North Tyneside’s CCG Chair, Dr John Matthews, is today warning of severe financial pressures for the local NHS annual budget. We have set out a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for anyone locally who wants to find out more about our plans to manage these pressures.
In short, the problem is about increasing demand. The whole of the NHS is facing increasing cost pressures as a result of demographic changes and increases in the number of long-term conditions like diabetes. We managed a number of pressures successfully last year, but have experienced even greater pressures this year due to increased numbers of patients receiving hospital-based care, and additional community-based care for complex health needs.
This, alongside the increased demand for services the whole year round, and a particularly pressured winter which has seen a significant increase in urgent and hospital care for frail and older people, is resulting in a financial deficit of £6.4 million. Significant pressures on A&E are also exacerbated by a significant minority of patients who choose to use A&E for minor illnesses or as their first point of contact rather than their GP.
The CCG’s role is to plan and commission NHS healthcare rather than to provide it directly. As a result, there is no immediate impact on services, but the problem highlights more than ever the need to reform how some aspects of how local NHS services are delivered for our local population, which will result in more joined-up care for patients and free up finances.
We have been working on a number of long-term changes to manage the pressures since the issue was identified early in the year, including renegotiating contracts and moving towards a seamless transition for when people move between social funded care and NHS funded health care. Other key reforms include designing new models of care to support our most frail patients in a focused and proactive way.
These reforms are a longer term solution which will take time to implement, and patients can also help by thinking carefully about going to the right health service for their needs. That means using self-care with advice from a local pharmacist for common illnesses, seeing your GP for the majority of health needs and only using A&E and 999 services for life threatening and emergency situations.
The problem highlights the importance of changing the way some parts of the NHS are working, to provide more joined-up care and more efficient use of resources.
We are already working on a number of long-term solutions including renegotiating contracts and designing new models of care to support our most frail patients in a focused and proactive way.
It will take time to implement these solutions but they can bring major cost savings as well as creating more seamless care for patients. Everyone living locally has a role to play by using services carefully and going to the right health service for their needs. That means using self-care with advice from a local pharmacist for common illnesses, seeing your GP for the majority of health needs and only using A&E and 999 services for life threatening and emergency situations.
Most patients use the NHS responsibly, but a significant minority use urgent care services like A&E for minor illnesses which could be treated at home with advice from a pharmacist or by visiting a GP.
Local people can make a big difference by choosing the right service for their needs and ensuring that A&E and 999 services are available for genuine emergencies.
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