Health, Social Care and Well Being News

Health and Well Being Directory

As part of the Healthy City Programme, partners in Swansea are working to create a sustainable directory (via NHS Direct Wales) of groups/organisations that are available in the community. The directory will be promoted to health and social care professionals (GPs, District Nurses, Health Visitors and Social Care Staff) as well as the public.

If your group/organisation would like to be included on the directory then please download the data entry form, which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

Alternatively if you would like further information about the directory then please contact Amy Meredith, Health, Social Care and Well Being Facilitator by email to amy_meredith@scvs.org.uk or by phone on 01792 544028.

Review of Health and Social Care Team 2010-2011

The SCVS Health and Social Care Team has produced a report for 2010-11 on how we represent the third sector and our beneficiaries. To download a copy of the report, please click on 'SCVS Health Team Guide', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

NHS Five Year Vision (2011 - 2016)

A new five year vision for the NHS, based around community services and placing prevention, quality and transparency at the heart of healthcare has been published by Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths. To download a copy of the document please click on 'Together for Health', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

Discussion Document - Changing Mental Health Services for the Better

This discussion document outlines the Health Board's proposals for the future development and improvement of mental health services in the general Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University Health Board area, which covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. In addition, our mental health services extend slightly beyond these general ABM boundaries, to take in parts of southern Powys and the western Vale of Glamorgan.

To download the discussion document please click on Mental Health Strategy Discussion Document, which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

ABMU will be holding a series of Public Engagement meetings as follows:

• Monday 7th November - 9.00 am - 12 noon – Aberafon Beach Hotel, Aberafon
• Wednesday 9th November 2011- 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm – Liberty Stadium, Swansea
• Friday 11th November - 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm – Heronston Hotel, Bridgend

Update on Voluntary Sector Involvement in Community Networks

Community networks will provide the platform, to enable GP Practices and a range of professionals (community health, social care, third sector) working within defined areas to come together and plan care that is better co-ordinated to meet local needs.

To download an update on Voluntary Sector Involvement in Community Networks, then please click on 'Update on Voluntary Sector Involvement in Community Networks', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page. The document provides an update for voluntary organisations that work within the Swansea Locality, to highlight some of the ways in which are working to ensure that the voluntary sector are kept informed about developments and are actively engaged within the Community Networks in Swansea.

Launch of Individual Health Record

ABM University Health Board will shortly be launching a new system to help doctors working at night and weekends to gain easier access to patients' medical records - and therefore be better informed to make decisions about their care.

The new Individual Health Record scheme will overcome the current problem of NHS computers not always being able to 'talk to each other'. Information held by GPs, for example, isn't always readily available for other NHS Wales staff providing care.

For further information please see the attached press release and Patient Information Leaflet, which you can download from the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

Individual Patient Funding Requests

The NHS in Wales provides a comprehensive range of routine services, and also a wide range of specialist services. Sometimes, however a patient needs something which falls outside the range of services. These are called Individual Patient Funding Requests.'

For further information please see the attached 'Frequently Asked Questions' document, which provides further information about Individual Patient Funding Requests.

Bridging the Gap Report

Bridging the Gap shows how the third sector provides services to support people through illness, injury, or longer term chronic ill health. Importantly the report also shows the third sector's valuable contribution in the identification of local service models and solutions, as well as those service responses that can be delivered nationally where appropriate.

Bridging the Gap stimulates ideas and approaches for collaboration and the development of service solutions. It doesn't stop with the report: there is a 12 point action plan for the Local Health Boards to work with the third sector, including a review in April 2012.

To download a copy of the report, please click on 'Bridging the Gap Report', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

Health, Social Care and Well Being Strategy (2011-2014)

The final health social care and well being strategy for 2011-2014 is now available. To download a copy of the strategy, please visit the Health Challenge Swansea website http://www.healthchallengeswansea.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=43801

Regional Health, Social Care and Well Being Third Sector Network

The Regional Health, Social Care and Wellbeing (HSCWB) network has been created to establish and increase dialogue between the Third Sector in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend and the Abertawe Bro-Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board. The vision being to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for people living in the ABMU Health Board area; reducing health inequalities, promoting social wellbeing within communities, preventing ill-health, aiding recovery and independence.

The Network will meet four times a year and be supported by the three Building Strong Bridges Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Facilitators based at Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service (NPTCVS), Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS) and Bridgend Association for Voluntary Organisations (BAVO).

The Regional HSCWB Network will be represented at ABMU Health Board meetings by the current Non-Executive Third Sector Non Officer Member.

The forthcoming dates for 2011 are:

• Thursday 8th December 2011, 2.00pm – 4.00pm (Bridgend)

Exact venues to be confirmed.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Boards Stakeholder Reference Group

Each Local Health Board is required to set up a 'Stakeholder Reference Group' to ensure representation of the community in which it serves, staff and health professionals. The Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) acts as an advisory group to the Health Board, providing advice on any aspect of Health Board business. This may include:

• Early engagement and involvement in the determination of the Health Board's overall strategic direction.
• Advice on specific service proposals prior to formal consultation.
• Feedback on the impact of the Health Board's operations on the communities it serves.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board's SRG has 25 members (including an elected Chair and Vice Chair). Twelve of these members are Third Sector Representatives, representing different equality dimensions. Other members include the Local Authority, Police, Fire and Rescue, Environmental Agency and JobCentre Plus.

The Third Sector Representatives have been nominated and elected by members of the Regional Health, Social Care and Wellbeing (HSCWB) Third Sector Network. The Regional HSCWB Third Sector Network will also be the means for communication between the Third Sector Representatives and the Third Sector within the ABMU area.

For details of the third sector representatives on ABMU Health Boards SRG then please click on 'ABMU Stakeholder Reference Group', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

The role of the voluntary sector in Delayed Transfer of Care (DToC)/Hospital Discharge and Prevention of Readmission

This piece of research carried out by CARES in Bangor University, supported by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and the Welsh Assembly Government to explore the role of the voluntary sector in Delayed Transfer of Care/Hospital Discharge and Prevention of Readmission.

This research has provided two in depth case studies of third sector hospital to home services that show, through robust costings, the value of the sector in reducing delayed transfer of care and unnecessary admission to hospital.

To download a copy of the full report please click on 'Full Report', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.

Health Social Care and Well Being Needs Assessment

The Swansea Health, Social Care and Wellbeing (HSCWB) Needs Assessment has brought together and interpreted the health, social care and wellbeing issues facing the Swansea population. This is the third needs assessment that has been undertaken for Swansea, the original exercise was carried out in 2003.

The information collected in the needs assessment is used to develop the Swansea Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy and to set out the priorities to help improve health across Swansea to ensure that the services that are provided are meeting the needs of local people.

For downloadable versions of Swansea's Health Needs Assessment please visit the Health Challenge Swansea website by clicking on the following link. http://www.healthchallengeswansea.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=42403