‘Bold new healthcare strategy’ launched in Northumberland

When Our Community Promise launched in Northumberland on Friday June 25th, it was the first NHS trust in the country to formally commit to focusing on the full range of opportunities it creates in front of key partners and stakeholders can. from all over the region.

The event, which was held outdoors in the Berwick Infirmary, was hosted by MP for the Region, Energy Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and Dr. Henry Kippin, executive director of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and the chairman of the trust, Sir James., Held Mackey.

The hospitals and community services that Northumbria Healthcare provides in Northumberland and North Tyneside already play an important role in supporting and improving the health and wellbeing of residents.

Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive of Northumbria Healthcare, delivers a speech at the launch of Our Community Promise in the Berwick Infirmary. Picture by Raoul Dixon / North News

The trust has been rated excellent twice by the Care Quality Commission since 2016 and will always strive to be the best in health care. However, our community pledge describes how the organization can have an even greater impact on the lives of all people and works in the region and in the wider area.

Sir James said, “Healthcare is the essence of what we do, with a focus on constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and improving the patient and employee experience, but we are also a major employer, buyer and user of Products and services. ”, And we are very aware of our carbon footprint and our responsibility for our precious environment.

“Not only do we know we can do more, we know we should do more, and it is our duty to do more – go beyond caring for patients on a day-to-day basis and address the broader factors that affect happiness and health . ”Of our communities. We want to take responsibility for the positive impact we can have as the region – and the country – work to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

“The focus of our actions is the best possible care for our patients and the direction of travel in health care in recent years has been very much aimed at preventing people from becoming patients in the first place by helping them live well and healthily. as long as possible.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP signs a board of directors for key partners during Northumbria Healthcare’s Our Community Promise in the Berwick Infirmary. Picture by Raoul Dixon / North News

“We know there are a number of factors that affect people’s ability to do so, many of which are not part of traditional health care, but we are sure we can play an important role in supporting our communities, and that is in more ways than many might expect “and we are determined to step on the plate and do just that.”

The problem of health inequalities has long been a concern, as people in deprived areas have much higher preventable disease rates and much earlier deaths than people in less deprived areas, but the pandemic has clearly been a reminder of this divide.

With this in mind, our Community Pledge is based on six main pillars that address the broader factors that drive health inequalities – poverty, employment, education, the economy, the environment, wellbeing.

Sir James added, “A number of these programs build on what we have been doing for some time, and our efforts were recognized last year when we became the first healthcare organization in the UK to receive Gold Corporate Social Responsibility accreditation.

Henry Kippen, Director of Economy for the North of Tyne Combined Authority, speaks at the launch of Northumbria Healthcare’s Our Community Promise strategy at Berwick Infirmary. Images by Raoul Dixon / North News

“But we don’t want this to be about buzzwords or airy concepts, so we will be clear about what our communities can expect from us and how we want to try to support them. Each pillar includes a number of specific and meaningful actions that the trust formally commits to, as well as the measurement and reporting of results.

“Our manufacturing hub in Seaton Delaval, built at the height of the pandemic, is an example of the direction of travel. At a time when the economy was under great pressure, 60 jobs and 10 apprenticeships were created, the continuity of the PPE delivery was ensured for us and our NHS colleagues and at the same time the local supply chains were strengthened. “

Do Local, Buy Local will be the mantra of the trust, which is committed to using local suppliers and contractors wherever possible to ensure companies know how to apply for contracts. Events will be held to ensure communities are aware of the wide range of employment opportunities, in addition to partnering with schools, to fuel aspirations and pathways into health and care professions, including through hundreds of internships.

Across the organization, recent figures show that of the more than 300 employees currently in training, more than a third (35%) are between the ages of 16 and 25, and a third are from areas similar to the 20% am The most disadvantaged in England and a quarter are from rural areas, but the aim is to increase the number of apprentices by 30% over three years.

Environmental sustainability has been a focus for a number of years, with CO2 emissions from energy consumption falling by 41% over the past five years, while waste emissions have been reduced by 50%. The new medical device sterilization facility at the Northumbria Hospital campus in Cramlington, as well as the new hospital in Berwick, will be net zero in terms of carbon emissions.

For several years now, Northumbria Healthcare has also played a key role in local and regional efforts to focus on public health, inequalities and longer well-being of the population, the most recent addition to this trip being the creation of the health inequalities of the Trust’s program committee of the leading health advisor Jonny Pearson-Stuttard.

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/bold-new-healthcare-strategy-launched-in-northumberland/