I’m a member of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) council of governors. I’m nominated by Trafford Council. Their briefings for governors are always interesting.

The main item last week was the trust’s review of its five year strategy: Where excellence meets compassion

I don’t like the title of it, but I do like the content. MFT is held in high regard within the NHS and its easy to see why. MFT’s strategy anticipates much that is in the brand new FIT FOR THE FUTURE – 10 Year Health Plan for England, published in the summer by Wes Streeting. That 10 year national plan for England allows the trust to accelerate and get ready for the changes in NHS structure that are so badly needed.

Neighbourhood Health Service

Too often, using the NHS means navigating a complex web of services;  being forced to constantly repeat yourself to professionals who have not talked to each other, or had proper access to your medical records.

Hospitals have become distanced from many local communities – embedding a model where ‘you come to care’, rather than one where ‘care comes to you’.

The neighbourhood health service is Labour’s alternative. It will bring care into local communities; convene professionals into patient-centred teams; end fragmentation and abolish the NHS default of ‘one size fits all’ care.

The neighbourhood health service is a very exciting concept. It brings accountability for whole neighbourhoods rather than just the patients admitted via urgent care or GP referral.

We saw during the pandemic shocking disparities of health provision within Trafford. Accountability for our more deprived neighbourhoods was non-existent.

I sense that MFT medical staff are really keen to take this forward. They know for example that offering hospital support to patients remaining at home provides better outcomes at lower cost.

Apps are becoming mainstream. Wes Streeting sees the NHS app allowing patients to see who is involved in their care, to communicate with professionals directly, draft and view their
care plans, book and hold appointments and leave feedback. For many people, this will mean they can access all they need from their neighbourhood team. This will include both booking and holding appointments with health professionals through their phone.

MFT are already well advanced in using the MyMFT App. Being ‘off the shelf’ will be advantage in that it is a platform used by so many health providers.

Nevertheless, delivering the NHS app functionality will be a substantial piece of work for all trusts so it’s right that the work begins.

There are many organisational changes incumbent on bringing in a new operating model. We’ll have to keep a close eye on how these develop. The key thing for me that it makes equality of outcome a genuine focus rather than a platitude.