Do you want to understand the new NHS reforms?

The first of our four Road Shows kicked off this week at our Shakespeare House Health Centre in Popley. As it was the first we were feeling a little nervous about how it would go. It was a great success I am relieved to say.

 We started the evening with my colleague Dr Sam Hullah recalling the many battles to bring about Clinical Commissioning Groups like North Hampshire. It’s been a long struggle to get to the stage where we are now a shadow Clinical Commissioning Group.  Sam reminded everyone that the Health and Social Care Bill which is now an Act holds the record for more changes to a parliamentary bill than any other in the history of legislation. And we showed a short film introducing US  and explaining our vision and health care priorities.

North Hampshire CCG Road Show

 The film was a success with one person very kindly saying it was so interesting it should be shown on BBC South Today!  It is now available to view on YouTube and you can link directly from our website. 

 My presentation about the nitty gritty of commissioning health care provoked almost an hour of questions. The questions were robust, intelligent and challenging from ‘how do you prioritise’ what health care to commission to ‘how do you take responsibility for patient experience and delivery of service beyond primary care’.

We prioritise what health care to buy for North Hampshire by knowing what the needs of the local population are. We are helped with this task by fantastic public health research. We use a tool called the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and this helps us identify what our local population needs. So what I’m saying is that we prioritise based on local knowledge and needs.

And yes we do take responsibility for patient experience and delivery of service. The question was based around hospital care. So I explained at the Road Show that we as a CCG buy hospital services and so it’s important to know that the patient outcomes were good and we got value for money. We have systems in place to make sure we know what happens to patients and that a good service is delivered, but we will be looking to improve the way we gather first hand experience from patients.

 I think one of the most fascinating comments last night was about ‘feedback’ and how some see feedback as just a way of complaining when really it should be the good as well as the bad. Feedback from patients is crucial. We need to know what works and what doesn’t so that together we can bring about change.

 All in all it was a good and positive start to the Road Shows. Looking forward to the next one tonight at  Chawton Park Surgery in Alton.  Do come along. And there are two more next week so plenty of opportunities to learn about local health care and what it means to you.

Do you want to know more about North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group?

Dr Hugh Freeman, Chair, North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group

We are now just a week away from the first of our Road Shows.   The Road Shows are our chance to share what’s happening at North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The NHS reforms have shaken up how everything happens.  GPs and clinicians are now at the forefront of decision making.  Come along to one of the four Road Shows to learn more.

Or click on Operating Plan to learn in greater detail about what is happening in North Hampshire.

At the Road Shows we will answer any questions.  These are changing times and we – as a shadow Clinical Commissioning Group – are still under the guidance of the Primary Care Trusts until next April.

As we move into this brave new world of GP led decision making it is probably good if I share with you some of our priorities for North Hampshire.

• We will be concentrating and working in the following areas to bring about improvements.
• We want to see greater emphasis on prevention and staying healthy.
• We want to improve the management of long term conditions and end of life care. If someone is terminally ill we want that person to choose where they want to die.
• We want to improve services for those with mental health problems and to support carers to help patients remain independent.
• We want to work with our partners in the local and wider community to provide the best quality maternity services.
• We want to improve access to children’s therapies.
• We will share and promote national screening campaigns like those already in use for bowel and breast cancer.
• We will support national immunisation programmes and run our own ‘Stay Healthy’ campaigns.
• And we will also be working hard to improve the first stop in health care – the GP surgery.

Our aim is to keep North Hampshire healthy.  Come along to one of our Road Shows to find out more and to see how you can use your voice to influence local health care.

What are the health issues facing North Hampshire?

Dr Hugh Freeman, Chair, North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group

We – North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group– are now three months into our life as a shadow body under the guidance of Hampshire Primary Care Trust. By April 2013 we will have full statutory powers and budgetary responsibilities.

 A lot of hard work to bring about these changes has already taken place and more is underway. If you would like to learn more about the new NHS and what we as a Clinical Commissioning Group are doing then do come along to one of our Road Shows in the next couple of weeks. 

Find out how you can play a part in shaping a healthy future for the people of North Hampshire. We will be holding four road shows at four different venues and the aim is to have a 60 Minute agenda where we share and exchange local health care information.  It’s your chance to make your voice heard and we would love to hear your questions and concerns.

One question we are anticipating is about how we decide what care to commission – that is buy – from health and social care providers.

 To help us make our decisions we use a tool called the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which provides us with information on key health issues. It helps identify the health challenges in our area so that we can make the right decisions.

 The health challenges facing North Hampshire are –

 Lifestyle– lifestyle issues such as obesity and binge drinking have a significant impact on the use of NHS resources. Basingstoke & Deane district has similar numbers of obese people and binge drinkers as the national average. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death locally and nationally.

Diabetes in North Hampshire is similar to the national average.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) deaths are lower than the national average .

Infectious disease– there is a low incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) relative to the national average

 Cancer– there is a similar proportion of people living with and dying from cancer as compared to the national average. But North Hampshire has more smokers and this is likely to have an adverse effect on cancer statistics in the future Children and young adults– levels of obesity are relatively higher in Basingstoke & Deane in both Year R and Year 6.  Worryingly high is the fact that 17.3% of Year 6 children are classified as obese.

 Older people– dementia figures are similar to the national average. But estimates suggest the numbers will double over the next 20 years.

 Mental health – the area has a higher than expected number of people experiencing depression, but cases of mental illness are lower than the national average.

Our vision at North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group for health care is firmly rooted in this local knowledge. We understand the needs of our population and are determined to meet these needs by commissioning services that focus upon preventative care and staying healthy; and where patients need healthcare that the right care is delivered at the right time in the right place. It is essential to delivering our vision that we ensure everyone for whom we are responsible gets the best quality and value health care possible within the resources available and that access is equitable and targeted to need.

Join us to hear more about all of this at one of these four venues this summer:

24th July– Shakespeare House Seminar Room, Shakespeare House Health Centre, Shakespeare Road, Popley, Basingstoke, RG24 9DT 26th July– Chawton Park Surgery, Chawton Park Road, Alton, GU34 1RJ

31st July– Hackwood Partnership, Essex House, Essex Road, Basingstoke, RG21 8SU

 1st August– Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, Tadley, RG26 4HN

Odiham Cottage Hospital – What A Year!

What a difference a year makes is a phrase I have heard and used many times.

But reading the Summer Newsletter for Odiham Cottage Hospital over the weekend made me think about how true this phrase can sometimes be.  The hospital is a busy and vibrant place with a broad range of clinics and day centres on offer.  Last year it was a very different story.

Dr Hugh Freeman, Chair, North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group

In July 2011 – after one hundred years of public service – Odiham Cottage Hospital closed its doors and many of us feared it would be for the last time.

But never underestimate the power of a local community when it joins together and uses its voice!  Within days and weeks a huge community wide campaign began to grow.

 We – North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group – responded to this community campaign.  Hampshire County Council and NHS Southern Health Foundation Trust did the same and earlier this year the hospital re-opened with a new look and range of services.

This summer will be very different for the hospital Trustees, League of Friends and the many local users and supporters.

An integrated care team is now based at the hospital.   This team of Community Matron and community nurses with other healthcare workers and a dedicated social worker are now offering clinics and a day centre for the elderly.

A partnership with St Michael’s Hospice now means complementary therapy clinics for terminally ill patients are also available.

It’s a success story that makes up for the grim weather!