more details on the long journey from a hospital knocked down and then rebuilt can be found here: http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/haltwhistle-hospital-makes-progress-1.1104062
But it does not end there. As last week the announcement was made about the Vanguard pilots. Again this is integration on a wider level.
The NHS has chosen the first 29 ‘vanguard’ geographies across the UK that will take the national lead on transforming care for patients in towns, cities and counties across England. The only one leading the way In the north east is in Northumberland; groups of nurses, doctors and other health staff from across the country put forward their ideas for how they want to redesign care in their areas, and then helped choose the first 29 of the most innovative plans.
Drawing on a new £200 million transformation fund and tailored national support, from April the vanguards will develop local health and care services to keep people well, and bring home care, mental health and community nursing, GP services and hospitals together for the first time since 1948.
For patients, this will lead to a significant improve in their experience of health services. It is estimated more than five million patients will benefit, just from this first wave. For example, this could mean: fewer trips to hospitals as cancer and dementia specialists and GPs work in new teams; a single point of access for family doctors, community nurses, social and mental health services; and access to tests, dialysis or chemotherapy much closer to home.
More details here: https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/news/northumberland-leads-nhs-new-era-patient-care
