At the end of 2018 we were selected by NHS England as one of four accelerator sites for Population Health Management, which is running from January to May 2019. Population Health Management involves understanding our communities better and designing person centred care to support people in living longer, healthier lives. We were selected for the accelerated programme based on data connectivity across systems, senior leadership buy in and resources being available to support a 20-week accelerator programme. This will see us strengthening our capabilities for Population Health Management beyond the 20 weeks.

Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria is encouraging local people to consider careers in adult social care in support of the national ‘Every day is different when you care’ campaign, launched this week by the Department for Health and Social Care.

A new five-year contract for general practice across England will see billions of extra investment for improved access to family doctors, expanded services at local practices and longer appointments for patients who need them.

Nearly half a million pounds is going to be spent in local communities across Lancashire and South Cumbria, tackling the factors which have the greatest impact on people’s health. The £471,000 investment from NHS England will be used to design better care around our communities’ needs, a priority described in the NHS Long Term Plan. 

New funding is being announced today for innovative community-based Lancashire and South Cumbria projects to help reduce the numbers of people taking their own lives.

General practices across Lancashire and South Cumbria are transforming the way they work to improve services for patients. They are joining together as groups of practices working with community service providers and other health and care organisations – a partnership known as primary care networks. 

Health leaders across Lancashire and South Cumbria have welcomed the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan. The plan outlines the priorities for the health service over the next decade. It describes how the NHS will make sure people get the best start in life, and how patients can expect world-class care for major health problems.

The eight Clinical Commissioning Groups across Lancashire and South Cumbria have all agreed that there is a need to review their clinical policies in order to: ensure a consistent and fair approach; update current policies in accordance with National Guidelines and best clinical practice and to make sure it is using its limited resources to maximum effect.

The Joint Committee of CCGs has been cancelled on Thursday 10th January as the agenda had been structured to focus around the NHS Long Term Plan which has not yet been published.

The Central Lancashire and North Lancashire DESMOND team has won the Team of the Year award in the Celebrating DESMOND Annual Awards Programme.   

In July 2018, students from schools in Lancashire and Cumbria took part in our Digital Healthy Schools event at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. As part of our celebrations of the 70th birthday of the NHS this year, we recorded their ideas about what the NHS might look like in 70 years' time. These have now been brought to life in a short animation.

£21 million of capital investment from Government for Lancashire and South Cumbria will see the development of an Integrated Acute Mental Health Hub and an upgrade to the emergency department and critical care at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We have really enjoyed getting out and about to offer local residents training and support to get online to manage their health and wellbeing through a series of drop in sessions in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Our digital tour stopped off at Chorley, Nelson, Morecambe, Blackpool, Blackburn, Preston and Barrow-in-Furness and we spoke to 487 people about all things digital.

A local doctor  concerned about a rise in respiratory illness in over 65's is calling on carers, friends and neighbours to take six simple steps to help keep older loved ones well over the winter period.

More than 150 General Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants from across Lancashire and south Cumbria have gathered in Preston this week for their annual conference and award ceremony.