Posts Tagged ‘north yorkshire’
Community equipment amnesty launched across North Yorkshire
Published on Feb 19, 2019
Local NHS and social care leaders are calling on people across North Yorkshire and York to return loaned equipment like walking frames, crutches, beds, mattresses and hoists when no longer needed.
Last year the NHS launched a national so-called “crutch amnesty” to deal with concerns that perfectly good medical equipment is going to waste. It’s thought that for every 50 pairs of crutches issued through the NHS, only 10 pairs are returned. With a pair of crutches typically costing around £12.50, the annual bill for crutches in the NHS is estimated to be around £3 million.
This is also costing the local health service tens of thousands of pounds – money that could be invested elsewhere.
On behalf of the NHS clinical commissioning groups in North Yorkshire and York (including NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG), Dr Charles Parker, Clinical Chair of NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We’re calling on people to return, recycle or request collection of unwanted equipment so it can be used again by someone else in need.
“It’s vital we manage local NHS resources and budgets responsibly and reducing waste plays a big part in that.”
Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Adult Services and Health Integration for North Yorkshire County Council said: “Health and social care equipment includes a range of products to assist independent living at home, including mobility and communication aids, shower chairs, perching stools, walking aids and pressure relieving mattresses/cushions.
“A lot of this equipment never finds its way back to the provider when it’s surplus to requirements. It’s quite likely it’s just been put in the garage or in the cupboard under the stairs and forgotten about once it’s served its purpose.”
Michaela Harris, Business Support Manager from Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd (Medequip) which provides the service said: “If our customers have equipment they no longer need, they can simply get in touch with us and we’ll pick the equipment up for free – just ring 01423 226240 or email north.yorks@medequip-uk.com.
“Alternatively, surplus equipment can be returned to one of Medequip’s depot drop-off points in Scarborough or Knaresborough, or deposit it in one of three amnesty bins. There are currently two at York Hospital and one at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. We’re looking at increasing the number of these bins across other North Yorkshire and York locations.”
Read MoreAmbulance trust awarded integrated urgent care contract
Published on Jan 23, 2019
NHS Commissioners in Yorkshire and the Humber have (22 January 2019) announced that Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has been awarded a contract to provide integrated urgent care services across the region for the next five years.
The contract, worth £17.6 million in 2019/20, has been developed in line with a new national service specification to provide the region’s population of 5.4 million with access, where appropriate, to clinical advice and treatment when they have an urgent healthcare need. The contract incorporates the NHS 111 call handling service with core clinical advice and will feature a range of developments, including being able to issue prescriptions and increasing the number of bookings into GP and urgent care appointments.
Agencies across the Yorkshire and Humber region have worked together to commission NHS 111 telephony, a call handling service and core Clinical Advice Service (CAS). The contract award follows a nine-month long procurement process undertaken on behalf of the region’s twenty-one Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) along with NHS England North Region – Yorkshire and the Humber.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service currently provides the NHS 111 service across Yorkshire and the Humber. The Trust is now working with commissioners to implement the new service, which will start on 1 April 2019.
Martin Pursey, Head of Contracting and Procurement at NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG, which is the lead commissioning organisation for the service, said: “I have confidence that by working together with the ambulance service, we will be in a strong position to meet the ongoing and developing requirements in respect of integrated urgent care across our region and through this, ensure that more people receive care and support out of hospital”.
Rod Barnes, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Having provided the region’s high performing and well regarded NHS 111 service for the last six years, the opportunity for the Trust to transition to the new Integrated Urgent Care service is warmly welcomed.
“In line with our Trust’s strategic ambitions to ensure patients and communities experience fully joined-up care responsive to their needs and with excellent outcomes, we are excited to have the opportunity to develop our NHS 111 service to deliver integrated urgent car through collaboration with primary care colleagues, other providers and commissioners.”
Read MorePeople experiencing anxiety and depression this Christmas encouraged to seek help through talking therapy
Published on Nov 29, 2018
North Yorkshire GPs are urging residents to seek help if the strains of Christmas begin to take a toll on mental health.
With the pressure to socialise, temptation to overindulge and finances stretched, this can be a particularly stressful time of year.
The inclement winter weather and dark days mean it can also be especially difficult for people who are alone or have been bereaved.
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is encouraging residents to refer themselves to an NHS talking therapy service in North Yorkshire known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), if they feel they are at a low ebb.
Dr Peter Billingsley, Associate Chair of NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the clinical lead on mental health, said: “We know that the winter and festive period is particularly challenging for people who experience mental health difficulties. If you, or someone you care for, start to feel the need for mental health support, you can contact the IAPT service directly which means you don’t have to see your GP first.
“We also think it’s important for patients to know that the IAPT service is not a crisis or urgent response service for people who are severely unwell. You should always dial 999 in a medical emergency, call NHS 111 for any urgent concerns or ring your local GP practice if you feel IAPT is not for you and you are looking for alternative support.
“You can also visit www.tewv.nhs.uk/IAPTNYorks to find contact details for your local crisis support team.”
One in four people will experience difficulties in their mental health at some point in their lives. Significant events or a build-up of stresses such as work place problems, a change in life circumstances, a traumatic event or a specific phobia could lead to difficulties managing mental wellbeing. Problems with low mood, depression and anxiety can develop and make it difficult for us to cope with life’s daily demands.
IAPT can support people experiencing mild to moderate difficulties with any of the following:
depression
anxiety and worry
panic attacks
health anxiety
social phobia
specific phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Andrew Wright, North Yorkshire IAPT Service Manager with the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said: “To make sure IAPT is right for you, you will be offered a focused initial assessment over the phone, (alternative arrangements can be made if required).
“At the end of the assessment you will be directed to the most appropriate support for your needs. This might include guided self-learning, attending a psychoeducational course, computerised guided self-help, or in some cases cognitive behavioural therapy.
“If you would prefer to discuss things with your GP first, please make an appointment. Your GP can also help you refer to IAPT, or to a suitable alternative.”
IAPT is a national NHS programme to increase the availability of talking therapy treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to treat anxiety and depression.
More information can be found here: www.tewv.nhs.uk/IAPTNYorks, or dial 01947 899270 if you are a patient registered at a GP practice in the NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG area.
Local IAPT service contact details for patient self-referrals:
Northallerton, Gibraltar House, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NA
01609 768890
Whitby (also for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG patients), Whitby Hospital, Springhill, Whitby, YO21 1EE
01947 899270
Read MoreSingle accountable officer appointed for three North Yorkshire CCGs
Published on Nov 22, 2018
A single accountable officer has been appointed to oversee a shared leadership team across three North Yorkshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
The current Chief Officer of Harrogate and Rural District CCG, Amanda Bloor, has been appointed to the post by NHS England’s Chief Executive, Simon Stevens and will commence her new role on 1 December 2018.
In September this year, all three CCG Governing Bodies voted to introduce a shared senior leadership team across NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG.
Each CCG will remain a separate statutory organisation responsible for the purchasing and planning of the vast majority of health services across their area.
Dr Charles Parker, Clinical Chair, NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG said: “It is imperative that organisations across the NHS landscape think creatively about how we can ensure every pound spent is spent well. This new approach will help us deliver more sustainably by allowing us to think across the health care system, while retaining our responsiveness to local need.”
Dr Phil Garnett, Clinical Chair, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, said: “We are seeing more and more examples of local health and care organisations coming together to work across organisational boundaries to deliver more integrated models of care and treatment.
“With a growing and aging population exerting greater pressure on finite NHS resources, it seems entirely sensible for CCGs to work more closely together, to bring together assets and capabilities to improve care and patient outcomes in a way that demonstrates wise stewardship of taxpayers’ money at the same time.”
Dr Alistair Ingram, Clinical Chair, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG “This new approach will allow us to have the best of both worlds – the system benefits of thinking at scale, while still delivering clinically led services which respond to local need. We will ensure we retain the benefit of local commissioning but with a system-wide perspective.”
Amanda Bloor said: “A shared team across the three North Yorkshire CCGs will enable collaboration and work at scale when it is appropriate while ensuring local needs remain at the heart of each CCG’s activities. While there will be a single leadership team a strong local focus and clinical leadership will continue to underpin our work.
“I am looking forward to developing new relationships and building on old while we collectively continue to ensure quality healthcare services that meet the needs of our population across North Yorkshire.”
Once officially in post after 1 December 2018, a single senior management team will be established that fits the needs of the three CCGs and their local populations.
A group representing all three CCG Governing Bodies will also be set up.
Simon Cox, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Chief Officer and Janet Probert, NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG Chief Officer, will remain in their current roles for a few more weeks to ensure there is a smooth transition
Read MoreNew website launched to support children and young people’s mental health
Published on Nov 6, 2018
A new website to support children and young people from North Yorkshire with their mental health and wellbeing has been launched, thanks to the local NHS.
Compass BUZZ, who are commissioned by the five North Yorkshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to provide mental health services for children and young people, has launched the site to build on the existing service which offers help and support around some of the most common mental health and wellbeing difficulties.
The new website, gives children and young people as well as parents, carers and professionals, direct access to videos and helpful tips on identifying and managing difficulties including anxiety, bullying, eating problems, loss, low mood and self-esteem as well as stress and self-harm.
Lisa Gale, Service Manager for Compass REACH and Compass BUZZ, North Yorkshire, said: “For young people aged 11-18, it can be hard growing up and they can face lots of different issues.
“We have designed the website for a wide audience; to appeal to children and young people and also provide details for parents and professionals on how to support them. It focusses on four key areas: Being Bullied, Being Angry, Being Worried and Being Sad.
“There are some amazing video clips which were filmed with the help of young people from Stokesley School and Harrogate Youth Council. For more brilliant clips you can also access the new Compass BUZZ YouTube channel.
“We will be keeping the website up to date with Compass BUZZ news and events, so please take a look.”
The website follows the earlier launch of a text messaging service ‘BUZZ US’ which is a confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-18 across North Yorkshire. Named by children, BUZZ US can be contacted confidentially on 07520 631168 Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4.30pm (excluding Bank Holidays).
On behalf of the five North Yorkshire CCGs, Janet Probert, Chief Officer of NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, said: “There’s some really fantastic work going on with services for children and young people and we’re increasingly grateful to Compass BUZZ for launching initiatives like these. We hope our health and social care professionals, schools and community groups will help spread the word so that more children and young people can continue to feel supported by this service.”
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