Delivering joined up care for people in Barking and Dagenham
Services provided across GP practices, community and mental health teams, social care, the voluntary sector and hospitals can sometimes feel very disconnected, so when residents need to access various services, it can be frustrating and overwhelming.
The neighbourhood health programme is a national initiative with a simple ambition: to deliver care that is more joined up, more responsive, and centred around the needs of local communities, by bringing together the expertise of the NHS, local authorities, voluntary organisations and community groups. It also strongly focuses on prevention, helping people stay well for longer and reducing the need for hospital admission wherever possible.
Barking and Dagenham has recently been recognised as one of London’s leading examples of this neighbourhood-based working. The borough is divided into four ‘neighbourhoods’ - north, south, east, and west – with organisations working together and using population health data to understand the specific needs of residents within their neighbourhoods so they can be addressed. The aim is to also tackle health inequalities that exist across different communities.
In practice, this could mean, for example, a person living with diabetes, who’s also struggling with their mental health would traditionally have received support from multiple independent services, often having to navigate different services themselves. Through a neighbourhood health approach, these teams can coordinate their support, helping them access the care they need sooner, more easily, and in a way that works for them.
Chief Nurse Nic Kane said:
‘’Neighbourhood health teams represent a real opportunity to rethink how we support people to live healthier lives and keep them out of hospital.
‘’We are incredibly proud that the work taking place in Barking & Dagenham has been recognised as a leading example across London.
‘’While it’s very early days, the progress made so far shows what’s possible when organisations work together with a shared goal of improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.’’