CQC report praises Portsmouth for joined-up work of services

THE way care services work together to help older people in Portsmouth has been praised as an example of good practice.

A Care Quality Commission’s report on how local authorities and the NHS work together to deliver services to older people highlighted the good work in the city.

Portsmouth’s Integrated Commissioning Unit – a joint initiative between Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group – features as an example of the benefits of a joined up approach.

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Councillor Luke Stubbs, cabinet member for health and social care, said: ‘This joint initiative demonstrates how simple changes and a collaborative approach can deliver benefits to the community. It can deliver a recovery-focused approach to health and social care.’

The ICU aims to deliver more efficient services and improve the outcomes for the vulnerable adults, children and families it serves.

It looks at the range of factors that affect health and well-being and has resulted in improved assessment, a reduction in complaints and more efficient management of the provision of residential and nursing care.

The CQC’s report also highlighted the sharing of clinical records with a single IT system as another example of good practice in Portsmouth.

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Ninety per cent of primary care records and all community services and mental health services provided by Solent NHS Trust are recorded on one system.

It means records can be shared electronically between organisations.

This has enabled practices to share weekend clinics and allowed patients to be triaged by phone as their notes can be accessed and clinical assessments made.

Dr Jim Hogan, the CCG’s chief clinical officer, said: ‘The ICU has been a superb example of the work that we and the city council have been leading on to align Portsmouth’s response to the challenges facing us over the coming years.’