Issue 116  |  4 October 2024

Welcome to this week's Stakeholder Bulletin.

We aim to bring you key updates each week from the health and care system.

In this edition, you can read a blog from Jim Austin, Chief Executive at Derbyshire Community Health Services about the new Integrated Care Experience Survey, find out about winter vaccination programmes, read more about changes to parking at Royal Derby Hospital and find out about two local NHS trusts who are nominated for national awards.

The NHS in Derby and Derbyshire is calling on people to reduce pressure on NHS services this winter by re-thinking which service they opt for when unwell.

The campaign aims to help people get quicker care in the most appropriate place.

It focuses on advice to keep well, on the wide range of services available at a community pharmacy, on NHS 111 online and local urgent treatment centres.

The campaign also encourages people to self-care by taking simple steps to prevent illness such as keeping up-to-date with vaccinations, eating well, staying warm and keeping active.

To find out more visit Joined Up Care Derbyshire, Think Which Service.

Remember, 999 and A&E are for an emergency, or life-threatening situations only.

The Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care System is one of eight areas in England piloting a new survey to measure and help improve integrated care for patients.

In this blog, Jim Austin, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Community Health Services explains more about the Integrated Care Experience Survey.

Jim said: "The survey was a commitment from the NHS Long Term Plan and supports one of Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board’s key purposes – to narrow inequalities in the experience of care."

Vulnerable and older people across Derby and Derbyshire, including people with some existing conditions, who are most at risk of getting ill this winter will start to receive an invitation from their GP to come forward for a flu and COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Chris Weiner, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB, said: “Every winter, the NHS urges people to protect themselves from falling seriously unwell by getting vaccinated against viruses such as covid, flu, and now, RSV.

“It’s crucial for those most at risk to consider getting vaccinated early. The vaccines offer the best protection from becoming seriously unwell this winter."

Derby and Derbyshire LMC and Derby and Derbyshire GP Provider Board (GPPB) are working together to explore opportunities to improve the way we engage and communicate with stakeholders.

You can help shape this work. Please complete this short online survey to help the LMC and GPPB understand your views and needs. Your responses are anonymous and the survey will take no longer than five minutes to complete. This survey is aimed at anyone who considers themselves a stakeholder of the LMC or GPPB. Local GP practice and PCN staff are also being invited to share their views through a separate survey.

Please share this survey with anyone in your team or organisation who may want to provide a view.

The survey closes at midnight on Sunday October 20.

Construction will begin on a new multi-storey car park at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton from Monday October 14. The multi-storey will create more than 500 additional spaces when construction is complete in late summer 2025. During this time, there will be changes made to hospital parking for patients and visitors for those who travel by car to Royal Derby Hospital for appointments and visits. 

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services NHS Foundation Trust have been nominated for a national award, acknowledging their employees’ outstanding efforts in raising awareness about the needs of the Armed Forces community.

The two NHS Trusts run a joint Armed Forces staff network which works to break down the barriers for people who have served in the Armed Forces in accessing health services and working for the NHS.

Ilkeston Community Hospital has taken delivery of its new CT scanner as the next step in the development of a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) on site.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust are working in partnership to provide these enhanced diagnostic facilities.

The Joined Up Care Derbyshire Careers team are opening up award nominations to celebrate and recognise the incredible and invaluable work of our unregistered workforce across Derby and Derbyshire.

We want to celebrate the fantastic work that healthcare, care and all of our support workers do each day and night. They may be from a care home, GP practice, the community or a hospital setting.

Did you know you don't always need to see a GP or consultant to access some referral services? Self-referral is an option that can make it easier and faster for you to get help, rather than seeing your doctor.

You can register for most of them online. Find out more.