News from Cumbria Action for Health

The latest news from Jozi Brown, Senior Engagement Officer at Cumbria CVS

Cumbria Action for Health Network ‘Art, Culture, Health and Care’ November 2014
Conference notes now online
https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/giving-you-a-voice/cumbria-action-for-health/

Cumbria Action for Health Network meeting
10 March 2015
CREA, Penrith
1pm to 4.30pm (refreshments available from 12.45pm)
Please let me know via email jozib@cumbriacvs.org.uk if you’d like to attend (by the 3 March 2015)

In addition to the agenda items below, Paul Musgrave (Public Health Team, Cumbria CC) will be attending to give us an update on the changes/retendering of the Drug and Alcohol Services contract.

• Peter Woodhouse (County Manager for Adult Social Care Commissioning, Cumbria County Council) Market position statement in relation to a range of social care services
• Mark Barrett (Armed Forces Engagement Officer, The Veterans Council) Support for military veterans in Cumbria and the AFCOM (Armed Forces Community) Directory
• John Howarth (Director of Service Improvement, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) Developing Primary Care Communities

Please note that this is a meeting (rather than a full day conference) so we won’t be providing lunch but we will provide an ample supply of tea, coffee and biscuits.

What makes Cumbria Healthy?
Public Health Annual Report 2014
Web link: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/6181/42016122644.pdf

The Better Care Together strategy 2015 the future for health and care services in Morecambe Bay (now available online)
Better Care Together is a review of NHS services in North Lancashire and South Cumbria that has been happening over the last two years. The review has been an opportunity to make sure the best possible health services are provided across North Lancashire and South Cumbria, which meet the needs of residents, now and well into the future.

The strategy that has been put together as a result of the review is now available online.

Key proposals in the strategy:
• There shouldn’t be any major surprises within the Strategy which has been developed following an extensive engagement programme in which many of you will have taken part. In response to patient, public, stakeholder and staff engagement we have been very clear that:
• The focus over the next two years is going to be on improving out of hospital services;
• There are no plans to close or privatise any of the local hospitals;
• It is their intention to retain A&E and consultant led maternity at Furness General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary together with the Primary Care Assessment Service (PCAS) and a midwifery-led maternity service at the Westmorland General Hospital;
• They believe that a consolidation of surgical services onto fewer sites will drive up standards and quality of care for patients, as well as reducing costs.

It is important to emphasise that they will review the Strategy in the light of recommendations expected imminently from the Morecambe Bay Investigation and a review of Maternity services in Cumbria and North Lancashire which has been led by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Web link: http://bettercaretogether.co.uk/files/BCT-Vision-FINAL_for_Publication.pdf

Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study
A few recently added reports are available on their website that you might be interested in:
• The latest report in the longitudinal study of trends in the Third Sector, looking at what’s changed between 2008-2014. This report is the headlines for the NE and Cumbria – we’re hoping to get together the funding for Tony to take a more detailed look at the data for Cumbria.
• A report on the willingness of third sector organisations to borrow money.

Web link: http://www.nr-foundation.org.uk/third-sector-trends.php

Jozi Brown
Senior Engagement Officer
Cumbria CVS
Tel: 01768 800350
jozib@cumbriacvs.org.uk