Embargoed: 00:01 28 January 2016 Royal College of Physicians selects two Manchester NHS care projects to participate in national programme The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has selected projects from Central & South Manchester and the North West Paediatric Allergy Network, as two of only four development sites, in the second phase of the RCP’s Future Hospital Programme. A project hosted by Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital involves the North West Paediatric Allergy Network (part of the North West and North Wales Allergy and Infectious Diseases Operational Delivery Network). This project centres on educating and empowering patients, parents and primary care professionals, in order to reduce inappropriate allergy referrals in patients receiving specialist care. The project also aims to empower primary healthcare professionals caring for non-complex food milk and peanut allergies, and increase the knowledge and confidence of the patient and their parents/carers in managing their own food allergies. A further project unites Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust (CMFT), University Hospital South Manchester (UHSM) and Central and South Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), who will lead a project with the aim of creating a single respiratory person-centred, integrated care service. Led by respiratory consultant Binita Kane, the initiative will focus on enhancing patient experience by reducing fragmentation of care, tackling healthcare inequality across central and south Manchester. Dr Peter Arkwright, project lead & chair, North West Paediatric Allergy Network said: Being selected as a RCP Future Hospital development site provides an amazing opportunity for the North West Paediatric Allergy Network. It allows us to push forward with our primary objective, which is to look beyond healthcare within individual Trusts and develop strong working partnerships and camaraderie with health care professionals at all tiers of the NHS. Michelle Byrne, founder of Manchester Allergy Support Group and part of the project team said: Through my involvement with the Manchester Allergy Support Group many inconsistencies in care provision for those with allergies have become apparent. These have resulted in heighted anxiety not only in those with the condition, but in many with whom they come in to contact. Success with the Future Hospital’s Project will ensure provision of a basic standard of holistic care for those with allergies, it really is fantastic news. Dr Frank Joseph, Future Hospital officer and consultant physician said: The Future Hospital Programme (FHP) is fortunate to select two sites in Manchester with fantastic potential in this exciting second phase of the project. Greater Manchester is currently redesigning both health and social care services, as part of DevoManc. As the first project of its kind, it is an excellent opportunity for the FHP to support the unity of two city hospitals, Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT), University Hospital South Manchester (UHSM) and Central and South Manchester CCGs, in the delivery of joined up respiratory services not impeded by the boundaries of geography, institution or postcode. North West Allergy Network also has an established track record of delivering good quality care; however, we have seen an increase in the challenges and complexity of diagnosis and management of allergies in young people. With the support of the FHP, the Network aspires to educate and empower patients, parents and health care professionals in primary, secondary and tertiary care to deliver high quality care within communities, closer to people’s homes. Binita Kane, UHSM respiratory consultant said: We recognise that patients with respiratory disease in Manchester often face barriers to co-ordinated care because of geographical boundaries between organisations. This is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively across two large teaching hospitals, in true partnership with patients and colleagues in Primary Care to overcome these barriers and improve patient experience. We are delighted to be working with the RCP and look forward to drawing on the expertise and support they will provide. The RCP will support the new Future Hospital development sites by providing access to quality improvement expertise, helping to implement new ways of working and providing support to evaluate the impact of the projects. The lessons learned through the Future Hospital Programme will be collated and shared with the rest of the NHS, to spread innovative practice and nurture a powerful learning community, committed to system-wide improvement in the care of medical patients. ENDS Notes to Editor: For further information and interviews on the Future Hospital Programme, please contact Joanna Morgan, communications manager, RCP Care Quality Improvement Department, on 020 3075 1354 or Jessica Smith, communications adviser on 020 3075 2399. For further information about the specific development site projects, please contact: North West Paediatric Allergy Network – Amy Blackburn, Communications Department, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital; 0161 901 2659 Central and South Manchester – Jenny Fairhurst, Communications Manager; 0161 291 5766 NHS organisations across the UK were invited to apply to become future hospital development sites. The four new Future Hospital development sites will join the four original development sites, who began working with the Future Hospital Programme in 2014 and are all leading projects to improve care for people who are frail and elderly. www.rcplondon.ac.uk/FHP The Royal College of Physicians Everything that we do at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) aims to improve patient care and reduce illness. We are patient centred and clinically led. We drive improvement in the diagnosis of disease, the care of individual patients and the health of the whole population, both in the UK and across the globe. Our 30,000 members worldwide work in hospitals and the community across 30 different medical specialties. They range from medical students to retired doctors. Physicians diagnose and treat illness, and promote good health. They care for millions of medical patients with a huge range of conditions, from asthma and diabetes to stroke and yellow fever. Physicians’ clinical work ranges from caring for patients who are acutely unwell in hospital, to supporting patients to manage long-term health problems at home and encouraging people to stay fit and healthy in the community. Further information can be found at: www.rcplondon.ac.uk The North West Paediatric Allergy Network The North West of England is the third largest region and is home to nearly seven million people, or one eighth of the UK population. There are 1.4 million children in the region, of which at least one quarter will have allergy. The Network is a pioneering collaboration between doctors and nurses arising out of a proposal submitted to the then commissioner of North West Specialist Commissioning Team, Mr. Simon Banks in December 2008 with the remit of implementing recommendations of the Government Response to the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee Report on Allergy Our Network incorporates healthcare professionals and patient and parent representatives with an interest in allergy from across the North West. The overall vision of the Network is to provide evidence-based health care for children with allergies and allergic diseases living in the North West by educating and empowering healthcare and allied professionals at all levels and conducting research and audit aimed at developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies. Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) CMFT is a leading provider of specialist healthcare services in Manchester, treating more than a million patients every year. Its seven specialist hospitals (Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary's Hospital, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Trafford General and Altrincham Hospital) and community services are home to hundreds of world class clinicians and academic staff committed to finding patients the best care and treatments. www.cmft.nhs.uk @CMFTNHS Royal Manchester Children's Hospital provides specialist healthcare services for children and young people throughout the North West, as well as nationally and internationally. The hospital sees 185,000 patient visits each year across a range of specialties including oncology, haematology, bone marrow transplant, burns, genetics, and orthopaedics. RMCH is the largest single site children’s hospital in the UK. .