[C]o-production around maternity and paediatric services is starting to take shape in West, North and East Cumbria.
Drop in sessions were held in Workington on 16 May with the aim of identifying the areas that the community and NHS can work together. The Working Together Steering Group will meet on Thursday 22 June in Whitehaven, and is open to all.
The listening events in May were open to everyone and gave the opportunity for people to discuss maternity and paediatric services, and to help shape how co-production could work.
This approach was agreed by members of NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Governing Body in March, when they considered decisions about the Healthcare For The Future consultation.
Throughout the sessions feedback was gathered, and this has now been compiled and is available to the public through the link at the bottom of this story.
Dr David Rogers, Medical Director of NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The listening events are the first of many activities being delivered to enable everyone to gain an understanding of the current issues around maternity and paediatric services, and to share their ideas to help resolve them.
“It’s about working together more collaboratively, and we encourage anybody who would like to get involved and share their ideas to come along to future events.”
A few of the comments fed back at the events included:
Regarding how recruitment can be improved: “Make the area a friendlier environment for people to come in – need to make things as welcoming as possible.” “Change what we say. Instead of saying: if we cannot recruit in 12 months, we will not provide a CLU – better to say “Yes we will provide a CLU – let’s start recruitment” (like Barrow). Public will support this.”
On paediatric services: “[It is a] challenge if you have a child in hospital and other children at home.”
Issued: Wednesday, 14 June 2017 Embargo: Immediate
On antenatal and postnatal care and children’s services closer to home: “Baby Clinics: need to be local; need to be more flexible, not just 2 hours on one day; suggest alternate mornings and afternoons.”
On how a successful alongside midwife-led unit would look and feel: “Comfortable, privacy, partner and mother both there.”
On how it will feel different ‘working together’ to plan services / what needs to be in place: “Staff are part of the community – delivering of service – so need to be part of co-production process.”
On how everyone could help shape other NHS services: “Need to have our voices respected.”
Archdeacon of West Cumberland, the Venerable Richard Pratt, will chair the Working Together Steering Group to identify areas the community and NHS can work together. The first meeting will take place on 22 June 2017, 6.00 to 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church Meeting Room, The Market Place, James Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7HZ.
The next meeting of the Working Together Steering Group will be on Wednesday 13 July, 6.00 to 7.30pm.
All of the feedback from the listening event can be found online at the following address: http://www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/engagement/co-production.aspx
