Bradford: CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together

The Care Quality Commission has published its findings following a local system review of Bradford. This report is one of 20 targeted reviews of local authority areas looking specifically at how people move through the health and social care system, with a focus on how services work together.

The reviews look at how hospitals, community health services, GP practices, care homes and homecare agencies work together to provide seamless care for older people living in a local area.

The report finds that there was a clear shared and agreed purpose, vision and strategy described in the Happy, Healthy at Home plan which had been developed by the organisations that make up the local system in Bradford. This was articulated throughout all levels of the system. CQC found that most staff were committed to the vision - whether working in adult social care, primary and secondary care sectors, or in the voluntary sector.

The different agencies were working together in an effort to keep older people safe at home rather than hospital, where possible, and help them move between services when that was necessary.

Some frontline staff found that the sharing of information was still an occasional barrier, although inspectors found that some of the information sharing processes were well developed. There were clear advantages where GPs and one of the acute NHS hospital trust had a shared IT system.

However, access to GPs and district nurses was variable, especially out of hours. Homecare agencies reported that in some areas people had to rely on the emergency services because they could not get a GP or district nurse to attend in person.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of Primary Care Services, said:

“It is encouraging to report that we have seen many positive aspects to the Bradford strategic plan. It is clear that all the main agencies have bought in to the partnership, with some positive results to show for it.

“We found some good joined up interagency processes, particularly the Bradford Enablement Support Team and the multi-agency integrated discharge team. The medicines service at home service is another example of innovative practice. Partnership working is an essential component of these initiatives.

“The public health team was focused on promoting the health and independence of people so that they can remain at home. They were maximising opportunities around housing, recognising that people have very different needs and so looking at ways to meet these.

“There are areas that the local system knows it must now focus on to improve further. But a lot of work has gone in to forming and developing relationship which is already producing better outcomes. Bradford has made a very good start.”

Ends

For further information, please contact David Fryer, Regional Communications Manager - North, on 07754 438750.

Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here.

Please note: the press office is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.