Pasties and people
It’s such an obvious comparison to the current changes to our health system that it seems like a corny analogy, but all that is great about this season is so clearly reflected in the planning and delivery of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership that it was a comparison I couldn’t ignore.
I write this blog in the dual role that so many of us are juggling now - as a leader in my local place and within the wider West Yorkshire Partnership.
I know that colleagues across the system are working tirelessly to ensure smooth transition considering new legislation (subject to parliament approval), and whilst there have undoubtedly been moments (!) of frustration and concern, and a lot of exhausted people, I sense a real feeling of being ‘nearly there’ now. That processes are in place, and we are getting ready to go.
Whilst the destination has always been within focus, I believe the journey has been vital and one to be incredibly proud of.
As a place leader in Bradford District, I have been involved in full, frank, and transparent discussions regarding new Boards, forum, and the challenges these face in continuing to make, support and offer professional curiosity regarding critical decisions.
As part of a devolved Healthwatch leadership structure across the system I know that similar challenges have been faced to adapt existing partnership structures to meet the new legislative requirements.
Although decisions and conversations have not always been easy, in all my experiences the spirit of assuming good intent and shared common goals to ‘Act as One’ have prevailed.
Change can be hard; it can hurt, and it can damage. It can also present opportunities for growth and improvement and for new voices to be heard. I’m so pleased to say that my experiences within place and the West Yorkshire Partnership have seen relationships strengthened and working relationships cemented, even though we have sometimes shuffled for position and to be heard. We have done this by remaining focused on those shared goals and putting organisational bias aside.
Undoubtedly the foundations created in the existing partnership have been essential as a solid launch pad for embedding what we have already been doing well. Taking this opportunity for organisational reflection and improving where it was needed has been refreshing and demonstrated a flexibility and willingness for change that I hope will stand our partnerships in good stead as the operational challenges hit.
As ever these achievements come down to people. Working with good people, leading good people, recruiting good people, mentoring good people, and waking up every day determined to be one.
At Healthwatch we are privileged to be the voice of ‘our’ people.
Those people who use the health and care systems share their experiences with us daily, they tell us their stories, they recommend changes and air their frustrations.
The West Yorkshire Partnership is these people. Those we plan services for to treat, support and heal. Those it is often too easy to view per capita in financial terms as a faceless service user / patient.
Healthwatch will always strive to tell these stories and keep patient experience front and centre wherever it can. In those often-dry meetings about budgets and governance and systems and strategies I have seen the power of bringing the conversation back to people.
Here in Bradford District, we often refer to the ‘Greggs Test’ (copyright the wonderful Vicki Beere @ Project 6).
- Would the person behind us in the queue at Greggs understand what we are trying to achieve?
- What impact would what we are doing have on the person in the queue behind us in Greggs?
In creating and co-ordinating a new Citizen’s Panel (it may not be called that) across the Partnership, Healthwatch will provide a range of voices representing geographical communities, communities of interest and the seldom heard, or as I prefer, the easy to ignore. This will include building on the excellent work already in place by so many and scoping the added value that this will bring to our five local places (Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield) and the West Yorkshire programmes, as well as the Partnership Board and new integrated care board.
Ex-offenders who will share their experience of accessing health and care services after a long period of incarceration; asylum seekers who have no experience or knowledge of preventative medicine; cancer patients who struggle with public transport links for appointments. These are the stories that we are keen to hear, share and use to bring those meetings to life and the focus remaining on people.
And the Greggs test. Try it, it works. But it doesn’t half make you hungry.
Have a good weekend
Helen
