IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from the CEO p2
Message from the Chair p3
Affiliates p4 Shape & Influence p6
Message from the CEO Looking forward to the challenges ahead
Alot has happened since my message in the April Newsletter: An election was announced and has taken place, a new Labour administration is now in government, we have held our annual Members CEO Workshop, and we have learned that three of our board members are moving on to pastures new.
All of that has kept us busy, and of course, we are progressing with our innovation project and planning this November’s conference, where I hope to see many of you. More details of that on page 3.
Following the election announcement on 22 May, and with the NHS being such a public priority in all the polls, we took the opportunity to write to the leaders or health leads of all the main parliamentary parties, demonstrating how we can help sustain the NHS, through a cost-effective and efficient social enterprise model that we know works, raising awareness of UHUK, its members and the role they play.
We have since scoured the Labour manifesto and the King’s Speech for information as to how their policies might develop and where we can align our offer and provide help and support for the new administration’s priorities around the NHS and wider economy.
There are a number of elements we have identified:
• Mission-driven government – as social enterprises we are mission-led, which will hopefully resonate with ministers.
• Doubling the size of the mutuals and co-op sector – no detail yet, but there could be opportunities here.
• Integration and collaboration – it’s what we do, so we will take the opportunity to demonstrate what we are achieving and what is possible.
• Improved access to longer term funding for innovative technology – could link into our innovation programme/ future innovation initiatives.
• Reducing waiting lists and freeing up GP appointments – We know we are in a good place to demonstrate how we can help alleviate pressure on acute trusts and GPS - freeing up those vital appointments. We have data to show how we do this and how we could do more with the right support. We will be demonstrating how our interventions and innovative service provisions add valuable capacity, with patient care managed outside of hospitals, at home or in the community.
• Governance, duty of candour and building trust. As social enterprises, we work transparently and for the good of the community, ensuring any profit is retained and ploughed back into improving services or providing further benefit for the community.
conor.burke6@nhs.net
We have written to Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) and Stephen Kinnock Minister of State for Care, stating how members can quickly mobilise to support Government and NHS priorities. We have highlighted how UHUK members consistently demonstrate innovation, agility, and responsiveness to changing demands, delivering costeffective exceptional care models, with balanced books and 'good' or 'outstanding' CQC ratings.
Over the coming weeks and months, we will be updating our stakeholder list and developing our communications and engagement plan to continue to raise awareness of what we do and to try to influence policy and decision makers on behalf of all our members.
We await with interest the outcome of the independent investigation that has been ordered into the state of the NHS, and which is being led by Professor Lord Ara Darzi, as the findings of this will, according to available information, provide the basis for Labour’s 10-year-plan for the NHS. We will do what we can to ensure that Professor Lord Darzi is aware of the role we play and our potential to play a bigger part in the future of the NHS. We will emphasise the need to acknowledge the added value our social enterprises bring, and the need for longer term contracts to provide stability.
Our CEO Workshop this month was a positive and productive session leading to three project ideas to help drive growth through social enterprise. We are now looking to develop these further. More detail about this on page p7.
Finally, we must give our thanks to our Chair and MD Dr Simon Abrams who will be stepping down later this year, and to our NEDs Nigel Gazzard and Carrie Cobb who are also stepping down as they leave their roles within their respective organisations. We are grateful for their work and their commitment and dedication to UHUK. They will be missed, and we wish them all the absolute best for whatever the future holds for them.
This does mean that we now have some exciting opportunities to join our leadership team. We will internally recruit CEO NEDs from our member organisations and will advertise for the Chair and now separate MD role both from within our member organisations and externally. Further information about these opportunities is on page p13.
Have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you later this year.
Message from the Chair
Reflecting on the quality members provide
With three months to go to the UHUK conference, here are three reasons why UHUK members are justified in considering themselves organisations that go that extra step.
The UHUK founding organisations came together to enable them to be recognised as essential NHS assets. As proof, we embarked on a programme to audit and benchmark members. From the start UHUK systems were in place to monitor the benchmark and challenge members. As the Medical Director I designed that first benchmark. Reading some research a few years later that suggested Social Enterprise providers provided better quality services seemed justification for the hard work everyone had put in. More recently, it was good to hear the consensus at the CEO workshop in July, calling for audit and benchmarking to be re-invigorated.
Meanwhile the innovatory work going on amongst members continues and is being recognised by the UHUK Awards. Started as a rough pilot two years ago, the appeal was immediately clear. 54 entries were received showcasing the determination of staff to improve services. The triple screen and co-ordinated music at last year’s conference took the awards to the next level emphasising how people value a worthy pat-on-the-back. This year, the bar is going up again, with the intention to provide an Award Trust Mark. Please do consider putting in your entries. It is a fun event with considerable “feelgood” factor.
The final rationale for UHUK members to uphold the badge of quality, is the Patient Safety Culture Survey. Every May for the past few years you may have had a prompt to complete a 14-question survey that assesses the vitality of the safety
simon.abrams@nhs.net
culture in your organisation. The survey origins are credible. UHUK has many professional forums including CEOs, Chairs, HR, Finance, Operational etc. The Medical and Nurse Director Forum was one of the first. Their agenda focusses on quality and effectiveness and discusses safety issues. Ten years ago, we invited a Professor of Healthcare Quality and Effectiveness to some of the meetings. It led to UHUK commissioning the survey from him. Now in its eighth year, the survey provides high quality evidence that UHUK members are monitoring safety systems at the point of application. In the past few weeks, the results have been sent out. It is to the credit of UHUK members that throughout, safety culture has remained a priority. Over the coming 12 months we will support members to work together and learn from each other to achieve continuous improvement.
Tony Bruce Consultancy Services
Offering Advisory and Management Support in Challenging Times
You may know me as the man leading the UHUK HMRC Project, supporting UHUK Members to manage one of their most significant financial and organisational risks.
But did you know that I am a Versatile and Experienced Advisor and Management Consultant?
My Consulting Practice is backed by 21 years’ experience as an NHS CEO, over 10 years as a Director of Finance and External Auditor, Coaching training and Myers Briggs accreditation.
I have consistently driven improvements in services, performance, value, finances, corporate governance and organisational capability through an engaging, focussed, resilient and developmental approach to consulting, leadership and management.
So, if your organisation could use some support, working out what to do, how to do it, getting it done, or developing internal capability then get in touch for a conversation.
As a UHUK Member you can be sure of favourable rates and a good value proposition.
Jobs undertaken from 2 days Advisory to 100 days Transformation Leadership and Delivery.
Call: 07710 645524 E mail: brucet.duart@btiternet.com
The recent case of Harrison v Cameron concerned a dispute over landscape gardening. In brief, Mr H was unhappy with Mr C’s work and relations broke down between the two, to such an extent that Mr H threatened Mr C in a phone call which Mr C covertly recorded.
Mr C then shared the recording with his employees, family and friends.
Mr H found out, alleged his reputation had been damaged and in a Data Subject Access Request demanded to know who had heard the recording ie who his data had been shared with.
GDPR states that a requestor is entitled to receive not only copies of their data but also details of any third party with whom the data has been shared.
LinkedIn: Tony Bruce
How a dispute about landscape gardening will seriously impact your organisation
Until the Harrison case, when providing details of who data has been shared with, the requestor was usually given the category of recipient, but not the names of individual third parties.
In the Harrison v Cameron case, the Judge ruled that it is necessary to apply a “balancing test” when considering the third party exemption and the requestor could be entitled to details of the individuals who have received the data so that the requestor can decide whether the sharing was lawful.
This is a concerning development for all controllers who may now need to disclose the names of individuals with whom personal data was shared.
This could lead controllers exposed to a claim from a disgruntled patient or employee who could then argue that sharing the data was unlawful and
a major breach, with all the financial consequences and reputational damage that could then follow.
Going forward organisations must give careful consideration before sharing personal data and be confident the sharing is lawful. The organisation will risk having to disclose the sharing in a DSAR.
The exemption to redact data of third parties with whom the data was shared still applies if the third party does not consent to disclosure or disclosure would affect the rights and freedoms of the third party.
However, this must now be balanced with the rights of the requestor to receive the details of sharing. An organisation will need to take the advice of their DPO on whether the exemption to redact can apply.
Unleashing Business Potential in Healthcare with Infinitas Consulting
A Year of Growth and Collaboration
We're thrilled to share that Infinitas Consulting has successfully completed three-quarters of our inaugural business year. This period has been marked by fruitful collaborations with a diverse range of healthcare organisations, from NHS 111 providers to cutting-edge software suppliers.
Our partnership with UHUK members has been instrumental in driving innovation and delivering tangible results. We've been fortunate to engage in projects that we'll be excited to share with you later this year.
Delivering Real Results for Healthcare Organisations
Our focus on strategic planning, operational efficiency, and digital transformation has yielded impressive results for our clients:
• End-User Satisfaction: The Key to Business Alignment: End-user satisfaction drives business growth by providing valuable feedback that informs strategic decision-making, leading to products and services that better meet customer needs and ultimately achieve organisational objectives.
• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The Cornerstone of Clinical Excellence Enhanced operational efficiency optimises resource allocation, reduces errors, and improves patient outcomes by streamlining workflows, eliminating bottlenecks, and empowering healthcare professionals to focus on delivering high-quality care.
• Digital Transformation Success: Navigating the complex healthcare
landscape requires a robust digital strategy. Our expertise has enabled clients to leverage technology to improve patient care and achieve operational excellence.
• Seamless Change Management: We understand that change can be challenging. We guide organisations through transitions, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum impact.
A Strong Partnership with UHUK
Collaborating with UHUK members has been invaluable. Access to a wide range of software solutions has broadened our knowledge and allowed us to develop innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of the healthcare sector.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with UHUK and sharing more about our successes in the coming months.
Email us to find out more: info@infinitas.consulting
SHAPE & INFLUENCE
Continuing to raise our profile nationally
Over the last few months, we have been continuing to network and explore ways of getting our voice heard, although, understandably, some of this work has taken a back seat due to the implications of the election, and now waiting to see what the new government is saying.
In summary:
We have signed up and to and supported the Future Economy Alliance, led by SEUK, and will continue to support the threads that work for our health social enterprises. We have submitted information from our campaign and will continue to provide case study information to support our message. We have also reach out to the SEUK health lead to discuss their priorities for influencing government over the coming months.
We have spoken to NHS Confederation about the programme to optimise GP practice in 15 ICBs. Ed Garrett being the lead for this work. Meetings were scheduled and cancelled due to the election. We will follow up on this.
We have met with Margaret Bolton of Local Trust who have recently partnered with NHS Confederation exploring a neighbourhood working programme in Big Local areas. It is early days, but we are being kept informed of opportunities where it will be beneficial for us to be part of the conversation. This programme is about collaboration with the NHS, VCFSE organisations, and others in the community to improve health and wellbeing in places.
We have connected with NHS providers. They are reviewing their influencing priorities around community providers and primary care partners with a view to raising their profile, so we will see how we can link into their programme.
We are meeting with Lodestone Communications with a view to updating our stakeholder map to support our communications and engagement plan. The change of government provides us with a crucial window of opportunity to press home our message with policy and decision makers.
UHUK Conference: Sustaining the NHS: Is virtual Care the solution?
Join us on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November 2024 at the De Vere Waterpark, Cirencester for the UHUK Annual Conference, which brings together over 150 social enterprise healthcare professionals from across the UK. The event offers unique insights from, and networking opportunities with, leading thinkers, partners, researchers, innovators and peers.
Over the two days you will be able to hear from key leaders and experts as we explore how innovation and collaboration through social enterprise can remove barriers to the delivery of remote and virtual urgent and integrated healthcare.
We will cover issues including:
• Quality and safety in a digital environment
• Leadership and workforce development
• Access and health inequalities
• Using technology to improve productivity and shift care away from acute hospitals
• Designing virtual healthcare around patients' needs
• Promoting virtual care to reduce hospital admissions By attending the conference you will:
• Be inspired by leaders innovating in virtual care
• Be able to join conversations and debates on key topics
• Understand key pressures and opportunities
• Network with peers
• Hear from sponsors
Confirmed Speakers include:
• Dr Lia Ali, Clinical Advisor, NHSE Transformation Directorate
• Prof Josip Car, Head of King’s School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London
• Prof Durka Dougall, CEO, Centre for Population Health
• Prof Trish Greenhalgh, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford
• Dr Mona Johnson, Clinical Director Digital Urgent & Emergency Care, NHS England
• Prof Julian Redhead, National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care, NHS England
• Piers Ricketts, CEO, Health Innovation Network - East
• Jack Sansum, Senior Policy Advisor, NHS Confederation
• Dr Caroline Taylor, Chair, NAPC
To book your place on the conference click here.
UHUK Awards
The UHUK annual conference incorporates the UHUK 2024 Awards Dinner which will celebrate the very best projects and initiatives delivered by UHUK members. It's an opportunity to be inspired by and learn more about UHUK members and how vital they are to the NHS.
Award submissions open on 12th Aug - look out for the email with link to submission form.
CONNECT & SHARE
Annual CEO workshop in Cumbria
Last month, UHUK welcomed CEO colleagues to the Inn on the Lake in Glenridding, in the beautiful Lake District. It was an opportunity to network with peers, connecting and sharing while focusing on the workshop theme of driving growth through social enterprise.
The session was facilitated, free of charge, by Ambito Partners (formerly Fields of Learning and Trafalgar Personal Development).
We were joined by Atif Choudhury, CEO of Diversity and Ability, who spoke passionately about the benefits of creating a diverse workplace, and the additional perspectives lived experiences can bring to an organisation as they grow and develop, and Jonathan Bland, Managing Director of Social Business International, E3M leader, and international social enterprise expert who talked about vitalising purpose, exploring how partnerships between public authorities and social enterprises can make a difference not only to how public services are provided, but also to people’s lives. It’s as much about maximising social value, public benefit and delivering good outcomes when delivering public services as it is about exploring what gets in the way of doing more.
We were also joined by sponsors oneAdvanced and Regulatory Solutions who spoke about their roles and how they can support our social enterprises.
The rest of the session was taken up exploring possible ideas that would help drive the growth of UHUK and its members.
Lots of initial ideas were filtered down to three initiatives that will now be further investigated (working titles):
1. R.A.E – potential solution restricting access to A & E based on existing application in Israel. Involves 3 elements – talk before you walk, digital self-check-in, community point of care. Development will require a lot of data and evidence and a strong narrative. Next steps are to work up the idea in more detail and pulse check it with NHSE. Elements of this are already in use so we will be seeking examples of how it is working well.
2. AI-Dan (AI digital access node) –an NHS interoperable app using AI to help prevent patients with health conditions including dementia, diabetes, menopause, mental health concerns coming through to A&E, relieving pressure on the system. Next steps are to work this up further through a sub-group, exploring examples of where something like this is working and whether there is funding that could be tapped into.
3. Assurance framework – what does it mean to be a UHUK member. What do we need to have in place to become the recognisable, go-to organisation, with standards that people aspire to. Next steps will be further consultation with members around purpose and definition given the nuances in service provision of members. A small working group will be set up to explore further.
We’ll keep you informed as these ideas develop further.
All in all, a great amount of shared passion and enthusiasm, and some inspirational thinking, all dedicated to improving patient care through social enterprise.
Many thanks to everyone who attended and engaged in the workshop to make it such a success.
Feedback included:
• Having so many CEOs and colleagues from different organisations together was great - the conversations which happen are the major part of the learning for me.
• Really valued the chance to meet and build relationships in person as well as have the opportunity to be creative
• Venue is excellent once againpeaceful and reflective environment
• Good to have a session setting the context and consideration with manifesto pledges
• I really enjoyed the change in approach from Advanced and their honesty about reviewing the way they work and taking a different approach
Comms forum in Derbyshire
In June members of the UHUK Communications Forum met up at the DHU offices in Derby for a workshop to help co-create the UHUK comms plan. We also took the opportunity to update the Terms of Reference[link to TORs] for the Group.
What an inspiring and enlightening session we had. Lots of discussion, ideas and practical input, with everyone making a contribution based on their expertise, knowledge and experience. This will all prove invaluable as we each face many similar comms issues.
We also discovered a wealth of knowledge amongst forum members, covering web development and SEO, social media and online engagement, internal communications, and AI in communications. Future meetings will be featuring member-led sessions on those topics so that we can all learn from each other.
We also identified opportunities for collaboration to reduce individual costs, such as media training or partnering with an agency or freelancer for social media management. We’ll be exploring those ideas further and will feed back separately.
Our July/August meeting was held via Teams, and our in-person meeting is scheduled for September. Look out for the invitation. We understand many of you juggle multiple roles and may find it challenging to attend, but we'd love to see more comms representatives there.
UHUK Comms Meeting Dates:
These are are scheduled for the last Thurs of every other month:
• Thur 3 Oct 10:00-15:00 Derby
• Thurs 28 Nov 13:00-14:00
• Thurs 30 Jan 10:00-15:00 Derby
• Thurs 27 Mar 13:00-14:00
Meetings are now bi-monthly, with alternate meetings taking place in person.
Please contact Sarah Fletcher if you do not have an invite.
Safety culture at the core of ShropDoc’s Education Day
Organised by ShropDoc’s clinical quality team, regular Education Days take place to provide practical updates, information and learning opportunities for the team. In this first session for 2024, the discussion of safety culture was central to the day, with a session on balancing risks across the urgent and emergency care spectrum, and group work on learning from incidents and complaints.
Karen Urbicki, Head of Clinical Quality and Compliance, said: “By openly discussing safety culture, staff at all levels can identify potential risks and understand the importance of following safety protocols.
“This proactive approach ensures that any incidents are swiftly addressed, and their root causes analysed. Consequently, a robust safety culture contributes to higher quality care, the development of strategies that mitigate future risk, improved patient outcomes, and increased trust among patients and their families.”
Care Leaver Covenant Initiative
UHUK Directors recently received a presentation from Spectra, the Government’s Care Leaver Covenant delivery agent. They seek to collaborate with UHUK members to recruit and support young people with lived experience. Directors view this as a positive initiative and will ask the HR Forum to consider it further.
DEVELOP & IMPROVE
DHU Healthcare is now responsible for delivering NHS 111 services to people across the Midlands.
The move to a larger, regional NHS 111 provision covering the whole of the Midlands area is part of the NHS Long Term Plan, which is designed to ensure calls from patients are answered more quickly and enable providers to work closer within local systems.
As the country’s largest NHS 111 service provider, DHU - who has delivered NHS 111 services in the Midlands since 2010 - —will respond to an estimated five million calls every year, helping to get people the right advice and treatment when they urgently need it. That’s around one in every four calls to NHS 111 in England annually.
DHU’s Chief Executive, Stephen Bateman, says: “We have worked hard to create exceptional NHS 111 services for the last 14 years - and since 2019, our 111 provisions have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Thanks to the collective contributions of colleagues, we are proud to deliver compassionate, high-quality care and to be there for people when they need urgent medical advice.”
Managing Director of DHU’s 111 services since inception in 2010, Pauline Hand continues: “For the past year, we have been providing a 111 service to 92 per cent of the Midlands and are delighted to be able to extend that service to the rest of the region. We look forward to working closely with our health partners and build on our place as one of the country’s most highly regarded NHS 111 service providers.”
DHU’s position as the preferred provider for 111 services in the Midlands has enabled the company to continue investing in regional bases, offering local employment and procurement opportunities.
Plans are in place to move from a temporary NHS111 advice centre in Oldbury, West Midlands, to a larger permanent building on the same site. In Chesterfield, DHU’s base in North Derbyshire, services will also move to double-sized premises just outside the town centre later in the year.
More roles have been developed to grow DHU’s NHS111 front-line team to better serve the Midlands and the existing telephony system for the service was replaced in April 2024with a technology platform designed to improve both the patient and health advisors experience.
Dates for Your Diary
UHUK Annual Conference 2024: 'Sustaining the NHS: Is virtual Care the solution?'
• When : 5th-6th Nov
• Where : Cotswolds De Vere Waterpark, Cirencester.
Book your tickets here
The Midlands service is commissioned and managed by both the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB/ BCICB) on behalf of the West Midlands ICBs; and Derby and Derbyshire ICB (DDICB) on behalf of ICBs in the East Midlands. The move to provide a single service for the Midlands, means DHU will also become the NHS111 provider for Staffordshire – a new area it will mobilise services into.
Ruth Batt is Integration Director for 999/111 NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB. She comments: “National NHS policy advocates NHS 111 services operate regionally - to ensure calls from patients are answered swiftly across larger geographies.
“Working in partnership with Black Country Integrated Care Board we have been able to secure NHS 111 provision across the Midlands and look forward to collaborating with DHU to ensure the exceptional services they already deliver continue for all our patients and communities.
"There will be no break in service for any patients in the Midlands area, access to NHS 111 online and via telephone will continue to operate seamlessly - with the usual around the clock access to anyone needing urgent medical help."
UHUK 2024 Awards Dinner celebrates the very best projects and initiatives delivered by UHUK members.
• When : 5th Nov (after day 1 of conference)
• Where : Cotswolds De Vere Waterpark, Cirencester
INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE
UHUK / WMHWIN Innovation Programme
Update from Dr Alex Lomas, Innovation Manager, WMHWIN
After two cohorts spanning nearly eighteen months, the UHUK / West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Innovation Network (WMHWIN) Innovation programme has completed its initial phase, bringing together thirteen UHUK member organisations and eight Innovators to meet a series of challenges common across the urgent and emergency health sector.
Cohort one focused on developing solutions for the overarching area of workforce optimisation, and completed in November 2023 with a demo day presentation of six innovative solutions ready to be taken forward by UHUK members. Cohort two went in a different direction, looking towards the theme of ‘patient experience by achieving efficiencies and expanding into new areas’. The Challenge Definition phase of the programme identified three overlapping areas that the cohort could focus on:
1. Leveraging remote monitoring mechanisms to enable safe informed clinical decisions and organisational efficiencies.
2. Facilitating a digital front door to enable a more efficient and streamlined patient pathway so that patients can be prioritised by clinical need.
3. Improving public knowledge of available health and social care services so that patient experience and service provision are optimised.
From this, over 200 companies were scouted for initial suitability, with over 80 approached to apply. This active scouting, along with national and international campaigns through medical newsletter outlets, social media and well-connected partners, led to 42 formal applications received and reviewed, of which 7 were invited to pitch to the selection panel.
Four innovators were selected to take part in the programme;
1. Visiba, an AI triage technology currently used to streamline dermatology cases in the London area;
2. Vitacam, a remote observation technology able to use a standard smartphone to record vital signs during or before a consultation;
3. CLEO Systems, with a data and system integration technology aiming to allow better access to information during clinical assessment;
4. Tucuvi, a conversational AI tool that can be used to ‘talk’ to patients through a telephone for clinical follow up or information gathering in multiple languages.
Through the Innovation Programme, all four suppliers have tailored their products towards the needs of UHUK members, creating prototypes that are now ready for further development. A further output of a combined solution could also be the start of a UHUK-Innovator co-development opportunity.
The overall success of both cohorts has been a testament to the people involved, with programme sponsors and managers devoting significant time and resource to the programme and without whose involvement, goodwill and enthusiasm to develop innovative solutions would not have led to such a positive outcome.
Explorations have now begun on how the UHUK Innovation programme should continue beyond the initial Warwick University phase, and anyone interested in being part of this going forward should contact the UKUK team.
UHUK Development Fund Proposal
In response to member requests, NED Matt Adams and intern Sachin Mistry have conducted preliminary research on creating a UHUK Impact Fund (using an investment fund or development fund approach). This fund aims to enable members to invest surpluses in developing market-specific products, addressing ‘pain points’ without giving away their expertise to external companies.
Their recommendation is to focus on a development fund, which aligns with our membership model and ethos, rather than an investment fund, which may be challenging to launch. Over the coming months, further research and interviews will determine the interest in this initiative, which could potentially be seen as an extension to the Warwick programme.
UHUK Board positions open for application
Two exciting opportunities to join the UHUK leadership team:
UHUK Chair
The Chair of UHUK will provide strategic leadership to the Board of Directors, ensuring the organisation fulfils its mission to support and represent social enterprise urgent and integrated healthcare providers.
The Chair will oversee the governance of the organisation, facilitate effective board meetings, and act as an ambassador for UHUK at national and regional levels, promoting its values, objectives and the impact of its members to stakeholders, NHS leaders and the broader community.
UHUK is committed to inclusion, equality and diversity and to attracting, developing and advancing the most talented individuals. We are actively seeking to increase diversity within our board to bring fresh insight and new perspectives.
UHUK Medical Director
The Medical Director will provide strategic leadership and clinical oversight to UHUK.
This role is critical in ensuring the highest standards of clinical care across our member organisations. The Medical Director will work closely with the CEO, the Board of Directors, and other member senior leaders to drive clinical excellence, foster innovation and advocate for the interests of social enterprise urgent healthcare providers.
To Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a CV and a covering letter outlining their suitability for the role to; hazel.harrison3@nhs.net
The closing date for applications is 19 August 2024
More information can be found on our website: www. uhuk.co.uk/latest-news
SELDOC steps up during IT outage
On Friday, 19 July, a significant IT outage affected Microsoft services globally, causing major disruptions to many NHS services. Amidst this challenge, SELDOC stepped up to support NHS colleagues and patients in the South London area, ensuring that, for many, care was uninterrupted.
SELDOC demonstrated resilience and a rapid response in the following ways:
• Deploying additional staff to handle the 20% increase in demand for Out-of-Hours services, achieving a 97% on-target performance.
• Palliative Care demand remained stable, but extra driver hours were scheduled for immediate capacity for patients in pain
• Increased Clinician capacity and established alternative booking options to manage the increased patient demand, which tripled in some areas.
Tim Hebditch, Operations Director of SELDOC, stated: “Our “Patient First” approach means we have people, processes and systems ready to “kickin” fast when business continuity is needed. Our teams’ actions safeguarded services and provided additional capacity in alternative services when needed.
“On that day, our systems were tested, and I am pleased to say we were able to respond swiftly and maintain our high standards of care across our services. The learning point for us was around our manual back-up processes, which we will now take the opportunity to strengthen.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team for stepping up so effectively, and for embodying our values: patient first, competent, compassionate, empowering and adaptable. These qualities were demonstrated throughout their efforts in dealing with the impact of the IT outage.”
Urgent Care Summit
For Adastra Customers
Join our Urgent Care Summit in London!
A must-attend conference for Adastra customers to network with colleagues, share industry insights and learn about the latest Adastra product developments:
• Date: Wednesday, 25th September 2024
• Times: 10:00am – 3:30pm
• Location: Central London Conference Programme includes:
• Winter Pressures & NHSE Directives
• Adastra Roadmap 2025-26
• Adastra Platform Innovations
• Adastra Panel of Experts – Live Q&A
Register Now
To register your place(s), visit: OneAdvanced Urgent Care Summit (cvent.com) Or email mark.d.smith@oneadvanced.com in the OneAdvanced Health and Care Marketing Team.
Scheduling:
RotaMaster was designed to reduce the burden of admin tasks, allowing your staff to attend to what matters most Patient Care
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We can focus on other business aims and growth whilst been 100% confident in RotaMaster supporting current operations
RotaMaster has so much functionality that can be added we can also be confident that it will continue to grow with us ”
Sarah Rochelle Operations Manager Northern Health
New alliance for Derbyshire Urgent Treatment Centre
As an already established provider of care services for people in Derby and Derbyshire, DHU has become the new lead provider for the centre. DHU will be working in partnership with Primary Healthcare Derby (PHD) and Derbyshire Community Health Services (DCHS) NHS Foundation Trust, creating an alliance that will be delivering compassionate, highquality urgent care services to patients in the area every year.
The collaboration (which went live on July 1 2024) has pledged to transform patient experience for people requiring immediate treatment for injuries and illness that need urgent, but not emergency care.
Paul Tilson, DHU Healthcare’s Managing Director of Urgent, Emergency and Primary Care said: “This partnership strengthens existing
IC24 Partners with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to Provide Integrated Urgent Care Service
IC24 is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to provide an Integrated Urgent Care Service (IUCS) for residents across Gloucestershire. This service will be available starting November 2024, enhancing the provision of urgent care in the region.
The Integrated Urgent Care Service includes NHS 111 (telephone and online), a local Clinical Assessment Service offering patients access to general and specialist advice from clinicians where appropriate and the Primary Care Out of Hours service.
IC24 welcomes this new chapter and looks forward to making a positive impact on the healthcare landscape in Gloucestershire.
Katherine Pitts, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer of IC24, commented on the partnership, stating, “We’re extremely excited to be working with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to provide the Integrated Urgent Care Service. This is an important milestone for IC24 as we continue to grow and expand our services to different regions. Our goal is to transform the lives of our patients through high-quality care, and we’re thrilled to be able to now bring our services and experience to Gloucestershire”.
relationships and I’m pleased to welcome new colleagues to our DHU Team as part of becoming the lead provider for the Derbyshire Urgent Treatment Centre.
“This development enables us to continue to build crucial partnerships across our healthcare system and importantly, safeguarding emergency departments (A&E) for those with the most critical needs."
The Derbyshire Urgent Treatment Centre opens Monday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm, supporting patients who have contacted NHS 111 for advice.
SPCT’s Homeless Inclusion Service highlighted on MIMS learning platform
The great work done by the Salford Primary Care Together (SPCT) team on their Homeless Inclusion Service has been highlighted in the MIMS Learning platform with a module on tackling health inequalities through inclusion: homelessness.
As social enterprises delivering NHS Services, reducing health inequalities is a key objective for many of our UHUK members.
Please submit articles of interest to sharon.clifton3@nhs.net or complete the submissions form
Well done to the team, and thanks to urgent care physician Dr Ivan Koay for collaborating with SPCT and using their model in this module outlining the principles of inclusion health.
PC24 opens its first Primary Care Hub
UHUK member PC24 opened its first Primary Care Hub in May this year in Litherland.
The hub brings together clinical and administrative professionals from across PC24’s 12 practices into one building, enabling PC24 to deliver primary care services at scale, while improving both consistency of care and access for patients in the area.
Updated telephony, a single phone number and a dedicated team of call-handling Care Navigators, means calls are streamlined, enquiries dealt with, and patients are guided quickly to the most appropriate care and advice.
Data is captured and coded to ensure consistency of patient care, and a dedicated clinical team in the hub manage prescription requests, online consultations, onward referrals and more.
Patients still see GPs at their own practice or if no appointments are available can be seen at another GP practice within the cluster. All appointments being managed from the hub.
FCMS launches NHS Health Checks for Lancashire on behalf county council.
FCMS (NW) Ltd, in partnership with Lancashire County Council, has launched a new community outreach service, providing free NHS Health Checks for Lancashire residents.
Health check appointments are available at various community locations including a brand-new NHS Health Checks mobile clinic.
Chris Walton, Deputy Head of Diagnostics of FCMS, said:
“Providing easy-to-access, free health checks, is a great way to identify early warning signs of common conditions that become more prevalent as we age.
“An NHS Health Check takes about 20 minutes and involves answering some general health questions, as well as undergoing a few simple health tests. These checks can help detect conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes, which can lead to more serious conditions including heart and kidney disease, stroke and even dementia. Following the appointment results are shared with your GP practice.”
“Our NHS Health Checks team will then offer advice regarding any relevant lifestyle factors, including referral and signposting to appropriate local services. This improves outcomes for patients whose symptoms might otherwise go undiagnosed, as they may feel well.
NHS Health Checks are just one of the ways our teams are helping to relieve pressure on GP surgeries, emergency teams and acute trusts.
For more information visit: www.fcms-nw.co.uk
Please submit articles of interest to sharon.clifton3@nhs.net or complete the submissions form
PC24 CEO, Dave Horsfield (far left), and PC24 Chair Dil Daly (2nd left) join Graham Urwin, CEO of the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, (centre) for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Primary Care Hub in Litherland.
Cumbria Health’s 4Louis Fundraiser
On Sunday 28th April, Cumbria Health staff headed out for their charity walk in memory of beautiful baby Maddison Brown. The turnout was amazing and luckily the weather was on their side, so they avoided the rain! The group walked for around 2 hours starting in Bitts Park and looped round through Rickerby Park. In total, Cumbria Health staff raised £2,655 to donate to 4Louis who supported one of our staff members and her family.
4Louis works across the country to support anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of a baby or child. They understand the pain and heartbreak that families go through and are dedicated to providing support and comfort during this difficult time. They provide memory boxes filled with keepsakes and mementos to help families create lasting memories of their loved one. They also provide useful tools, equipment, and training free of charge to hospital units, hospices, and other professionals who work with grieving families.
For more information about the charity visit: 4Louis A UK Charity Supporting Families with Child Loss
Tackling health inequalities with new project at Senhouse Centre
Cumbria Health has launched a new health inequality pilot project at the Senhouse Centre in Whitehaven, offering weekly drop-in health and wellbeing sessions for the local population. These sessions provide comprehensive health checks, including near-point testing for diabetes and cholesterol, alongside various group discussions on topics such as menopause, diabetes, cholesterol, healthy eating, and mental health.
Over 20 participants attended the first session, which offered free health checks and featured an engaging group discussion on diabetes and cholesterol. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many valuing the knowledge and information gained from the group discussion on how best to prevent or manage diabetes and high cholesterol.
Suzy Ryan, Head of Operations at Cumbria Health, said: “Whitehaven in West Cumbria, has historically struggled with access to traditional healthcare services, leading to persistent health inequalities. Building on the success of our Health Matters programme in Carlisle, this initiative aims to provide accessible and low-pressure health and wellbeing services to Whitehaven residents. This proactive, preventative approach will not only contribute to healthier communities in Whitehaven and across West Cumbria, but also support local healthcare providers by helping to identify some health conditions early.
“We are delighted with the success of the first session, which has underscored the importance of community health initiatives that promote health awareness and provide easy-to-access health services.”
UHUK Teams Meeting Dates:
• HR Teams - Mon 12 Aug 1300-1400
• FD Teams - Tues 20 Aug 1300-1400
• MD/ND Teams - Wed 28 Aug 1330-1430
• Tech Teams - Wed 4 Sept 1000-1100
• CEO Teams - Wed 18 Sep 1300-1400
• Chairs Teams - Tues 24 Sep 1130-1230
Please submit articles of interest to sharon.clifton3@nhs.net or complete the submissions form
Together we are the largest social enterprise provider of outof-hospital services including;
• NHS 111 call centres
• Other call centre services
• Medical out-of-hours services
• Booking and referral services
• Emergency dental services
• GP practices
• Admissions avoidance schemes
• Urgent care centres
• Walk-in centres
• Community nursing and other community based services
• Sexual health services
• Offender health services
• Urgent Mental health services
• Military health services
• Homeless support services
We serve 64% of the population of the UK and Ireland (excluding Scotland)
UHUK Purpose:
To build our collective capability so we provide exceptional integrated and urgent primary care and the very best possible health outcomes to more people through Social Enterprise.
Services to members
We operate as a federation of social enterprise healthcare providers enabling members to benefit by working together and effectively being part of a much larger organisation.
Our services to members can be summarised as follows;
• Quality audit and benchmarking by external NHS auditors against agreed outcome focused quality standards
• Purchasing consortium which generates savings for members
• Market intelligence – analysis of our markets, identifying business opportunities and comparing prices
• Sharing of information and resources through discussion forums, workshops and the annual conference.
• Joint public relations initiatives
• Joint National representation initiatives (e.g. on The Five Year Forward View, NHS 111, Social Enterprise in Health)
Contact Us:
Business Manager, & Company Secretary:
Hazel Harrison - hazel.harrison3@nhs.net
Tel: 07841 337631
www.uhuk.co.uk
Membership:
Current members include:
• Badger Birmingham area
• BrisDoc Bristol
• Cumbria Health Cumbria
• Dalriada Urgent Care Northern Ireland
• DHU Health Care Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Midlands
• ECPC OOH East Berkshire
• FCMS (NW) Ltd North Lancashire
• FedBucks Buckinghamshire
• GMUPCA Manchester, Bury & Stockport
Alliance consiting of:
• Mastercall Healthcare
• Salford Primary Care Together (SPCT)
• Bardoc
• GTD
• Wigan
• IC24 Suffolk, Essex & Sussex
• Kernow Health Cornwall
• LCW UCC West & Central London
• Local Care Direct West Yorkshire
• NEMS CBS Nottinghamshire
• NHUC Hampshire
• PC24 Merseyside
• PELC Ltd East London
• SELDOC South East London
• Shropdoc Shropshire & Powys
• Suffolk GP Federation Suffolk
• Western Urgent Care Belfast
Associate Members:
• Northdoc Medical North Dublin City & County Services
• Welsh Health Boards
The People:
Chair Dr Simon Abrams
Chief Executive Conor Burke Non-Executives Nigel Gazzard
Stephen Bateman Matt Adam (independent) Partnerships Director Tonia Culpin
Business Manager Hazel Harrison
Business Coordinator Sarah Fletcher Comms Manager Sharon Clifton
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