Nothampton – A vision for Urgent Care

Overview Set a strategic service vision which seek to maximise the potential for primary care to do more to keep people healthy in the community, meaning they need hospital care less often. Link to wider health, social care, economic and demographic changes including the Acute Services Review, population changes in Northamptonshire (including Urban Extension in Upton) and the transformation of key sites in the area. Align the delivery of services in Northampton with the clinical vision of care driven by local GP’s.

What could this mean? In reality what does this mean for the localities? More access to diagnostic facilities in the community for certain patient groups. ‘Observation’ area for certain patient groups to prevent onward admission. Increasing the ability of primary care to use local enhanced services (LES) to keep activity close to GP’s. Also use GP to GP referrals for agreed specialties (e.g. maternity, dermatology, cardiology, etc).

Opportunities to explore More integrated community services/social care support close to the practices. Optimum use of specialist care centres and step up/down beds. More cost affective and local interventions from charity and community groups.

Next Steps Business Case 1.Scoping the vision. 2.One step at a time – business case for the reutilisation of Highfield from April Business case – Developing the Urgent Care vision for Northampton Agreement – to progress step 1 and 2 with an update to be tabled at November locality meetings.