 76 year history, and an unprecedented opportunity to find out what matters to people when it comes to health and care.
Please do take the time to share your thoughts and have your say via www.change.nhs.uk.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, have given more clarity on the way they expect ICBs and the wider system to work together to improve health and make the best of taxpayers’ money.
Providers will be focused on delivery, quality and safety, and on working with ICBs to deliver neighbourhood health. ICBs will be focused on strategic commissioning, and creating the environment for more action on prevention and more care in the community.
In BSW, we are already working in this way and are ready for what is to come. Helping people live longer, happier and healthier lives will remain our ‘true north’ and we are looking forward to sharing our story with you in the next edition.
As always, your feedback is important, so please do email us your thoughts and any questions you have to bswicb.communications@nhs.net, and we’ll make sure we respond to them in a future issue.
Thank you.
Stephanie Elsy
Chair, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board
Sue Harriman, Chief Executive Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board