Our Five Year Strategic Plan

NHS Cambridgeshire, which buys all the health services for the people of Cambridgeshire completed the huge task of asking the people of Cambridgeshire from 2 March to 29 May 2009 how it should spend NHS services over the next five years. Here we outline the results from this consultation and update you on what's happening now and in the future.

We shall be looking to gain your views on the latest developments of the strategic plan in the autumn of 2010.  

We spoke to many groups such as local residents, GPs, Councillors, care providers, voluntary groups and the Cambridgeshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) which provides a voice for people in the community to speak about NHS services.

Thank you to everyone who took part in what has been one of our largest surveys to date.

The results of this consultation was presented to the Board in late autumn for review. You can read the full Strategic Plan Consultation report below iin the related download section including a wide range of feedback on the proposals.

Due to the economic downturn, we are now reviewing the strategic plan once more and shall continue to do so as part of our five year plan. Here we also explain how we are reviewing our strategic plan taking your views into account whilst managing our financial constraints.

A summary of the findings and recommendations from the consultation – Our plan for your health – have we got it right?:

The outcomes of the public consultation are set out in full in Appendix 1, (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Consultation Report), dated 1st October 2009. Supplementary papers are also attached as annexes to this report.

In summary, the outcomes of the recent public consultation comprise:

• The questionnaires, telephone survey, focus groups and letters from public and stakeholders indicated a strong and positive response to additional funding in all four priority areas.

• Public perceptions showed that people are willing to support our five year vision and take more responsibility for their health and staying healthy

• There was overall consensus that people should keep themselves healthy and be responsible for their own health.

• Self inflicted injuries or illness were considered to be less of a priority such as obesity, smoking and drinking.

• Results showed that respondents who do want advice around staying healthy want to receive more information and leaflets on health and healthy living.

• The findings showed that there is strong support for our approach to how we spend our money over the next five years.

• Mental health was shown to be the key theme throughout the findings for additional support outside of the four priorities. Followed by more doctors, nurses and trained ward staff, more help for the elderly and more cancer screening and oncology.

3. Recommendations

The Board is requested to:

3.1 Move forward with our approach to spending money wisely, looking at different ways of spending resources, moving services closer to home and additional funding in the four priority areas;

3.2 Note the wide range of service issues identified as a result of the public consultation and comment, where appropriate. The outcomes of this public consultation will be examined and taken into account as part of the review of our strategic plan;

3.3 Continue to actively promote health and healthy living through more information and leaflets to the public;

3.4 Review in more detail the findings from the District Councils, local events and the focus groups to incorporate key recommendations for improving services within the initiatives that fall under the four priority areas.

The next phase of the Strategic Plan

Due to the economic downturn, we are now reviewing the strategic plan once more and shall continue to do so as part of our five year plan whilst taking your views into account.

The refreshed strategy follows an extensive consultation earlier this year and a review of the finances facing the public sector in the coming years.

The Board who is considering the proposals on December 16 will look at the four priorities that were well supported by you the public and consider how best to deliver them within more limited resources.

They are:

• Promoting health and preventing disease
• Older people’s health and care
• Safe, sustainable and affordable health services
• Patient experience and customer care

The public supported the principle of moving care closer to home, when clinically appropriate. This might mean having minor surgery in a local GP practice or using an urgent care centre rather than travelling to Accident & Emergency. The consultation also showed us the concern that people have for mental health and we will be looking at this area as part of a review of our plans.

Increased use of all services, particularly secondary care in the acute hospitals over the last few years is putting enormous pressure on NHS Cambridgeshire’s budget now and in future years.

There has been an increase of 3.5% extra admissions in secondary care since last year, together with other cost pressures, NHS Cambridgeshire predicts that unless changes are made there will be a financial gap of almost £100m by 2013/14.

The updated Strategy looks at how NHS Cambridgeshire plans to meet these challenges while still providing good, quality care for all the people of Cambridgeshire.

Key areas that are being considered are:

• A new model of commissioning (buying) services, working more closely with groups of GPs, and closer to patients
• Working with providers to offer the best mix of services to offer care closer to home
• A major programme to transform services for people with long term health conditions and to prevent unnecessary use of secondary care
• Maintaining our commitment to the key priorities agreed last year and supported by the public.

Chris Banks, Chief Executive of NHS Cambridgeshire, said:

“If we are to tackle the financial challenges ahead, it is vital that we start now. We have a good health system in Cambridgeshire, but it could work better and we need the support of patients and clinicians to make sure it does.”

Dr Dennis Cox, Cambridge GP and Chair of NHS Cambridgeshire’s Professional Executive Committee (made up of clinicians), said:

“We need to look at the way we provide services in a way that means that patients get good quality of care in a more efficient way. GPs and primary care are often people’s first port of call when they are worried or feel unwell. We want to make sure that primary care supports patients as much as possible.”

We shall be looking to gain your views on the latest developments of the strategic plan in the autumn of 2010.  

More information

If you would like more information or to feedback your comments around the areas for review, please contact
yourviews@cambridgeshire.nhs.uk.

A copy of the full Strategic Plan Review is available to download from this page in Related downloads or you can call for a copy on 0800 279 2535 or 01223 725588 reference Strategic Plan Review.