Our work

Summary

Our transformation programme is county-wide, working with clinicians and providers to understand the challenges and opportunities within each of the services we are looking at in detail.

Priorities and projects

Our work to transform services is not new but builds on work started in 2016 and has been influenced and informed by the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan in 2019.

The plan has three core objectives:

• Making sure everyone gets the best start in life
• Delivering world-class care for major health problems
• Supporting people to age well.

In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, we are looking at a number of services and how we can improve health and care services, including:

• Urgent and emergency care – this programme is about simplifying the urgent and emergency care system in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to remove confusion, make it clear how and where to access care, and help people who are seriously ill, or at risk of becoming seriously ill, to access high-quality care locally, at the right time and with the right professional. You can read about this programme by visiting Urgent and emergency care
  
• Maternity transformation – this programme looks at the national continuity of carer model which is being introduced across all maternity services, including Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. This follows a national review of maternity services, and the provision of an on-demand service at County Hospital in Stafford and at the Samuel Johnson Hospital in Lichfield. You can read about this programme by visiting Maternity transformation
  
• Community mental health transformation – this forms part of a national programme set out in the NHS Long Term Plan to enable adults with severe mental illness to access care and support in a new, more joined up and effective way, regardless of their diagnosis or level of complexity. You can read more about this programme by visiting Community Mental Health services
  
• Inpatient mental health services in South East Staffordshire – we are working to identify a long-term solution for inpatient mental health services which were provided from the George Bryan Centre until 2019. You can read more about this programme on inpatient mental health services.
  
• Community Diagnostic Centres – There is a national mandate to improve the way people can access diagnostic services (planned tests and examinations) such as blood tests, scans, urine tests and x-rays by creating Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in communities so people can access appointments more conveniently. Read about the programme on Community Diagnostic Centres
  
• Clinical Policy Alignment – This programme is focused on standardising the policy and eligibility criteria for five health services; assisted conception, hearing aids for non-complex hearing loss, male and female sterilisation, breast augmentation and reconstruction and removal of excess skin following significant weight loss. Read more about the programme on Clinical Policy Alignment
  
• The future of local health services (North Staffordshire) – this programme discussed the introduction of integrated care hubs in north Staffordshire. You can read more on The future of local health services (North Staffordshire)

Transformation

Through a series of workshops in early 2021, the system partners came together to build on the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) financial position to deliver a financial strategy for the system.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) is committed to embedding the key principles of Equality and Inclusion and Human Rights at the core of our day to day business and decision making.

Greener NHS

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) is serious in committing and delivering against the NHS Green Plan; we are absolutely focused on reducing our carbon footprint and delivering our services sustainably

Population health management

Our health and care needs are changing: our lifestyles are increasing our risk of preventable disease and are affecting our wellbeing, we are living longer with more multiple long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease – and the health inequality gap is increasing.

Clinical professional leadership

The national guidance ‘building strong integrated care systems everywhere: ICS implementation guidance on effective clinical and professional leadership’ identifies two expectations and five core principles for effective clinical and professional leadership.

Urgent and Emergency Care

We’re working to make it easier for you to understand where you can go when you have an urgent health need or healthcare emergency and ensure the treatment you receive is timely and of high quality.

Mental Health

We’re committed to ensuring that older people, adults, young people and children in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are supported whether they find themselves in need of help in a mental health crisis, or whether their day-to-day mental health and wellbeing is affected.

Our People

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is a great place to live and work. It is a thriving, diverse county with a proud history, famous attractions, areas of natural beauty and a passion for innovation, learning and research with the support of two leading universities.

Digital

We’re utilising the latest digital technology to deliver new models of health and care across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

System recovery

Through a series of workshops in early 2021, the system partners came together to build on the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) financial position to deliver a financial strategy for the system.