Harpenden Community First Responders
Dr Bethan Rees with Ian Barrison
NHS Health Care in Harpenden.
October 2023 Public Meeting. To see a report of this meeting please click here.
Health & Welfare - Looking back
Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board- the overall administrative body responsible for health care in our area- budget £2.8 billion.
Principles (2023)
- Integration of health, care and wellbeing services
- Priority towards prevention and early intervention
- Targeted work to reduce health inequalities
- Involving our residents and staff
Strategic Priorities(2023)
- Give every child the best start in life
- Support our communities and places to be healthy and sustainable
- Support our residents to maintain healthy lifestyles
- Enable our residents to age well and support people living with dementia
- Improve support to people living with life-long conditions, long term health conditions, physical disabilities and their families
- Improve our residents’ mental health and outcomes for those with learning disabilities and Autism
Looking Forward -
An example of the ICB strategy
Priority 1: Give every child the best start in life
Children and young people:
- Increase school readiness, including an increase in the percentage of children with Free School Meal (FSM) status achieving a good level of development at the end of reception
- Reduce rates of childhood obesity, particularly in areas of higher deprivation
- Reduced unnecessary A&E attendances and admissions
Looking Forward West Herts Acute University Trust-
Works start at St Albans City Hospital to provide 3 new operating theatres, additional CT and MRI scanners, and a new surgical procedure room.
Building work in new hospital at Watford due to start in 2026.
Harpenden Primary Care Network
Dr Bethan Rees, Clinical Director of the Harpenden PCN gave an excellent talk on the development and future role of the PCN , at a society meeting in October 2023.
The NHS App upgraded and widely implemented in Primary Care.
From Mid January 2024: ‘Patients registered at all 3 of the Harpenden PCN practices who are aged over 13 can now see new prospective information added to their health record by accessing the NHS app. This includes notes from GP consultations, test results, medications, and letters from hospitals. Repeat prescriptions can also be ordered through this app.
Looking Forward
Harpenden Society Talk on Children’s mental health - Dr Alison Cowan, GP with a special interest in Young person’s Health - October 17th 2024.
Fundraising support to Harpenden Community First Responders. Did you know that we are very fortunate to have the expert resuscitation skills of three Community First Responders, (CFR’s), in Harpenden?
L&D refurbished emergency department (ED).
In July 2023, a brand new entrance and waiting area, a dedicated paediatric area and nine new major cubicles opened within the ED.
The bright, modern and spacious areas have made a huge difference to patient dignity and experience when attending ED, and also allow staff to provide outstanding care in the very best environment.
The final phase of works will see the expansion of the department where there will be a further increase in capacity, including assessment and triage rooms and sensitively designed mental health care rooms. This work is due to be complete by the end of 2024.
Ian Barrison
