We are delighted to announce that Walsall Together Partnership has been named as one of the successful applicants to pioneer the first phase of the governments National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP), an initiative aimed transforming health and care services, tackling health inequalities and bringing care closer to people’s homes.
As one of the first of 43 sites across the country chosen to lead this ambitious national initiative, the partnership will work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, our seven primary care network clinical directors, NHS, local authorities and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise leaders to deliver this programme.
“We are absolutely delighted and honoured to be selected to lead the way in reshaping how care is delivered in our community," said Stephanie Cartwright Group Chief Community and Partnerships Officer for Walsall Together Partnership. “This programme recognises that the biggest improvements in health happen when services work together locally and will further support the improvement in outcomes for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Nadia Inglis, Director of Public Health for Walsall Council, said: “Walsall Council is proud to support this landmark initiative. It’s great news for our borough and the Walsall Together Partnership. By working together locally, we can make real improvements in health and deliver better outcomes for our most vulnerable residents.”
Joe Chadwick-Bell, Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Putting our communities at the heart of helping us to shape healthcare services for the future will ensure we become fit for the future – the ethos of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Walsall, and we look forward to being able to collectively make a difference through this exciting collaboration.”
As part of the first phase, the partnership will join an intensive national coaching and development programme, working with experts, patients, and partners across sectors to design and scale integrated services tailored to the needs of our local population.
Our focus locally will be on supporting adults with multiple long-term conditions and rising need, particularly those with moderate and severe frailty. Building on work to date in Walsall, we will strengthen our multi-disciplinary teams offer, ensuring we have a robust pro risk-stratification tool to actively identify those people with complex needs to provide support and intervention before they reach crisis point.
Dr Anand Rischie, Associate Medical Director for Walsall Together, said: “As GPs, we see every day how health and wellbeing problems are often a direct result of people’s social circumstances. This is an exciting opportunity to continue to build on the relationship we have and work even more closely with partners to address those root causes, not just the symptoms. It’s a chance to truly deliver joined-up care that meets the needs of people where they are.”
The programme is part of the wider neighbourhood offer for communities in Walsall supporting the delivery of the ‘left shift’ transferring resources and responsibilities from local hospitals to community based services to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and deliver care closer to home. Our neighbourhood teams will bring together GPs, nurses, social workers, carers, pharmacists, mental health professionals, community health workers and voluntary organisations to support people with multiple long-term conditions and complex needs. These teams will also work closely with Family Hubs, our universal front door to families from conception up to the age of 19, or 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We are also developing Local Care Networks, which will provide a holistic wellbeing approach delivered through existing community infrastructure and assets, focussing on prevention, early intervention and proactive self-care.
