CEO Blog Winter Planning in August!

As some of us look forward to a well-deserved family holiday NHS England has issued the usual summer letter asking for winter preparedness plans emerged yesterday ICBs are responsible for the winter plan for their area working with all partners. 

The NHSE letter sets out expectations. Including a draft winter plan, jointly developed by all parties across an area by the end of August. Do not forget the opportunity to work across neighbourhoods (and multi-neighbourhoods) to build resilience across the primary and community care system. This is an opportunity to engage neighbourhoods as they are forming on the most important priority areas, such as supporting people with frailty or respiratory diseases that are frequent users of A&E and hospital beds and make a real difference, not just to numbers, but to individuals. It is time to carve out the headspace, while focusing on one of the most crucial system problems and engage to develop solutions. Using population health management to aid plans to support more people out of hospital, where appropriate, and progress the neighbourhood health agenda will help all, and enable joined up thinking on one of the most important agenda items of the year.

Remember to reach out to the other primary care professionals including your local community pharmacy, optometrist and dental colleagues who may have parts to play in reaching some harder to reach patients.

William Greenwood

Chief Executive