Rob Webster, CEO lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership talks about mental health

What else has been happening this week?

Local place based planners

Our local place based planners met on Tuesday (Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield). Colleagues received an update on the workforce strategy, which will be published in the next few weeks, as well as an update on commissioning developments, innovation and improvement. There was also a discussion on medicines optimisation in care homes. NHS Leeds CCG will be hosting the medicines optimisation in care homes project on behalf of the Partnership and are now at the stage of appointing a number of 8a pharmacists and band 6 pharmacy technicians to support the project on a 2 year secondment or fixed term contract basis.

The opportunity to apply for these roles is to be offered to all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians currently working within the West Yorkshire and Harrogate area. For more information please contact sallybower@nhs.net. The closing date is Friday 25 May 2018.

Support for unpaid carers

The support for unpaid carers project group met on Thursday. Chaired by Fatima Khan Shah, the group includes colleagues from local authorities. The group discussed involving more carers organisations in the four work streams, which includes primary care, support for children and young carers, working carers and hospital support. Colleagues also discussed Carers Week, which takes place from 11 to 18 June. This year’s theme is health. Carers are key partners in managing the care needs of the people they look after. That’s not all: carers also form a hugely significant group of patients who need particular support to look after their own health.

Carers are also being invited to take part in the WY&H programme work, which includes urgent care, mental health and stroke.

WY&H programme meeting

Our programme leads for WY&H priorities met on Thursday. This included colleagues from maternity, cancer, stroke and digital. You can find out more about our priorities here. Areas discussed included the development of the draft Memorandum of Understanding for the partnership, future funding, workforce planning and Health and Care Apps.

What’s happening next week?

  • The Shadow Executive Leadership Board meets on Tuesday. Rob Webster our CEO Partnership Lead is attending.
  • Personalised care demonstrators workshop takes place on Tuesday. More information will follow next week.
  • West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Maternity System Board meeting takes place on Friday.