Working together this winter across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
The local NHS is working together to prepare for winter and help local people continue to receive safe, timely and effective care.
Working together this winter across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Working together this winter across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Health and care organisations across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire are working together to prepare for winter and help local people continue to receive safe, timely and effective care.
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board and NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board have developed a single, system-wide winter plan, working with NHS organisations, local authorities, primary care, voluntary and community sector organisations and other partners.
The plan builds on the urgent and emergency care work taking place throughout the year. It brings partners together around three priorities: prevention and proactive care; Right Care, Right Place; and capacity, resilience and flow.
Our priorities for winter
Prevention and proactive care
We want to help people stay well and receive support before their needs become urgent. Partners are working together to identify and support people who are most at risk of becoming unwell, helping people maintain their independence and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
This includes vaccination, effective management of long-term conditions, neighbourhood working and targeted support for people and communities experiencing poorer health outcomes. Supporting the wellbeing of our health and care workforce is also an important part of maintaining safe and effective services through winter.
Right Care, Right Place
We want people to receive the right care, from the right professional, in the most appropriate place and at the right time.
Across our health and care system, partners are strengthening primary, community and mental health services and alternatives to emergency departments, as well as improving the routes that help people reach the most appropriate service first time. We are also continuing a Home First approach wherever clinically appropriate, helping people remain independent at home and leave hospital promptly when specialist hospital care is no longer needed.
Capacity, resilience and flow
Additional capacity is being put in place across services to help the health and care system respond to increased winter demand.
Partners are working to improve the way people move through hospital and community services, strengthen discharge pathways and make the best use of community services, urgent treatment centres and virtual care. Partnership arrangements and escalation processes will also support a coordinated response when pressures increase.
A shared effort across health and care
Our winter plan depends on organisations working together. NHS organisations, local authorities, primary care, voluntary and community organisations and other partners all have a part to play in helping people stay well, access appropriate care and supporting services when they come under pressure.
The ICBs' role as strategic commissioners is to set direction, bring partners together and provide stakeholder assurance, while NHS providers and other partners lead much of the operational delivery and local communication. That distinction is already built into your communications framework.
Information and resources for partners
Winter health advice for local people
We have a range of information to help you and your family stay well this winter, prepare for colder weather and know where to get help if you need it.