People living on the Fylde Coast are being given the chance to share their views on the NHS at a drop-in session at Thornton library in Thornton, on 11 June 2019 between 10 am and noon.

The two Fylde Coast Clinical Commissioning Groups, which are the organisations that ‘buy’ and plan health services in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, are inviting residents to attend a ‘Your Voice’ session in Thornton to share any compliments, comments or complaints that they may have about local NHS services.

The Your Voice sessions have been a popular mechanism for people to share their views in Blackpool for some time and in the spirit of working more closely across the whole Fylde Coast the sessions have been arranged all over the Fylde coast. One of the drop-in sessions will be held in each of the ten established neighbourhoods from Lytham St Annes to Knott End.

The NHS has also joined forces with Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council to hold the meetings in local libraries giving people easier access.

If you are unable to attend one of these planned sessions but would like to share your views on local services you can do so via the CCG’s website at: www.fyldecoastccgs.nhs.uk/get-involved/.

Any queries contact the CCG communications and engagement team on 01253 956821.

People living across the Fylde Coast have been invited to have their say on seven proposed updated NHS policies, which have been brought into line with national policy following instruction from NHS England.

NHS England has recently introduced mandatory guidance for a range of surgical procedures which clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – the organisations which plan and buy health and care services – are expected to adopt as clinical policies.

Where clinical policies already exist, the CCGs need to align them with the new guidance. Seven existing policies held by the CCGs on the Fylde Coast need to be amended to align with the NHS England guidance. 

It comes as part of work by the NHS across Lancashire to standardise policies to ensure a consistent and fair approach; update current policies in accordance with national guidelines and best clinical practice; and to make sure it is using its limited resources to maximum effect.

The CCGs across Lancashire and South Cumbria wish to inform patients and members of the public about these new policies and to invite them to consider if the introduction of these policies will have an adverse effect on patients or groups of patients.  If this is the case, there may be something the CCGs can do to minimise the impact of this.

To view the policies and have their say, people can visit https://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/commissioningpolicy/current-clinical-policy-reviews

The updated policies are:

• Surgical treatment of carpel tunnel syndrome (pressure on a nerve in the wrist causing tingling, numbness and pain in the hand and fingers)
• Tonsillectomy/adeno-tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils)
• Surgical release of trigger finger (swelling of tendons causing difficulty moving the finger)
• Management of otitis media with effusion (fluid build-up in the middle ear) using grommets
• Breast reduction surgery
• Surgical management of gynaecomastia (enlarged male breasts)
• Removal of benign skin lesions

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, chief clinical officer for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “CCGs must take account of the latest guidance when formulating their commissioning polices.  In this instance NHS England has issued the latest guidance on these procedures.  We need to ensure they are introduced in an open, fair and transparent manner.

“A key role for the CCG is to inform residents of these changes and to give them an opportunity to raise any concerns.

“I would encourage any resident with an interest in these policies to visit the CCG website and have their say.”

Comments on the policies will close on Monday 1 July 2019.

Fylde Coast residents are being given the chance to share their views on the NHS through a series of drop-in sessions throughout the year with the first chance this week.

The two Fylde Coast clinical commissioning groups the organisations that ‘buy’ and plan health services in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, are inviting residents to attend any one of 12 ‘Your Voice’ sessions to share any compliments, comments or complaints that they may have about local NHS services.

The sessions are an ideal opportunity to provide feedback on a recent experience of an NHS service or give views on the CCG’s plans and priorities with views shared with commissioners during their decision making and with quality teams to monitor any issues patients may have. They operate on a drop-in basis so there is no need to make an appointment.

The NHS has also joined forces with Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council to hold the meetings in local libraries giving people easier access.

If you have anything you’d like to say about health services in your area simply visit one of the below locations at the specified time:

• Wednesday 23 January, 1pm-3pm, Layton Library Blackpool.
• Tuesday 12 February, 10.30am-2pm, Fleetwood Library, Fleetwood.
• Tuesday 12 March, 10am-12pm, Blackpool Central Library, Blackpool.
• Tuesday 9 April, 1pm-3pm, St Annes Library – (To be confirmed, please check website before attending).
• Tuesday 14 May, 1pm-3pm, Moor Park Library, Blackpool.
• Tuesday 11 June, 10am-12pm, Thornton Library.
• Wednesday 10 July, 10am-12pm, Anchorsholme Library, Blackpool.
• Wednesday 14 August, 2pm-4pm, Kirkham Library
• Tuesday 10 September, 10am-12pm, Garstang Library
• Tuesday 10 October, 1pm-3pm, Palatine Library, Blackpool.
• Tuesday 12 November, 10am-12pm, Knott End Library
• Tuesday 10 December, 1pm-3pm, Central Library, Blackpool.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a local GP and chief clinical officer for both NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “Good or bad, we really value the views of residents and want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to share theirs with us. The Your Voice sessions are an ideal opportunity to talk face-to-face with a member of our engagement team.

“All of the views and experiences gathered will help us to make sure that residents living in all neighbourhoods receive services of the highest standard, now and in the future.”

If you are unable to attend one of these planned sessions but would like to share your views on local services you can do so via the CCG’s website at: www.fyldecoastccgs.nhs.uk/get-involved/.

Health leaders across the Fylde Coast have welcomed the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan.

The 133-page plan, which was published today (Monday 7 Janaury 2019), outlines the priorities for the health service over the next decade.

It describes how the NHS will make sure people get the best start in life, and how patients can expect world-class care for major health problems.

The plan also details how different organisations should work closer together to make sure health and care services are more joined up and delivered in the right place and at the right time for local people and their families.

It outlines how services should be joined up within neighbourhoods – geographical communities with populations of typically between 30,000 to 50,000 – to support people to stay well.

Moreover, the plan describes how the NHS needs to take stronger action to reduce health inequalities, citing premature deaths in Blackpool – the most deprived part of the country – as being twice as high as affluent areas of England. To address health inequalities, the plan states that a bigger share of funding will go to areas with the highest health inequalities.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a local GP and chief clinical officer for both NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “We are delighted that there will be a significant increase in relative investment in primary and community care, which will see expanded neighbourhood teams working together in a more joined up way – from GPs, pharmacists and district nurses to physiotherapists, social care workers and colleagues in the voluntary sector. We also applaud the move to strengthen work on preventing ill health and tackling health inequalities. I am proud that we are going further than ever before to improve care quality and outcomes for key priority areas, including cancer, mental health, learning disability and autism, diabetes, stroke and children’s health.

“The plan clearly endorses what we have been doing for some time in terms of partnership working and bringing services together. We enjoy extremely strong working relationships with our local authority partners, as well as those from the voluntary, community and faith sector and the many groups of people who volunteer their time to help shape and improve health and care services.

“We are confident that closer integration of services and partnership working is vital to improve the experience of patients and also to support people to keep well. People often fall through the gaps which exist between organisations; bringing services and teams together will help to stop this.

“We are looking forward to working in partnership with local authority, public sector and voluntary and community organisations over the coming months to involve local people, health and care staff and our partners in the detail of the work which is taking place and how we will deliver the Long Term Plan.”

One example of how closer collaborative work has improved services on the Fylde Coast includes neighbourhood care teams, which bring groups of GP practices together with community health services, social care, mental health services, and others, to provide joined-up health and wellbeing services.Working together in this way, the teams can make a complete assessment of a person’s health, wellbeing and social needs and liaise with their colleagues to make sure they receive the right support.

Another example is work being done in neighbourhoods, often led by patients and the public, to improve health and wellbeing through initiatives which reduce social isolation and boost physical and mental health. Examples include Just Good Friends in Lytham which provides a lifeline for many people who feel isolated and a series of citizens’ inquiries in Blackpool which have opened up conversations with some of our seldom heard residents.

Dr Doyle said: “On the Fylde Coast we were an early pioneer of neighbourhoods and these have helped bring health and care services together with the voluntary sector and local people to improve health and wellbeing. The 10-year plan endorses this and will allow us to further build on this important work.”

Ends

Notes to editors

 

• For more information about the NHS Long Term Plan visit: www.longtermplan.nhs.uk
• For more information about the work and priorities of Healthier Fylde Coast, the partnership of NHS, local authority, public services and community organisations for the area, visit: https://healthierfyldecoast.nhs.uk
• Dr Amanda Doyle is also chief officer for Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria

 

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People living across the Fylde Coast have been invited to have their say on a proposed new NHS policy for arthroscopic shoulder decompression (surgery) for subacromial pain (a common cause of shoulder pain and disability) in both men and women.

It comes as part of work by the NHS across Lancashire to standardise policies to ensure a consistent and fair approach; update current policies in accordance with national guidelines and best clinical practice; and to make sure it is using its limited resources to maximum effect.

Full details of the changes can be found within the policy. People are invited to read the revised draft policy and to complete a survey by visiting www.healthierlsc.co.uk/arthroscopic-shoulder-decompression-policy.

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Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a Fylde Coast GP who is also accountable officer for NHS Blackpool CCG and interim accountable officer for NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG, said: “We need to ensure this is done in an open, fair and transparent way while also taking into account the limited resources we have.

“A key role for the CCGs is to develop clinical policies that help us make decisions about the use of those limited resources.

“I would encourage any resident with an interest in these policies to visit the CCG websites and have their say.”

The survey will close on Friday 1 February 2019.

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The Joint Committee of CCGs has been cancelled on Thursday 10^th January as the agenda had been structured to focus around the NHS Long Term Plan which has not yet been published.

Focus on the publication, which had originally been timed for December, would have enabled system leaders and committee members to examine some of the current work taking place in Lancashire and South Cumbria on several of the plan’s priorities as well as holding a discussion about the Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria approach to engagement with the public and other stakeholders.

Publication of the NHS Long Term Plan has been delayed into January with timing subject to agreement of ministers.

The next meeting of the Joint Committee of CCGs is scheduled for Thursday 7th March 1pm to 3pm.

For more information email [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @HealthierLSC

Appointments with GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals have been made available between 8am and 2pm every Saturday in Garstang.

The service, initially at Garstang Medical Practice in Kepple Lane, is in addition to the evening and weekend appointments already on offer to people living in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre based at Blackpool, Fleetwood and Freckleton.

To book an appointment, people can either contact their own GP practice or call 01253 952950 after 6.30pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

Dr John Miles, senior partner at Garstang Medical Practice, said: “The extension to the service is an exciting opportunity to provide access to general practice in a way that suits the needs of the population.”

Pre-bookable and same-day routine appointments are available to anyone who lives in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

The service is also available at Whitegate Health Centre in Blackpool from 6.30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm at weekends; Fleetwood Health and Wellbeing Centre in Dock Street from 6.30pm to 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 6.30pm to 8pm Thursday and Friday and 8am to 2pm at weekends; and Freckleton Health Centre in Douglas Drive on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and 8am to 2pm at weekends.

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[column]People living on the Fylde Coast have been asked to give their views on what is good and what could be improved about where they live.

Healthier Fylde Coast – a partnership of local organisations working together to improve health and wellbeing – has launched the ‘Your Community Neighbourhood Plan’ survey to better understand people’s perceptions about where they live.

There are 11 neighbourhoods across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre covering populations of between 30,000 and 50,000. GP practices, community health services, councils, the voluntary sector and local residents work together within neighbourhoods to improve health and care.

Bosses at Healthier Fylde Coast want to use the information gathered from the survey to help the neighbourhoods develop their own individual plans for how to make improvements to the communities they serve.[/column][column]

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, accountable officer for NHSBlackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said:“If you live in Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre we want to hear your views about yourcommunity.

“We also want to ask how the organisations within your community, such as GPs, social care and councils, can work together to improve health and wellbeing in your community.

“I would urge everyone in the area to complete the survey and be a part of real change for your local area.”

To complete the survey, visit http://bit.ly/surveyNHS18

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[column]People living in Fylde and Wyre are invited to seelocal NHS decision-making in action next week.

The next meeting of the NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Governing Body will take place at the NHS Wesham Offices in Derby Road, from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday 20 November 2018.

The role of the Governing Body is to oversee the work of the CCG and ensure arrangements are in place to allow the organisation to effectively carry out its duties.

Members of the public are invited to attend andobserve the meeting and can also submit any questions they want to be asked inwriting in advance of the meeting. There will also be an opportunity during themeeting to ask questions about any item on the agenda.[/column][column]

Mary Dowling, chair of the CCG’s Governing Body, said: “The CCG Governing Body makes some very important decisions and we encourage people to come along and be part of it.

“We believe it is important to hold meetings across Fylde and Wyre, not just at our Wesham offices, to give everyone an opportunity to come and see how we make these decisions.”

Questions can be submitted via http://www.fyldeandwyreccg.nhs.uk/contact-us. Alternatively, people can write tothe Governing Body secretary at NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG, Derby Road, Wesham, PR43AL.[/column]

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Notes:

• NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the organisation responsible for planning and buying health services in the area to meet patients’ needs. This is known as ‘commissioning’.
• Led by family doctors (GPs), the CCG currently serves a population of 176,000 people across approximately 320 sq km of coast and countryside. The majority live in the urban towns of Fleetwood, Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Kirkham and Lytham St Annes, but a significant proportion live in rural villages.
• The CCG receives a set amount of money from the government and is committed to spending this wisely for the benefit of local people.
• Giving you more choice is a priority of the modern NHS. More information is available at www.fyldeandwyreccg.nhs.uk/choice 
• The NHS Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient: www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Overview.aspx
• There are many ways to get involved in health service developments, including joining our Influence membership scheme or your practice’s patient participation group.

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It’s World Diabetes Day and to mark the occasion health and care organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria are celebrating the success of a flagship NHS diabetes prevention programme which is helping prevent Type 2 diabetes, with more than 7,000 people being referred to the programme.

The national Diabetes Prevention Programme, a partnership between NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, is a free programme available to people who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The initiative offers tailored, personalised help to support people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is the first ever nationwide Type 2 diabetes prevention programme and the largest undertaking of its kind in the world for those at risk of

These figures are being released to further increase awareness of the risk that diabetes poses to people living in the region.  It is estimated that nearly 200,000 people are currently at risk of developing type 2 diabetes; which can lead to other serious conditions including strokes, heart disease, limb amputation and early death.

Diabetes and its complications cost over £6 billion every year to treat and one in six patients in hospital has diabetes. Around nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes which is closely linked to obesity and yet is largely preventable by eating healthily, being more active and losing weight.

ClareHowarth, head of the North at Diabetes UK, said: “There are 12.3 million peopleat risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by a variety offactors, some of which are out of people’s control. However, we know that threein five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by makinghealthier choices, helping everyone understand their own risk of developing thecondition − and how to reduce it − and securing early diagnosis for those athigh risk.”

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The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free local service for those who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The Programme is designed to stop or delay the onset of the disease through a range of personalised lifestyle interventions, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.

Dr Kieran Murphy, Medical Director, NHS England (Lancashire and South Cumbria)said, “Many people are at high risk of pre-diabetes but are probably completely unaware of it. This is because the condition often develops gradually without any warning signs or symptoms.

“We are delighted with the results that we are seeing locally thanks to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire County Council Director for Public Health, said: “Preventing diabetes is a key priority in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition which is affecting many people but that is also largely preventable.”

“Organisations are working in partnership across Lancashire and South Cumbria to put people in control of their health by giving them the tools, information and support they need to make changes to their lifestyles that can significantly reduce their risk of the disease and the potential complications associated with it like stroke and kidney failure.”

Dr Murphy added “This world diabetes day we are calling on all of those who are at risk of developing diabetes to speak to their GP practice around taking part in the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.”“The theme of world diabetes day this year is family, we have evidence that taking part in the diabetes prevention programme can help the entire family become more fit and healthy.  You can check to see if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes at diabetes.org.uk/risk.”

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