NHS England’s Chair Richard Meddings and Primary Care Medical Director Dr Claire Fuller yesterday visited the East Birmingham Locality Hub to observe its innovative approach to preventing hospital admissions and reducing hospital stays by providing essential treatment within the community.
The visit was part of a regional event in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, where over 100 frontline NHS staff gathered with NHS England leaders to discuss their expectations for the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. This event is one of many where NHS staff, social care, and public health professionals come together to reshape the future of the health service.
The East Birmingham Locality Hub, based at Washwood Heath Health & Wellbeing Centre, is a key component of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System’s Community Care Collaborative. This initiative, led by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, brings together primary, acute, community, mental health, social care, and ambulance services, along with the community and voluntary sector.
The Hub features an Integrated Neighbourhood Team comprising nurses, doctors, social workers, paramedics, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals. This team works collaboratively to ensure patients receive the care they need at the right place and time, significantly enhancing patient outcomes and experiences.
Commenting on the work being done, Meddings said:
“Every day I see how committed and innovative NHS staff are at finding ways to do things differently to improve care for patients, but we know we need to make sure these ideas are spread across the country and the 10 Year Health Plan provides the perfect opportunity to do that.
“A key part of the plan will be how we can shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, and teams in East Birmingham have already made great progress to do this through their neighbourhood hubs which have a range support for patients close to their homes.”
During their visit, NHS leaders met with staff and patients at the Hub’s newly launched Respiratory Same Day Emergency Care Service. Operated by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, this service offers quick and easy access to specialist respiratory care for individuals aged 17 and over across Birmingham and Solihull. By providing this care in a community setting, the service helps avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and improves patient pathways.
This visit is part of the largest listening event in NHS history, following seven nationwide public debates and a series of online staff events held last year. These discussions aim to build a comprehensive 10-year plan to ensure the NHS is fit for future generations.
Independent facilitators led the discussions, with senior NHS figures in attendance to hear the views of a diverse range of NHS staff, including GPs, nurses, optometrists, consultants, porters, and pharmacists. This inclusive approach ensures minimal impact on local services while gathering valuable insights from across the NHS workforce.
The work of the East Birmingham Locality Hub and the wider Community Care Collaborative aligns closely with the Government’s vision to shift care from hospitals to communities. By focusing on community-based care, the NHS aims to provide more personalised and accessible healthcare services, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the strain on hospital resources.
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