Neath Port Talbot Planning and Delivering Community Network News Core out of Hospital Services Issue 8 November 2013 Future Development of Community Networks Lindsay Davies, Head of Primary Care and ensure Community Planning, NPT Locality Networks are set Many of you will be aware that three Commu- up in a way that nity Networks were introduced in Neath Port will ensure they Talbot in 2010 in the form of Upper Valleys can fulfil the po- (blue), Neath (red) and Afan (yellow) as illus- tential role outlined trated in the map below. for them in Setting the Direction. The Health Board therefore wants to take the Commu- nity Networks to another level and make them central Lindsay Davies, Head of to the planning and Primary Care and Plan- development of ser- ning, NPT Locality vices across the ABM area. A discussion document, circulated last month to all practices and Community Network mem- bers seeking comments, proposes that, by March 2015, Community Networks will have been supported and developed in such a way as to enable them to be established as units of management and service delivery capable of: Improving population health Developing primary care services Managing community health services Some of you will have been involved in Com- Shaping service integration between health munity Network meetings and will have an and social care understanding of what they are trying to achieve. This newsletter and previous editions Driving pathway changes with secondary contain examples of the progress made care.... Continued on page 2 through Community Networks to improve pa- tient care by working in a more integrated way with Local Authority and Third sector col- leagues, or to improve patient pathways and “The Health Board wants to take communication with secondary care. However, in ABM, as elsewhere in Wales, pro- community networks to another level gress has been variable and it is evident, e.g. and make them central to planning through the struggle to attract and retain lead professionals, that more effort is required to and development of services” Issue 8 Page 2 Future Development of Community Networks… continued from page 1 The Health Board’s Changing for the Better and more extensive primary and community Programme sets out to develop an integrated services. The discussion document states the health care system designed to meet the needs commitment of the Health Board to this way and priorities of its citizens and comparable forward and proposes how Community Net- with the best in the world. The development of works can become critical to the development Community Networks is an essential part of and delivery of services. this programme, as it is reliant upon stronger If you can make the time, please take a look at the proposals in the document. The Health Board would very much welcome your views on what you think will be required to ensure Community Networks have the capacity to “By March 2015, Community operate at the level desired by all parties in- networks should be established as volved in them. Please send your views to units of management and service [email protected] ASAP, ideally before the end of November, to inform the de- delivery ….” velopment plan that will emerge in the weeks that follow. Inside this Issue: Cook Together, Eat Together, Learn To- Locality Clinical Director’s Update 3 11 gether, ...in the Upper Valleys ABMU and Council set to launch new 4 The Big Sunday Lunch 12 Integrated Service for NPT GPs Join the fight against Killer Bac- Neath Port Talbot Locality staff raise 5 13 teria funds for charity Advice Booklets for people newly di- 5 Christmas Cheer... 14 agnosed with Diabetes Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pro- Neath Port Talbot partners enter into 14 6 gramme 2013/14 Armed Forces Community Covenant Photo-dermatology 7 NHS Direct Symptom Checker 15 Using Business Intelligence in Com- New Bus Service between NPT Hospital 7 15 munity Networks and Morriston Hospital Celebrations and developments in Consultation - Neurological Conditions 8 16 Domestic abuse services Delivery Plan The Coastal Project - overcoming Mental Health support groups set up in 10 16 barriers to employment! Neath Port Talbot Issue 8 Page 3 Locality Clinical Director’s Update Andy Muir, Clinical Director Pri- taken into account in future plans mary Care, NPT Locality, ABMU of the Health Board. The Health It is time for me to write an arti- Board is keen for GPs in networks cle for the newsletter again. This to be at the centre of Health seems to come around more Board management and a num- quickly every time. Perhaps this ber of practical tools such as the time though I shouldn't be too Commissioning Activity Tool (See disheartened that we are still Using Business Intelligence in without a GP lead in the Neath Community Networks on page 7) and Afan Networks as I am hope- are being developed which are ful that some of my former col- designed to give GPs and net- leagues will be encouraged by the works generally the information Health Board’s statement of inten- they need to ask questions about Andy Muir current service patterns and plan tion to develop and support net- NPT Clinical Director (Primary works become stronger and cen- Care) their future delivery. tral to service planning and deliv- By the time you read this we will ery. have had the opportunity to discuss the pro- Networks were set up in 2010 and since then posals at the PT4L meeting. I know you all have there have been a great many useful projects views and want to hear them so I hope you will undertaken that have improved services, in- take the opportunity to give us your comments cluding: in writing too! Improved care of diabetics in the commu- Since the closure of Gellinudd hospital in Sep- nity; tember resources have been transferred to the Community Resource Team to build its capacity Early diagnosis and community care of pa- tients with heart failure; Community-based pulmonary rehabilitation. PRISMATIC study; WAST 999 project enabling the ambulance “The momentum of developments led service to refer directly to CISS); by networks needs to continue and it is Supporting housebound patients on the DVT vital that local GPs contribute with pathway; IV antibiotics in the community; the other members of these teams to Development of photo-dermatology; improve services for the people of Improving access of students to primary care Neath Port Talbot” mental health services; Diagnostic template for DVT; Engagement with the voluntary sector; further in order to be able to look after more Improving uptake of flu vaccine. people in the community. Respiratory advice line. This should mean that less people will have to The momentum of developments led by net- be admitted to hospital when they can be works needs to continue and it is vital that local treated in the community, and others will be GPs contribute with the other members of these able to be discharged earlier from hospital teams to improve services for the people of where this is appropriate. Neath Port Talbot. The needs of our popula- I wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosper- tions, and the services available to them are dif- ous new year. ferent from other localities and this needs to be Issue 8 Page 4 ABMU and Council set to launch new Integrated Service for Neath Port Talbot Andy Griffiths, Integrated Community Services team for both their health and social care needs. Manager The NPT Gateway will provide a single point of ABMU and Neath Port Talbot Council are contact for the public and practitioners who launching a new integrated service in the New need to refer into the CRT. It will also take refer- Year. rals for adult social care. The NPT Gateway will be operational in Janu- The Gateway will operate from 8.30am to 5pm ary. It’s role will be to accept referrals from Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on members of the public and professionals for the Fridays. The Gateway can be contacted via Community Resource Team (CRT). phone on 01639 686802 or by emailing The project, which has been supported by the [email protected]. Additional contact ar- European Social Fund through the Welsh Gov- rangements for professional referrals will also ernment, will build on the excellent foundations be in place. laid down by integrated working on the former In addition, the Gateway and CRT will work Community Integrated Intermediate Care Ser- closely with other organisations and services vice (CIIS). which support independence. These include access to services such as Care and Repair for minor adaptations, NPT Homes or other Social housing providers in the area and the Council’s Housing Renewal and Adaptation Services who The Gateway and CRT will work manage Disabled Facilities Grants and can pro- closely with other organisations and vide essential adaptations to give better freedom of movement into and around the home and ac- services which support independence. cess to essential facilities within it by widening doors and installing ramps or a stair lift, provid- The CRT is already operational. At a very well ing a level access shower instead of a bath, im- attended staff and stakeholders event in Octo- proving the heating system and repositioning ber, delegates heard how the CRT provides ser- the electrical controls. vices for adults who need support to stay inde- pendent within their own homes or regain inde- pendence, mobility and confidence after an ac- cident, illness, injury or deterioration in a con- dition. The team brings together staff from both ABMU and the Council.