An alliance created between Croydon Council staff, Age UK Croydon and the local NHS so over-65s need less time in hospital has been renewed for another nine years today (Thursday).
The One Croydon alliance focuses on giving residents with chronic conditions more joined-up support to improve their independence and quality of life. So far 62% fewer patients have needed care packages six weeks after hospital discharge and around 450 residents spent less time in hospital, or none at all.
Now the alliance – Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Croydon Council, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon GP Collaborative, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Age UK Croydon – has signed a contract extension to have a wider remit, meaning eventually it will include further integration of services for people of all ages and disabilities in the borough.
The work ranges from A&E care assessments and support at residents’ homes to GP surgeries, where professionals involved in a person’s care can confidentially discuss their weekly joint treatment plan.
Andrew Eyres, NHS Croydon CCG’s accountable officer, said: “Over the last year our One Croydon partnership has made a real difference to the lives of local people. By working more closely together we are seeing improvements in the care and support we provide for people’s physical and mental health. We are looking forward to strengthening these new ways of working as one team, across organisational boundaries, to focus on people’s overall well-being and to help and support them to stay as well as they can be.”
Jo Negrini, Croydon Council’s chief executive, said: “This unprecedented level of joint working between council staff, the NHS and other alliance partners has meant better health and social care outcomes for residents who might otherwise have continued to dip in and out of hospital. I look forward to continuing this very encouraging start with the rest of the alliance.”
John Goulston, chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said: “As our population grows older, health and care services need to work hand-in-hand to try and prevent ill-health and give people greater control over when and where they receive treatment. For our staff, this means breaking down organisational barriers that can allow our care to become fragmented. For Croydon citizens, this means more coordinated care and support.”
Dr John Chan, Chair of Croydon GP Collaborative, said: “One Croydon integrates health and social care to make the system work better for people and professionals alike. The alliance enables us to find innovative ways for care with an emphasis on prevention and keeping healthy through the involvement of communities.”
Dr Matthew Patrick, Chief Executive, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know that people’s health is better when organisations work together. This means addressing people’s immediate health needs and providing mental and physical healthcare together with social care in a joined-up way. I look forward to seeing the One Croydon alliance support more people across the borough, helping them to stay out of hospital and take good care of their mind and body.”
Kate Pierpoint, Chief Executive of Age UK Croydon, said: “This signing of the 10-year agreement demonstrates the commitment from all the partners to make long-term change. This will set the tone for the future of the whole health and social care sector across Croydon. This will also help us to put collaboration and integration on the top of our agenda for how we develop and improve our services.”
ENDS
Picture caption: [Left to right] John Goulston, chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust; Guy Van Dichele, interim director of adults and all-age disability at Croydon Council; Kate Pierpoint, chief executive at Age UK Croydon; Dr Matthew Patrick, chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Andrew Eyres, accountable officer at Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group; and Dr John Chan, chair of the Croydon GP Collaborative.
