Stockport Together Update

17th October 2016

Tim Ryley, programme director for Stockport Together, gave a short update on the progress of activity for last week. This is summarised below.

·        Last week saw a primary care event take place in GM to launch the Primary Care strategy. During the event Jon Rouse, Chief Officer of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, talked about the importance of primary care and placed a real emphasis on the breadth of primary care. Tim Ryley and Dr Viren Mehta presented Stockport’s approach to health and care integration, and feedback following the session was really encouraging, with many commenting on the scale of the changes we’re making, and the system-wide programme of work being carried out.

·        Money will begin to flow through the system soon as decisions have been made by leaders and agreements have been reached regarding moving money finances.

·        A lot of changes are being to happen now as we move into the implementation phase. It may feel a bit difficult as we consider how timescales may start to slip as we work through the logistics of the changes.

It’s important to remember that whilst it may feel a bit difficult, there is still absolute commitment to making this programme of work a success.

·        In addition to the time pressures, it is important to consider that the wider environment in which we’re working can make things more challenging. For example, we need to be aware that A&E at the Trust continues to be under the national spotlight regarding performance, with leaders needing to submit daily accounts to national teams, which is diverting energy and resource.

Issues such as these can have the effect of dividing staff, and as we’re at a period where it is important that teams pull together, the people working in the programmes need to be mindful and focus on relationships.

·        We are aware of the difficulties and conflicts between transformation activity and business as usual. It is acknowledged that there is a need to clarify the governance structure and to recognise how we can support each other rather than work in silos – or even with conflicting priorities.