Your commitment and effort are crucial as we strive to improve our services and deliver the best possible care to the people we serve.
As an organisation, we are committed to enhancing our services and making NHS Lanarkshire a better place to work. We understand that change can be challenging, and I want to express my deep appreciation for your willingness to join us on this journey.
Over the past 12 months, we have been working diligently to create the conditions necessary for sustainable change. We have seen many examples of innovation and commitment along the way as we work to transform and reform our system.
Looking ahead, here’s what success will look like:
- Lower occupancy rates in our hospitals
- Fewer patients boarding in non-appropriate areas
- Improved patient experiences and outcomes
- A more satisfying work environment for our staff.
For our staff, this means you will be better equipped to do your job, ensuring the right patients are in the right place at the right time, within an environment that is more rewarding to work in.
Achieving this will require commitment from every member of our team. I encourage you to take the time to review the updates, discuss new pathways and technologies with your teams, and actively participate in making these improvements.
If you have any suggestions that you believe could make a difference, please share them with us.
Our objective is to unite Team Lanarkshire to make these changes a reality. Together, we can make it happen. #Team Lanarkshire
The next stage of our improvement journey is a new Operation FLOW firebreak to accelerate our transformation efforts and achieve lasting improvements in patient care and acute hospital flow.
Firebreak ’24: Sustainable Change, Safer Care will take place from 16 – 25 September 2024.
It marks another significant step on our journey to work collaboratively across the whole health and care system in Lanarkshire improve flow and deliver benefits for both patients and staff.
We know more is required to make the sustainable improvements we need to deliver the best care we can.
I am asking for you to show leadership at all levels and take the opportunity of Firebreak ’24 to give us a solid platform from which to build before the busy winter period.
This briefing sets out our initial plans for Firebreak ’24. We will keep you updated as these develop and with more details on each of the actions planned.
Please get involved: read this briefing; discuss in your teams; make sure you know what you can do to help; and let us know your ideas and feedback. #Team Lanarkshire
Objectives
Reducing occupancy levels in our hospitals plays a crucial role in the safe and effective operation of our hospitals. Firebreak ’24 will be focused on significantly reducing occupancy levels through:
- Managing Unscheduled Care Demand: Enhancing our response systems and pathways to better manage demand.
- Implementing the Front Door Target Operating Model (TOM): Streamlining patient admissions to improve initial care processes.
- Maximizing Flow Through Optimal Discharge Planning: Applying consistency across our patient discharge planning processes.
- Fostering Sustainable Changes for Improved Safety: Implementing long-term safety improvements.
- Launching Transformational Initiatives: Setting the stage for ongoing enhancements in our healthcare services.
Key Principles
Our actions during the Firebreak period will adhere to principles that ensure our efforts are both effective and sustainable:
- Simplicity and Sustainability: Implementing straightforward, lasting changes.
- Collective Leadership and Accountability: Shared leadership at all levels to guide and support our initiatives.
- Focus on Launching New, Sustainable Workflows: Introducing practical and beneficial ways of working.
- Enhancing Staff Morale and Ease of Work: Making our work environment more efficient and supportive.
- Measurability of Impactful Changes: Ensuring changes lead to measurable improvements.
Proposed Actions and Leadership
To successfully implement these changes, we have outlined several key actions including:
- Call Before You Convey (FNC+Plus): Aiming to refine emergency response strategies.
- Direct Admission Pathway (Frailty): Focusing on streamlining admissions for frail patients.
- Optimal Discharge Planning Target Operating Model: A collaborative effort to enhance discharge processes.
- Communication and Engagement Plan: Ensuring we keep all staff, GPs and the public informed and engaged.
Feedback and Engagement
We highly value your feedback and encourage you to actively participate in shaping Firebreak ’24:
- Feedback Channels: Please use our dedicated email address operationFLOW@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk to share your thoughts, suggestions and questions
- Stay Engaged: Discuss in your teams and stay updated through our weekly internal communications.
- Find Out More: Visit our webpages to find out more about Operation FLOW: www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/OperationFLOW/
Together, we are not just addressing the challenges of today but building more resilient services for the future. Your dedication and commitment to this important initiative is crucial to the improvement of our system. #Team Lanarkshire
