A year since the launch of Calderdale Cares, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet will mark the progress which has been made in bringing together health and care services across the borough.
Closer partnerships between the Council, Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group, Calderdale and Huddersfield Hospital Trust and the community and voluntary sector are already having a significant impact in people’s lives.
The achievements of the last 12 months are outlined within a Cabinet report which will be discussed at the next meeting on Monday 18 March 2019.
These include a dramatic reduction in the number of patients whose discharge from hospital is delayed because appropriate care in the community is unavailable. Hospital readmission rates have also improved significantly.
In December 2018 Ofsted judged the Council’s Children’s Services to be good with outstanding features, which was a reflection of the hard work and commitment not just of Council officers but also of its partners across the health and care system.
And in a major independent survey published in February 2019, public service consultancy iMPOWER listed Calderdale Council as one of the top 10 councils in the country for adult social care.
The consultancy ranked 150 local authorities by examining performance using 25 indicators across three categories – older adults, all age disability, and health and social care.
Finally in December 2018, NHS England awarded £197m to improve hospital services in Calderdale and Greater Huddersfield, which will help to ensure people receive timely, high quality and safe planned and unplanned hospital care whenever it is needed.
Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Tim Swift said:
“Calderdale Cares is already delivering results, making real improvements to the lives of our residents by providing the services they need in the community in which they live.
“Our focus is on promoting active and healthy communities, to improve general health, provide support where it is needed and to reduce the demand for hospital and GP services.
“Over the next 12 months Calderdale Cares will have a major role in helping us to deliver some of our key early intervention and prevention work, such as our Anti-Poverty Action Plan and our Active Calderdale campaign.”
Calderdale Cares is one of the key mechanisms for delivering the Council’s Vision 2024, helping to create a more resilient community.
Calderdale Cares case study
Katy* was unable to work as she was experiencing anxiety and depression and visited her GP for a fit note for sickness.
The Department for Work and Pensions was holding a drop in session at her GP’s surgery. Katy talked to one of the Advisers and it became apparent that she had debts which she did not feel able to manage. This was adding to her feelings of anxiety.
An appointment was arranged for Katy at the Job Centre with one of the Personal Budgeting Support Advisers. This was followed by further meetings to help Katy get back on track with her finances and to explore opportunities for her to do voluntary work to build her confidence.
*not her real name
The Cabinet meeting will take place at 6pm on Monday 18 March 2019 at Halifax Town Hall.
To find out more about Vision2024 join the conversation by following #VisionCdale2024 on social media and visit www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision.