On Friday we launched Operation FLOW – a major new programme to reduce the current health service pressures in Lanarkshire.
Focused
Lanarkshire
Optimal
Whole System
This is a fantastic opportunity that will bring the whole health and care system in Lanarkshire together in a concentrated and coordinated effort to stabilise and decompress our services, delivering benefits for both patients and staff. It is about taking the best practice approaches and methodologies that we already know work, and bundling them in a way that achieves the greatest impact.
The success of this initiative depends on all of us. We are encouraging all staff to get actively involved during Operation FLOW and will let you know how to do so as we countdown through the weeks.
Recently, NHS Lanarkshire and health services across the country have faced enormous challenge. Operation FLOW provides the opportunity for us to reset our system.
There are three stages of this work:
- Stage 1 – Preparation and Improvement (week-by-week countdown)
- Stage 2 – Firebreak (Thursday 23 February to Friday 3 March)
- Stage 3 – New System Approach
Stage 1 – Preparation and Improvement
Over the next few weeks we are undertaking a comprehensive programme of work to begin our improvement journey and design a refreshed care and flow system for Lanarkshire. During this stage we will communicate a week-by-week countdown describing the greatest areas of focus each week, what we all need to do and opportunities to be involved. Service improvement and recovery plans that are current being enacted as part of the winter plan and the escalated measures agreed before Christmas will also continue at this time.
Stage 2 – Firebreak
This is a nine-day period, labelled a “firebreak”, from Thursday 23 February to Friday 3 March 2023. During this time all parts of our health and care system will work together in a co-ordinated manner to focus on a system reset. The firebreak’s goal is to stabilise our system – benefiting patient care and releasing the time and energy we need to make sustainable improvements for patients and staff. This includes a reduction in hospital occupancy levels which in turn will enable us to focus on providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Stage 3 – New System Approach
Following the firebreak, we will carry out further actions to maintain an improved position across the whole health and care system through Operation FLOW. While the initial improvement work of Operation FLOW will run until early spring, our aim is to establish a new system approach that has long-term benefits. It will include a new approach to escalation to establish earlier triggers that sustain the improvements we achieve.
Right now, we are working with our acute hospital site and health and social care partnership locality teams to plan the detailed actions needed to deliver the firebreak. Many of you will already be involved in this work and we will ensure all staff are kept updated as we proceed with Operation FLOW and further details are confirmed. Please take the opportunity to make yourself actively aware of local plans as they develop, and discuss in your own teams how you can become more involved.
Hugely impressive work has taken place in recent weeks and months to keep our services running. It is important to note again the incredible commitment and work by our teams every day and especially over recent weeks when things have been so difficult.
Operation FLOW is a huge opportunity to reset our system if we can all pull together, so please consider now and in the coming weeks – ‘How can I personally get involved in Operation FLOW and help?”
The NHS Lanarkshire website will include weekly updates on progress. It also includes a Q&A section that we will add to during Operation FLOW in addition to regular email updates to staff. We will also let you know next week how to contact the project team with questions and to get involved.
Thank you to all our staff and GPs for your continued efforts. We have an outstanding team in Lanarkshire. Let’s work together to reset our system to make this a better place to work and provide care.
For more information visit: www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/OperationFLOW
