NHS Live
A pioneering programme to improve the quality of the NHS experience by developing tailor-made personal health care for patients has been launched.
NHS Live is a year-long national project that puts into practice the vision of a personalised health service for everyone as set out in The NHS Improvement Plan.
More than 300 NHS and social care organisations are taking part in the initiative which includes hundreds of local projects around the country.
Each involves patients directly in finding new and exciting ways of redesigning services to meet their needs, as well as joint learning opportunities between the NHS and private sector.
A flagship event to launch NHS Live, which culminated in the NHS Health and Social Care Awards, was held on 7 July. Among those attending were prime minister Tony Blair and health secretary John Reid.
Mr Blair asked to address the conference and meet the awards' finalists to thank them for the tremendous work they had done and were doing to modernise the NHS.
As well as the awards, the day also featured:
- a range of masterclasses, including a dedicated emergency care session
- a conference addressed by NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp, Institute for Healthcare Improvement chief executive Don Berwick and European Athletics Coaches Association president Frank Dick
Sir Nigel said that something very special was happening in the NHS.
"I sense some real optimism, real pride at what is being achieved and real ambition to turn the words of The NHS Plan into action."
More information about the NHS Live programme, including ongoing projects, events and FAQs is available below.
A report on the NHS Live event, which took place at the ExCeL arena in London's docklands is available below.
NHS Live: emergency care masterclass
Entering on an ambulance trolley to flashing sirens, national director for emergency access Professor Sir George Alberti hosted the emergency care masterclass.
Together with NHS Modernisation Agency director for patient experience in emergency care Jonathan Asbridge and London Ambulance Service emergency care practitioner and state registered paramedic Lysa Walder, he delivered a class on providing an integrated emergency care into the future.
Professor Alberti provided an overview of an integrated system, based on strong networks and partnerships, where employees are empowered to deliver patient centred care. Jonathan Asbridge re-emphasised the importance of improving the patient experience, providing practical examples of how this could be achieved.
Finally, Lysa Walder spoke first hand of how the new role of emergency care practitioners are helping to deliver this service.
The masterclass concluded with an open panel discussion, providing an opportunity to discuss issues and ideas about moving emergency care into the future.
Issues raised included breaches of the four-hour target, mental health, NHS Direct involvement in emergency care and the role of social services.
First responders strike gold
A team which uses the skills of paramedics to improve emergency care for patients in rural Shropshire took top billing at the NHS Health and Social Care Awards.
Professor Sir George Alberti led the congratulations as the Shropshire Ambulance First Emergency Responders (SAFER) team picked up the emergency care award.
The SAFER scheme, a community responder initiative, was first introduced in 2001 to improve emergency ambulance care to patients in outlying rural communities.
SAFER comprises emergency medical responders and community first responders. Emergency medical responders are full-time paramedics. Community first responders are local residents ranging from postal workers, shop assistants to business people who volunteer their time to respond to incidents within their local community.
SAFER currently has 32 community first responders volunteer groups operating in Shropshire with 200 members of the public trained by the ambulance service to national 'first person on-scene' qualification.
They are managed by nine emergency medical responders based in market towns throughout Shropshire and South Staffordshire.
Members of the SAFER scheme have treated more than 10,000 patients since the scheme was first introduced, delivering rapid medical treatment to patients.
SAFER community responder co-ordinator Rob Jordan, speaking of the award, said: "Through training volunteers in basic life support skills, we are making a real difference every day to the lives of local people. Thank you so much to the entire team for all your work."
Judges described SAFER as "truly a solution to the challenge of delivering emergency care rapidly in a dispersed rural environment, with strong community involvement."
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