A lot has happened since our last newsletter. As we forsaw, the funding for our programme has come to a close, and we have recently had a change of government
The great news is is that all the signs are that personalisation will continue to be a government priority in health and social care, along with a focus on prevention, tackling the determinants of ill-health and health inequalities and a renewed encouragement - duty even - for health and social care staff to work in collaborative, joined-up ways, to benefit people who draw on services.
The bad news is that we will need funding from elsewhere to bring our innovative work to the people who need it.
We know that people have found our programmes enlightening and invaluable in helping them lead in a more co-productive and collaborative way. We know because one evaluation after another has demonstrated we can really help.
There is more to leadership than getting the technocratic things right - we help leaders focus on what really matters - to people, communities, to all of us in fact. We need to really listen.
My mum has been unwell recently and as a family we have witnessed some really great, person-centred care from GPs, hospital doctors, OTs, nurses and physios, and the person who brings round the food (the menu was not proving popular one day so she took it upon herself to offer a home made salad instead, for those who wanted it). A big shout out to staff in the Heath hospital and Cardiff and Vale NHS! They see her as a person.
It was in stark contrast to the care my dad received when he was ill a few years ago when we were met with a wall of silence and the most uncoordinated care and support you can imagine.
So there has been progress, but we need to go further. We believe the questions we need to ask are:
What would it look like if everything in health and care was designed to make the most of the assets and capacity of people, their family carers and local communities?
What more could be achieved if we supported the community with enough infrastructure (by which I mean funding and practical support) to promote self-management, peer support, but also to help people make and maintain friendships and connections which are the mainstay of wellbeing and prevention?
How do we re-focus all public services on what makes a good life and a good society in which all can thrive - not just concentrating on being better at managing decline?
If you believe that these kind of questions deserve proper consideration and you want to start a conversation locally, please get in touch with us by emailing info@leadershipforpersonalisedcare.org.uk
To read more about our mission, please see our website at: www.leadershipforpersonalisedcare.org.uk
Catherine Wilton
