Health leaders in Morecambe Bay and across Lancashire and South Cumbria have welcomed the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan.
The 133-page plan, which was published on Monday, outlines the priorities for the health service over the next decade.
It describes how the NHS will make sure people get the best start in life, and how patients can expect world-class care for major health problems.
It endorses the approach taken across Morecambe Bay, and in particular the focus on prevention, keeping the frail elderly well at home for longer – and the partnership working at a neighbourhood level, rather than individual organisations working in isolation.
Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust said: “We welcome the publication of the Long Term Plan this week, which is an endorsement of the work we’ve been doing across Morecambe Bay in recent years and which we’ve developed with partners across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The publication of the plan also gives us a fantastic platform on which we can build our local strategy going forward.
“In developing our local strategy we have focused on partnerships, workforce and quality and safety and we are delighted that these themes are reflected in the national Long Term Plan.
“I’m also really pleased that the plan has a focus on both increasing the workforce and improving colleague experience, – two themes that I see as crucial as we take our local plans forward – and I want to take this opportunity to thank all colleagues across the Bay for their hard work across our communities.”
Dr Geoff Jolliffe, Clinical Chair for NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “I’m delighted that the work we have undertaken locally, particularly as part of our Better Care Together clinical strategy, has been reflected in the national plan.
“We will continue our efforts to establish good and sustainable local services that are consistent across the Morecambe Bay area.
“It is encouraging that our plans in establishing neighbourhood working through what we call Integrated Care Communities (ICCs) across Morecambe Bay are reflected in the national plan – which says services should be joined up within neighbourhoods – geographical communities with populations of typically between 30,000 to 50,000 – to support people to stay well.”
Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, a local GP and Chief Officer for Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria said: “The plan clearly endorses what we have been doing for some time here across Lancashire and South Cumbria in terms of partnership working and bringing services together. We enjoy extremely strong working relationships with our local authority partners, as well as those from the voluntary, community and faith sector and the many groups of people who volunteer their time to help shape and improve health and care services.”
For more information about the NHS Long Term Plan visit: www.longtermplan.nhs.uk
For more information about the work and priorities of Morecambe Bay, the partnership of NHS, local authority, public services and community organisations for the area, visit: www.bettercaretogether.co.uk