Work is ongoing to return North Lanarkshire’s health and social care services to the levels seen before the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members of the North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board heard of the continued work around the remobilisation plan which is currently focused on the period up to March 2022.
The complex nature of health and social care means a range of significant and immediate pressures must be balanced. Following engagement with the Scottish Government the remobilisation plan has seen progress on:
- Delivering essential services
- Redesigning urgent care
- The key role of primary and community-based care
- A whole system approach to mental health and wellbeing
- Planned care and clinical prioritisation
- Patient experience
- Addressing inequalities and embedding innovation
- A sustainable workforce
Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire is well placed to meet these challenging areas due to how staff quickly responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and established new ways of working.
This is in addition to the existing commitment to help people live longer, more independent lives in their own homes. Staff have refined the principle of first point of contact, which involves holding positive conversations with people and their families, to safeguard the commitment to enabling and empowering people.
Over the last 12 months, significant remote service delivery, through the use of phone and Near Me video consultations, has minimised footfall to health and care centres. This has enabled face-to-face consultations for patients and service users with the most urgent need.
The benefits of video conferencing technology has been felt by service users and staff across Lanarkshire who have saved a potential 2.4 million travel miles in the last year – the equivalent to circling planet Earth almost 100 times. This astounding milestone has been driven by one clear objective: to keep people safe.
A truly joined up whole system approach has also further increased the resilience of community-based health and social care services including statutory services, independent providers, and the independent and voluntary sectors. This has been made possible through the redeployment of staff, increasing existing staff capacity and the flexibility and dedication of volunteers.
Dr Avril Osborne, North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board chair, said: “The health and social care recovery process, by necessity, is a gradual process. It’s important that people are aware of this and why it will take time to return to normal as we adapt to the disruption caused by Covid-19.
“The pandemic is still with us, however we are now seeing increasing grounds for optimism all around us. To move to a more ‘business as usual’ approach, we are taking a longer term view and firmly grasping this opportunity to further improve services for the people of North Lanarkshire. As part of this work, we have undertaken 53 service reviews to identify key priorities for 2021-22.
“Many of the initiatives and transformations which are being developed and embedded now will play a key role in helping us shape future health and care services. This whole system approach is vital to ensure we deliver the services the people of North Lanarkshire need while providing extra clarity for partners and stakeholders.
“Throughout the pandemic health and social care staff have been exceptional. They have had to very quickly totally change the ways they work while also ensuring service users have been safe and their needs met.
“I have nothing but admiration for the way our staff has shown outstanding commitment, resilience and bravery throughout the pandemic. Their dedication to provide safe services for the people of North Lanarkshire has been wonderful.
“On top of this work, not only have they continued to deliver essential services but they have also shown a superb work ethic and played key roles in planning the way ahead so we meet our short, medium and longer-term priorities. This is also mirrored by many of our stakeholders, carers and voluntary and independent sector staff and volunteers.
“While it will take time, we are continuing to make good progress with this remobilisation work. It’s important that people realise the while services may have changed due to the pandemic, staff have still been working incredibly hard, often in ways that are very different for them.
“We also approved the updated delivery plan for the Strategic Commissioning Plan Programme as part of the remobilisation process, which will see our key strategic developments continue to roll out across North Lanarkshire.”
Councillor Paul Kelly, North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board depute chair, said: “We are determined to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.
“We are making strong progress which has resulted in services being brought back or modified so that we can bring them back soon.
“This would not have been possible without the inspiring work of our staff who have led by example throughout. They have faced many challenges and a huge shift in how they work, however they have responded impeccably and have always put our services users first. Their resilience has been truly impressive and shows their dedication to the people of North Lanarkshire.
“I have every confidence that we will achieve our goals – and those of the people of North Lanarkshire – through sustained engagement with leaders, operational managers, frontline staff, people with lived experience, carers, and our voluntary and independent sector partners.
“As a result, engagement and participation continues to be a priority with time taken to ensure staff within the partnership, key partners and a wide range of stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to the refresh of the Programme of Work.
“To support this, we are putting in place a robust programme management structure to ensure that each of the many initiatives and transformations being developed is fully defined. It is essential that there is clarity on the changes, the benefits each will deliver and how this will positively contribute to reshaping the future of health and care services for the people of North Lanarkshire.”
