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Posted on 6 Oct 2015

Eight Local Integrated Care Teams from County Health Partnerships, part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, have been shortlisted as finalists for a regional award in the East Midlands Innovation in Healthcare Awards.

The awards, launched by the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN), recognise and celebrate incredible innovation throughout the region.

The Integrated Care Teams across Mid-Nottinghamshire are one of three finalists shortlisted in the ‘Innovation through integration’ category’ for their work based on PRISM (Profiling Risk, Integrated Care, Self-Management), a new model of care which is part of a wider healthcare transformation programme across Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood called ‘Better Together’.

The PRISM model of integrated care is part of a collaborative initiative that has brought together different organisations including; Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs); Nottinghamshire Healthcare; Nottinghamshire County and Mansfield District Councils; Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services; GP practices; Self Help UK as well are patient and carer representatives.  Working together these organisations have contributed to removing traditional boundaries between primary care, mental and physical health services, social care and the third sector, to deliver a more joined up approach to healthcare for patients and families to improve their health outcomes. 

Paul Smeeton, County Health Partnerships’ Chief Operating Executive said: “The PRISM Local Integrated Care Teams are a fantastic example of how a health, social care and third sector system can come together under one structure to deliver real benefits for patients. The commitment of our people to make this commissioner inspired vision happen has been extraordinary and we are delighted that their hard work has been recognised.”

Our PRISM Integrated Care Teams are made up of  nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community matrons, specialist nurses, healthcare assistants, falls specialists, mental health workers, community psychiatric nurses, social workers (provided by Nottinghamshire County Council) and self-care advisors (provided by Self Help UK). 

The PRISM model focuses on a ‘one team’ approach that provides a complete package of care for patients and their families, placing them at the centre of care, and not the individual clinical service.

It incorporates a ‘Virtual Ward’ where those patients who have the most complex clinical needs can be supported intensively at home until the period of immediate crisis is over. The level of input is then reduced as independence is regained.

Through this model the Integrated Care Teams work together proactively with patients at risk of hospital admission to allow them to remain at home and avoid further crisis. They also support those who are discharged from a period of care in hospital and provide them with personalised support to enable them to regain their independence.

Councillor Muriel Weisz, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health team, said: “Breaking down the barriers between health and social care is key to improving the service that a patient receives and reducing inefficiency and waste, so it’s wonderful news that one of our pioneering projects achieving this aim has been recognised with a prestigious award nomination.”

By removing organisational boundaries, PRISM Integrated Care Teams have brought together all the local skills, relationships and knowledge for the benefit of the patient – to deliver the right care, first time and avoid admission to hospital.

Sarah Collis, Chief Executive Officer, Self Help UK said: “The third sector provides a broad range of self care support that our advisors can help mobilise. By helping patients cope with the issue in their lives, which impact on their health and wellbeing, we are providing a more holistic approach which helps patients stay out of hospital. It also connects them to their local community and reduces the isolation that living with a long term condition can bring.”

Future developments are part of a wider system model of urgent and proactive care transformation which aims to extend the model to improve access not just over 7 days but also to enhance cover to 11pm.  It is also planned that the PRISM model will complement other parts of the ‘Better Together’ programme to provide a more streamlined overall patient health journey.

Dr Amanda Sullivan, Chief Officer of Mansfield and Ashfield CCG and Newark and Sherwood CCG said: ”We are delighted to be shortlisted for this innovation award.  It reflects the efforts and commitment of all health and social care staff who, every day, work tirelessly across Mid-Nottinghamshire to ensure that our local population continues to receive the best possible care from services.”

The EMAHSN received over 100 entries submitted across six categories of which there are 18 finalists.

The awards will be presented at an event at the National Space Centre in Leicester on 5 November. The winners will receive £3,000 to help develop their innovation, with £1,000 for the two runners-up in each category.