Transforming community care partnership event

More than 150 health and care professionals, as well as members of the public, recently came together to discuss ways to improve community health services in Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

The ‘NHS Impact and Community Transformation’ event was jointly organised by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Impact. It was held at Barton Manor Hotel in Preston on Thursday 27 June 2024. 

The event brought together NHS and local authority colleagues, Healthwatch representatives, people working in the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector (VCFSE), and members of the public with experience of using community services in Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

The first part of the day was dedicated to understanding why things need to change, including first-hand accounts of people who use community services. It also looked at how the NHS Impact improvement framework could be applied in all areas of work to support positive change. 

During the afternoon, attendees came together in their places to discuss how we can more effectively put local delivery plans into action. 

Louise Taylor, director of health and care integration for the ICB, said: “This was a brilliant event which had a real buzz and energy about it. It was fantastic to get so many dedicated health and care professionals in the same room to talk about the ways we can make things better for people living in Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

“I was especially pleased to see members of the public with first-hand experience of using community services sharing their thoughts and opinions. Their input on the day was instrumental in shaping our discussions and we are incredibly grateful to them for giving up their time and contributing so richly.” 

The event highlighted the dedication and commitment of all partner organisations to improving local community health services. It showed that we have the potential and drive here in Lancashire and South Cumbria to implement change and transform services for the benefit of the people who live here. 

Tony McDonald, director of community transformation for the ICB, added: “We want to take the improvement framework which was delivered by NHS Impact and use it to underpin the work around transforming community care in our region. Events like this are crucial in fostering collaboration and driving positive change and we’re determined to keep this momentum going. 

“We now need to metaphorically remove our organisational lanyards and start to behave more inclusively and holistically. It must be less about individual organisations, and more about neighbourhood, place, and system.” 

“Collaboration should be our default, not a plan.”

Louise Taylor, director of health and care integration, ICB

“We need to give frontline teams permission to be maverick.”

Sarah O’Brien, chief nursing officer, ICB

“This is about doing the right thing for patients and residents.”

Sarah O’Brien, chief nursing officer, ICB

“We’ve got be realistic about the level of task in front of us.”

Dr Andy Knox, associate medical director population health, ICB

“We’ve got have the ability to listen like we’ve never listened before.”

Dr Andy Knox, GP and associate medical director population health, ICB

"Service users and carers need to be at the heart of everything."

Hamad Saleem, Healthwatch representative