Information about coronavirus (COVID-19)

Bay Health and Care Partners

Bay Health and Care Partners (BHCP) Placed-Based Partnership (formally Integrated Care Partnership or ICP) brings together local NHS organisations, councils and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations. We will ensure the voices of our people living in Morecambe Bay are at the heart of decision making to ensure we build the right health, social care and public health services for the future.

BHCP is focused on integrating care and addressing health inequalities for people and communities across Morecambe Bay. Our partnership is also looking at how we can improve individual outcomes and quality of care by delivering services more sustainably through joint resources including staff, services and money. You can find out more about Place-Based Partnerships by clicking on the drop-down box below.

If you have any feedback or would like to find out more about BHCP you can contact our Communications and Engagement Team at BHCP.Communications@mbht.nhs.uk or you can get involved through the different channels mentioned in 'How can I get involved?'.

The following document sets out the Better Care Together Strategy for improving Health and Care in Morecambe Bay from 2019 to 2024.

This is our second Strategy under the Better Care Together approach, the first being produced five years ago in 2014.

Since the Strategy was published the following organisations have joined Bay Health and Care Partners: Lancaster CVS, Cumbria CVS, Barrow Borough Council, Lancaster City Council and South Lakeland District Council.

You can download a PDF copy of the BCT2 strategy here.

If you would like an 'easy read' version of this document please contact the BHCP Comms and Engagement Team at the following email address BHCP.Communications@mbht.nhs.uk

Bay Health and Care Partners is made up of a range of local health and social care services working together across North Lancashire, South Cumbria and Furness.

The Partners are:

Our partnership approach has already seen successes in:

You can read more about our work at the ‘Latest News’ section of the BHCP website by clicking here.

A Place-Based Partnership is a collaboration of planners and providers across health, local councils, the voluntary sector and the wider community who take collective responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of residents within a place.

There are five Place-Based Partnerships in Lancashire and South Cumbria and they cover the areas of Morecambe Bay, Fylde Coast, Pennine Lancashire, Central Lancashire and West Lancashire. As a whole, the five Place-Based Partnerships come together under an Integrated Care System called Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Health and Care Partnership. LSC Health and Care Partnership is a key commissioning partner for each health-based partnership working closely with GPs and Primary Care Networks in each area.

A place-based partnership is a collaboration of planners and providers across health, local authority and the wider community, who take collective responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of residents within a place, with a population of up to 500,000.

The core aims of Place-Based Partnerships are to:

• Improve the health and wellbeing of the population and reduce inequalities

• Provide consistent, high-quality services that remove unwarranted variation in services

• Consistently achieve national standards/targets across the sectors within the partnership

• Maximise the use of a place-based financial allocation and resources Staff in each of the partner organisations will play a vital role in achieving these core aims

This transition to a more collaborative style of working is supported by legislation that has recently been introduced to Parliament: Health and Care Bill 2021-22 - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk).

LSC Health and Care Partnership’s ambition is for all partners to be recognised equally for their contribution. This includes voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations being commissioned effectively for their services and for social care staff to be fully recognised for their value in providing care and support to vulnerable people.

Read about the development of integrated care in Lancashire and South Cumbria here.

Below is a glossary of integrated care language and includes some of the most recent changes. You can download a PDF version here.

Integrated Care System (ICS):

Refers to the health and care system across Lancashire and South Cumbria. There are 42 ICSs across the country. Within each ICS there is an Integrated Care Partnership and an Integrated Care Board.

Integrated Care Partnership:

A partnership of NHS, local authority, VCFSE and academic institutions working together on a joint health and care agenda to coordinate services and to plan in a way that will deliver improvements in population health and reduces inequalities between different groups. This is our partnership at system level called Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership. This term has now started to be used in the most recent national guidance. However this is different to how we have used this term previously. It was previously used to describe our five place-based partnerships.

NHS Integrated Care Board:

This is the new NHS organisation that will be established on 1 April 2022, subject to legislation. We expect this is likely to be known publicly as “NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria”, but this is subject to the legislation being agreed through Parliamentary processes.

Place-based partnerships:

Planners and providers working together across health, local authority and the wider community, to take collective responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of residents within a place. We have five place-based partnerships in Fylde Coast, Central Lancashire, Morecambe Bay, Pennine Lancashire and West Lancashire. It’s important to note that 'Integrated Care Partnership' is now being used to describe the partnership at Lancashire and South Cumbria level.

Neighbourhoods:

Based on local populations of between 30,000 and 50,000, neighbourhoods, in some instances, may align with Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Communities.
Primary Care Networks (PCNs): GP practices working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices.

Local people in Barrow take part in the town's first ever ParkPlay.jpg

Let’s Talk Morecambe Bay

We want to hear what you think about the transformations and changes we are making across Morecambe Bay. ‘Let’s Talk Morecambe Bay’ is our new online space to talk and listen to communities about the issues they face.

You can find out more about our latest conversations here.

You can sign up at the ‘Let’s Talk Morecambe Bay’ website here.

Bay Health and Care Partners Stakeholder Newsletter

We’d also love to keep you up-to-date on the collaborative work that is taking place in Morecambe Bay’s place-based partnership via our monthly stakeholder newsletter. You can sign up for the BHCP newsletter or send us any feedback on the newsletter by clicking here.

Send a message of support to our Bay Health and Care Partners colleagues

Around 120 people wrote messages of thanks to staff across our Partners for their work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. You can read some of the thank you messages below:

"Thank you so much for the service you have put in through the lockdown. Thank you." Annabelle.

"Thank you for all you have done and all you are doing to look after us. Thank you for the compassion and loyalty. We owe you all so much more than we have the words to thank you for. Wendy, Peter and Canine Partner. Carmen Hilling Xx."

"Thank you so much for all you have done throughout this pandemic. Please know how grateful we all are for your hard work and dedication (always) but particularly during this awful time. Thank you, thank you, xx." Christine.

"I would like to thank all the staff at the Lancaster NHS for what you people have sacrificed over this period of coronavirus. Thank you so much." Tom Angus.

"To all the RLI staff, thank you so much for all the hard work you have put in over the last year! You are all AMAZING and we appreciate everything you are doing to help the people of Lancaster." Emily R.

"Thank you for everything each and every one of you does to take care of the people in our area!"

Thank you everyone for the brilliant way you have helped us through this last very difficult year. God bless you all. Val Kilbridge and Sheila Christie

Thank you for all you have done and are doing to help us all. Thank you for being there. We really appreciate you all."

"Dear NHS Lancaster, we are blessed that we have such a national treasure. To each and every one of you a Big Thank You for your compassion and commitment during this pandemic xxx!”

"Thank you for working so tirelessly to care for our community and at such a difficult time. We are grateful for each and every one of the UHMBT staff and volunteers. Thank you for helping our loved ones find comfort. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to access treatment during this time, but I have not only received the care I need but also the warmest and friendliest smiles when I have visited the Outpatients clinic. Joanne Naylor.

“When we remained home for it was too dangerous to be out there, yet you were out saving our lives and you still remain in frontline. Vocabularies may fail to capture how grateful and how thankful we are. Thank you for being there for us. May God always refresh you as you refresh others.” Bernard Yulia & Jason.

“Thank you to all of the team NHS, in both primary and secondary care: the doctors and nurses, pharmacists, physios, radiographers, HCAs, admin staff, receptionists, caterers, cleaners and all those other roles so easily forgotten. Together you are all getting us through this crazy time and we are so grateful for all you have done and are doing = managing COVID on top of all the usual workload. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough.” Jo H.

“Thank you all so much for dedication and skill in nursing people out of sickness back to health and saving lives. God bless you all.” Bill Demet.

“Thank you for all the care, comfort and love you show to those who are unwell and suffering. Thank you for your courage and perseverance through the COVID crisis. May Jesus bless you abundantly with peace, hope, love, rest and wisdom.” Roy.

“Thank you, your tireless efforts and commitment are much appreciated. You are all such a blessing.” Lena.

“Thank you so much to all the hospital staff for all the amazing work you have been doing to save lives and keep everyone safe. Thank you for all the cleaning that has been done to keep everyone safe and all the maintenance to make sure that everything is working properly. Thank you to the doctors and nurses for all their care and hard work whilst working long shifts wearing PPE. We appreciate you all and thank god for you all and everything that you have done and continue to do.” Matt Parker.

“We can’t thank you enough for all your hard work over the last year. We want you to know how much we appreciate you and admire your commitment. Thank you.” Alisha Haxby.

“Hey NHS! Sending you a big, giant thank you for serving the sick in your job throughout this pandemic and beyond. It might have been very tough, tiring and worrying at times. You are awesome. Xxx.”

“Thank you for the amazing way you organised the vaccine roll out in the Morecambe Bay area. It was efficient, helpful, reassuring and caring. I had my vaccination late in the afternoon and you were all tired but kept going with smiles all around.” Grace Kennedy.

“For all my hard-working colleagues over the last year. Thank you.” Paul Henderson.

“Thank you for all your hard work x.” Sarah Stables.

“Thank you for everything you do, every day – not just during a pandemic – to provide Gold Standard Health Care.” Gillian x

“I wanted to say a massive THANK YOU for all your hard work over this last year! For the long shifts, the heartbreak, the faces marked with goggles, the endless PPE and the sheer grit and determination you have all shown in the face of true adversity. Thank you and may God Bless you richly. You are not forgotten. Xxxxxxxxxx.” Celia Cowlishaw

“Continue the great work fighting this pandemic, you are all doing an amazing job.” Jamie and the team.

“A huge thank you to all the incredible staff at the RLI. I would especially like to thank Dr Eaton (Consultant Paedatrician) who took such great care of our little girl Molly and also reassured Jonny and I as new parent whilst treating her. Huge thank you to all the staff in the women’s unit and children’s ward. Xxx.” Faye Sundell.

“Thank you, all the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for working continuously saving many lives and putting yourselves at risk through this pandemic. Bless you all and a huge thank you.”

“To everyone at the NHS, from the unseen jobs to those working in critical care. I thank you for all you’re doing to help and protect our nation. I have prayed for you all throughout, that you’ll have God, our mother’s help, strength and protection. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Anita.

“Thank you, NHS for all you have done during COVID: for treating my leg when my muscle snapped, for delivering my friend’s baby, for treating a friend of a friend who died of COVID and for treating my child. And for all you do and have done especially over the last year.” Sue Lancaster.

“You guys are doing such amazing work. The sacrifices you make every day do not go unnoticed. I hope and pray that when all of this is done you get the proper rest you need and deserve.” Skylar.

“Thanks, beyond measure or number for all that you do and have done.” Ken Johnston.

“Dear all who work for the NHS. Thank you for everything you do. For putting yourselves on the front line in order to keep the NHS a wonderful place. Thank you especially to the midwives and doctors who took care of me and my baby during my pregnancy and birth. We had such a positive experience and that was much due to how hard you all work and how much care you have for your patients.” Amy Parker.

“Thank all of you at the NHS for all the hard work you’re doing. You’re doing such an amazing job.”

“Thank you so much for the amazing work you do. Thank you also for always being so reassuring and helpful no matter what.” Wright Family.

“Thank you, NHS for all your hard work under the diverse pressures; conditions and adversity you have to endure. Xxx.” David Mart.

“We cannot thank you enough for the sacrificial, life-saving work you are doing. We can’t imagine how hard it has been and still is, but we are praying for you and we love you. Keep going, but look after yourselves first and foremost. You are our heroes, now and always! Lots of love xxx.”

“Thank you, NHS people! Thank you for months of persevering at the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 which puts such a huge strain on our entire country and the world. Thank you for going above and beyond in this pandemic. Thank you for taking care of so, so, so many of us! I want to encourage you to keep going. I think of your families which might be in a difficult situation right now. I think of you and pray that you may be strengthened, bless and encouraged.” Val.

“A huge thank you to all the incredible frontline workers. You are amazing.” Diane Clarke.

“Thank you so much to every single worker in the NHS. I would like to say a massive thank you to every person who looked after my family and when our little girl was born in July. Every person we met took such great care of us and I know there will have been many more behind the scenes that we didn’t meet.” Alex, Jacob and Eden.

“Thank you everyone at the RLI. You are the true superheroes. Thank you so much for your fantastic work. Words could never express how thankful we all are xxxx.” Sarah, Timothy, Ryan, Thomas and Luke Head.

“Thanks for the wonderful care you gave to mum on her last day and the way you were able to give her dignity even though you were putting yourselves at risk of COVID in treating her. You are outstanding examples of selflessness.” Charles and Jayne May xxxxxxxx.

“Thank you, NHS for your brilliant work and looking after me while I was poorly.” David Elliston

“You are one of the most BEAUTIFUL JUST institutions this world knows. You give care for all, for free. Thank you so very much.” Pastor Andrew Gardner.

“Heartfelt thanks for all your compassion and commitment during the most difficult times.” Tony and Joan Bell.

“Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. May the Lord bless you and your family xxx.” Barbara.

“Just wanted to say thank you for using your gifts to help people in need. You are all amazing and doing a great job. Keep going and stay safe.” Steve Ellershaw.

“There must be times when you feel you can’t carry on. You are overwhelmed and exhausted, especially at those times remember that at that moment no one can do exactly what you are doing. You will see lots of patients, so many that they may face into a mass but you will be remembered by the patient you help. Very best wishes and keep well.” Jean.

“I can’t say how thankful I am to the NHS for the many different ways they’ve helped my family and friends. The staff are amazing turning into work in hard circumstance. Thank you all.”

“Thank you everyone for everything you do not just over the past year and a bit but all the time. You’re amazing people. Amazing job.” Tammy Walkden

“Thank you from the Adams family.” Byron and Vicky Adams.

“You’ve all been fantastic whatever capacity you work in. GP’s, vaccination volunteers, carers, medical staff, paramedics etc. THANK YOU.” Carol and Mick Gardner.

“What an amazing commitment the local NHS has been during this time. Well done to everyone on the frontline, the support staff and everyone that has had to sacrifice for the welfare of others! God bless you all.” Josh Fox.

“Thanks so much for all you do! Your hard work is incredible. Second to none! Amazing!” Claire Maher.

“Thanks so very much for all you hard work! You have and are incredible!” Helen Vernon.

“Thank you, NHS.” Rob Bell.

“Thank you for all the hard work you are doing to try and look after people and that also includes NWAS.” Marie and Ken West.

“Thank you so much to every single member of staff who works for the NHS in Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham including those working in community teams. You are all amazing!” Becky Cronin.

“A huge thank you to Nicky C (Midwife RLI) for helping deliver my daughter safely. We are forever grateful. You were utterly amazing! Xx.” Hannah and Marnie McGill.

“To you the NHS. Thank you all so, so much for going that extra mile, putting us first for everything you do to help us get through whatever we have that makes us ill. Thank you for supporting the city. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Jim and Rachel Smylie.

“Thank you for working so hard to keep us safe!” Shannon, Kyle and Amy xxx

“Thank you so much for all that you do and have done.” Susan Dobson.

“You are all awesome. Thank you!!!!”

“Thank you for all you do, in very difficult times. All the nurses are professional, compassionate and caring at all times.” Sheila Croskell.

“Thank you, thank you.” David Leslie

“Thank you for all that you do.”

“Thank you for persevering through thick and thin, for changing your world around to make keeping safe possible, you are truly amazing kind and loving people! Thank you for caring, for sacrificing much and for the hope you give us. Bless you.” Amanda Topps.

“Thank you for all the truly amazing work you all do. You are super xx.” Sandra Murphy.

“We would not be where we are today without your dedication and commitment. From the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU xx.”

“Thanks for everything you do in these bad times.” Natalie.

“Thank you to everybody at the RLI & the ambulance service who looked after my son when he was admitted with COVID. He said everybody was so helpful and cheerful. It made a lot of difference to him to be treated so well. Thank you everybody, you are all wonderful. Pat Jackson (on behalf of Matt Jackson).”

“Thank you for all you do.” Elise and Ken.

“Thanks for all your help and hard work you should all be proud of yourselves.” Wayne Bonnick.

“Just like to say thank you so much for all the hard work.” Linda Stewart.

“Thank you, NHS.” Peter Jepson.

“Thank you, NHS. I spent a short time in hospital last month and everyone made me feel so comfortable. Incredible people. God bless you all.” Olita Howard.

“To all the dedicated and hard-working staff in EVERY department of Lancaster NHS, from doctors to nurses to admin and finance to housekeeping and pot wash. THANK YOU for all you do in your part of caring for us!” Graih.

Last updated (17 May 2021).

Last updated 3 December 2021.