Welcome to the Triangle – September 2024

This edition of the Triangle comes at a pivotal moment in the history of the NHS.

Last week, Lord Darzi’s Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England was published, with the report striking a stark and unapologetic view of the NHS in 2024.

If you haven’t already looked at the report, we would urge you to do so.

We’ve been considering its contents for the last few days, and while many of the issues described within the report are not new to us, having them laid out in black and white, and in such unambiguous terms, shows there is much to do.

Locally, we have not shied away from the fact we are on a long journey of improvement, and we will continue to, wherever we can, innovate care and deliver a service people can be proud of.

If each issue of the Triangle can be viewed as a snapshot in time, then the September 2024 issue shows that even against the backdrop of Lord Darzi’s review, the health and care system in BSW still gives us reason to be optimistic.

Good news is plentiful in this month’s edition, and we hope you will join us in recognising the efforts of all those colleagues who go above and beyond each and every day.

This hard work inevitably comes into its own during the winter months, and with the cold weather starting to rear its head, preparations for what is traditionally our busiest, and most challenging, time of year have already begun.

Across our region, vaccinations to help keep our most vulnerable residents safe during the winter are currently taking place, and it’s an area we have a strong record in.

At the end of June, when the spring Covid-19 booster vaccine drive finished, our ICB was ranked as the highest performing system in the country.

More than 66.5 per cent of those eligible for a booster came forward for the vaccine, which is significantly higher than the national average of just 55.1 per cent.

Elsewhere, we also saw our vaccination rates for care home residents surpass the England average, with BSW recording a 75 per cent take-up, compared to a national score of 67 per cent.

This season, however, is also significant as it marks the first time that a dedicated vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, often referred to as RSV, is being made available.

The new vaccination is being offered specifically to those over the age of 75 and pregnant women, as RSV, which becomes much more prevalent during the winter, primarily affects older people and very small children.

Vaccines play an important role in helping to reduce pressure on our system, as hospital beds that would otherwise have been occupied by someone with a severe case of flu or Covid-19, can be kept free for those with other urgent care needs, such as cancer, stroke and serious injury.

If you or someone you know is invited to come forward for a vaccine, please respond, or help others to do so, without delay.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to enjoy the Triangle, and please do share any comments or feedback with us directly by sending an email to bswicb.communications@nhs.net.