This week’s message includes a vlog from Professor Sean Duffy, Lead for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance. Sean talks about the Cancer Alliance’s second stakeholder event, held on Tuesday, and how it has set the scene for the next phase of work in achieving world class outcomes for people affected by cancer in our area. You can also find out more about the Cancer Alliance here.

Hello my name is Ian and welcome to this week’s update

On Tuesday, Rob Webster WY&H Health and Care Partnership CEO Lead and I attended the West Yorkshire and Harrogate JHOSC. The JHOSC includes chairs of the local overview and scrutiny committees i.e. Bradford including Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven; Calderdale; Leeds; Kirklees and Wakefield. It is chaired by Cllr Helen Hayden. This is a really important forum to ensure that there is the right level of scrutiny of our work across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. In line with our principle of subsidiarity, where work takes place as close to people as possible, this is designed to complement the scrutiny arrangements that already exist in each of our six local places.

It was a helpful and productive discussion. We discussed our stroke programme, and more generally where we are as a partnership, and how we ensure that we are working with the right level of transparency and public engagement. As we formalise our working through the development of the memorandum of understanding (MOU), how we build this in will be really important.

The meeting was also attended by campaign groups concerned with some of the changes taking place in the NHS. They spoke passionately and eloquently about ensuring the NHS treats everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of who they are or what their needs are; about how important it is that the NHS remains publicly funded, and free at the point of need; and about the need for adequate funding for health and care services. There is clearly much more that unites us than divides us. I believe that everyone in the room, campaigners, managers, clinicians and elected members are there because they care passionately about health and social care.

My belief is that the best way to tackle these issues is through strong partnership working in each of our six local places and across WY&H, and that is why I am so passionate about our partnership.

Have a good weekend

Ian

View Sean Duffy's vlog:

What else has been happening this week?

Click here to access Sean’s vlog from the cancer event.

National communication and engagement workshop

Communication and engagement leads from across England met on Wednesday to share learning and good practice across health care partnerships.

Simon Stevens, NHS England CEO was one of the presenters. Simon talked about the importance of public conversations and stressed the role of integrated care across the health care sector, finances and workforce support. Simon was followed by Michael Macdonnell, NHS England, Director of Health System Transformation who talks about accountable care organisations. It was a good opportunity to learn more about the role of accountable care systems and how NHS England and NHS Improvement are working together more closely to support joined up working across health and care partnerships.

Professor Keith Willett Director for Acute Care NHS England talked about engagement with clinicians, health professionals and council colleagues working in social care. In particular Keith spoke about the importance of health professionals understanding the work of social care, including care homes and domiciliary care, and the need to build effective relationships and partnerships. There are 1.5 million people working in social care and we need to see beyond our own part of the forest.

There was also a guest speaker from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel who talked about accountability and assurance from scrutiny committees. Their work involves giving advice and recommendations on whether transformation programmes should go to Judicial Review. There is a lot to learn from referrals and reviews. Communication and engagement colleagues need to regular share best practice and experiences of what works well and what doesn’t.

VCS follow up event

VCS organisations came together today for the second time this month. The first being the WY&H VCS event held in Bradford on the 6 November. Led by Soo Nevison and Hannah Howe, the follow up session aimed to discuss the next steps for VCS organisations in understanding and influencing the work that is happening at a WY&H level. Representatives spent time looking at the feedback from the first event and discussing which areas are their priorities for the coming year.

What’s happening next week?

There is a regional health and care partnership leaders meeting with NHS England on Monday. Rob Webster will be attending.

WY&H leadership, including the Joint Committee of the 11 Clinical Commissioning Groups, Clinical Forum and the Executive Leadership Group, meets on Tuesday.

WY&H communication and engagement colleagues will meet on Wednesday. There will be presentations on community engagement and NHS England on their communication role, including winter pressures.

The Maternity Voices Partnership Board meets on Friday. You can read the public summary of the draft Local Maternity System Board plan here.