Improving planned care services for all

Why is this a priority?

Elective care means health and care activity that is planned in advance. That might include things like:

  • Outpatient appointments
  • Diagnostic tests such as x-rays, scans and blood tests
  • Procedures such as endoscopy (a test to look inside the body)
  • Operations
  • Care after an operation (including follow-up appointments)
  • Ongoing care from a GP or in the community for long-term health conditions.

Elective care in Northamptonshire is offered by different providers, including University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital), Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, GP practices and some independent hospital providers. It might be in a healthcare building or in patients’ homes.

The NHS is working to improve people’s experiences of elective care all around the country. This is to ensure that people don’t have to wait too long for treatment or make long journeys for appointments which could be offered in a different way.

The aim is to make sure everyone who needs planned care sees the right person, in the right place at the right time – and receives the best possible health outcomes delivered in the most efficient way.

In Northamptonshire, we now we stand the best chance of achieving this aim by working together as health and care partners rather than individual organisations.

 

The story so far…

We know people’s experiences of elective care and the way it is provided in Northamptonshire can be improved.

Our population is growing and demand for planned care is increasing. But waiting times are already longer than we would want and we are not using our resources to provide care in the most effective way.

There are also differences in the outcomes that people experience from their care, and not everybody in our county has equal access to planned care services. When elective care is provided across different services and organisations, it doesn’t always feel joined up for patients.

Sometimes sudden increases in demand for urgent and emergency (non-elective) care can affect how well we deliver planned care. There needs to be enough capacity in our services to make sure we can continue to provide planned care at these times.

 

What’s next?

Conversations with service users, carers and health and care professionals have helped us to understand people’s priorities for planned care in Northamptonshire.

Our communities have told us they want:

  • The best possible care and outcomes for patients
  • Equal access to services and fewer differences in outcomes and experiences
  • Care and support in the right place at the right time – and as close to home as possible
  • Joined-up and efficient care across different services and organisations – and wrapped around the needs of patients
  • Early diagnosis and treatment and shorter waiting times
  • Fewer journeys for appointments, where possible
  • Support for people to prevent illness and reduce the need for planned care.

Our vision is to improve health outcomes, improve the quality of care and address inequalities. We want to do this with a joined-up approach across all our elective care services centred around our patients’ needs. We aim to achieve this by:

  • Improving the efficiency and quality of care
  • Delivering high-quality clinical services
  • Being effective, well led and well governed
  • Developing, empowering and retaining our workforce
  • Taking a system-wide approach to outcomes.

 

Help us improve elective care

If you are interested in helping us to improve elective care services for people in Northamptonshire, please let us know by filling in our engagement and involvement form.

The form with name 'Sign up for engagement and involvement with ICN' has not been found. Please contact us to tell us.

 

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