New set of patient case studies shows impact of Team Up

A new set of case studies showing the positive impact of NHS Derby and Derbyshire’s flagship Team Up transformation programme for patients is now available.

The examples show how the teams improve people’s health – this includes helping them with issues such as housing, debt and isolation as well as clinical and medication issues.

The anonymous stories include a lady who lived on a barge in unsuitable conditions and needed new housing, a lady who hoarded medication but would not engage with services and a patient who had been evicted from the YMCA but needed to keep taking crucial medication.

Team Up Derbyshire has introduced 12 locally led teams across health and social care in Derby and Derbyshire. They are providing home visiting, urgent community response and falls recovery, simplifying pathways and adding extra capacity. It is an example of integrated neighbourhood working, recently hailed by the Darzi report as a key model for future NHS working.

Ian Lawrence, lead for the Team Up programme, said: “It’s fantastic to have a set of case studies which really show the impact of our work for people and patients. We are so proud of Team Up and everything we have achieved and want to illustrate that the model of integrated working really does have a beneficial impact.

“The benefits are realised not only for the patient and the taxpayer but also for the people who work for the service, who tell us they have found extra motivation for working in the NHS in this type of team.”

Team Up is not a new or ‘add on’ service – it is a teaming up of existing services and the creation of additional capacity – with general practice, community care, mental health care, adult social care and the voluntary and community sector all working together and with their local communities.

Derby and Derbyshire Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Tim Taylor, said: “Moving more services into the community is one of the three shifts we’re seeking to make as a health service as part of the ten-year plan.

“Team Up is a fantastic example of how working in an integrated multi-disciplinary team within the community is enhancing patients’ experience of care and ensuring it’s personalised and therefore effective.

“The examples we have here show the breadth of the team’s expertise and what they can achieve.”