Healthier Together Newsletter

ICB joins national rollout of ground-breaking exercise programme REACT

Older people in and around Bristol will soon be able to benefit from REtirement in ACTion (REACT), a group-based exercise programme proven to support people to improve and maintain their mobility and ability to live independently

REACT classes have been running in some leisure centres and other community spaces in Bristol since 2023 following a successful clinical trial which was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The evidence, published in The Lancet, showed REACT can significantly improve older adults’ physical function for at least two years and reduce health and social care costs. Along with the physical benefits, the sessions are designed with a strong social aspect to help tackle loneliness and promote overall wellbeing.

Find out more about REACT on the Healthier Together website.

Local areas selected as neighbourhood health pioneers

South Bristol and Woodspring, which covers Portishead, Pill, Nailsea and Clevedon, have been chosen as part of only 43 areas across the country to implement new neighbourhood health services this month.

The programme will bring together teams, including doctors, nurses, social workers, dentists and pharmacists and more, to develop neighbourhood teams and bring access to the right care and support closer to home.

The work will initially focus on supporting people with long-term conditions in areas with the highest deprivation. As the programme grows, it will expand to support other patients and priority groups.

Find out more about neighbourhood health on the Healthier Together website.

New Information Sharing Charter will improve data security

Organisations across the area are being invited to sign up to a new Information Sharing Charter, which aims to help create a consistent approach to data sharing.

Developed by health and care partners in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, the Charter sets clear rules for safely sharing data between organisations. It will help to streamline the steps teams need to take when they share or access system-wide data, while upholding the Data Protection Act and UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Improving Services

Cancer information and support improves across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

A survey has found that more people who received cancer care in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire were satisfied with the support and information they received throughout their treatment.

Results from the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey showed that most of the 1,078 local patients who responded to the survey were satisfied with the information they received, following their diagnosis and during ongoing cancer treatment.

Launch of seven new innovation projects to drive earlier and faster cancer diagnosis

The NHS Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance, in partnership with Health Innovation West of England, are launching seven pioneering innovation projects aimed at transforming cancer diagnosis across the region.

The projects were selected through a competitive open call and are designed to accelerate earlier and faster cancer diagnosis. Projects were prioritised that target tumour sites with high rates of late-stage diagnosis, such as oesophageal, lung, pancreatic, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and those addressing health inequalities in underserved populations.

Involving You

Where to go for mental health support

Local people are being reminded of the mental health services and resources available to them, no matter what level of support they may need.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is the main provider of specialist mental health, learning disabilities and autism services across the South West. It has recently introduced a new signposting resource designed to help people find the right support at the right time.

NBT patients can now view appointment letters online

Patients attending Southmead Hospital and other North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) sites can now view their appointment letters online.

This change aims to enhance patient experience, reduce paper use, and save costs on postage.

Patients now receive a text message or email with a secure link to view their appointment letter online in a portal. This allows patients to view their letter instantly on their mobile device, tablet or computer.

Please tell us about your experience with your GP after cancer diagnosis

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) would like to hear from patients who have received care from their GP following a cancer diagnosis.

The ICB wants to understand people’s experiences as part of its 'Improving the Cancer Journey' programme.

All responses are anonymous and the survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

The deadline for responses is Tuesday 30 September.

Find out more and take part in the survey in Survey Monkey.

Integrated Care Systems News

Dr. Jeff Farrar appointed as NHS Integrated Care Board Cluster Chair

On 2 September NHS England announced that following a recent appointment and interview process, Dr. Jeff Farrar QPM, IStJ (pictured) has been named as Chair of the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB Cluster. He will take on the role with immediate effect.

Over a long career, Dr. Farrar has shown great passion for high quality care, championing the rights and needs of vulnerable citizens and innovation and excellence in public services. He has a strong commitment to place-based working and the power of partnerships at a local level to support communities.

North Somerset Council Chief Executive starts new role

North Somerset Council welcomed Mandy Bishop (pictured) as its new Chief Executive who officially started her role on 18 August.

Mandy leaves Bath & North East Somerset Council as its Chief Operating Officer to join North Somerset Council and comes with a wealth of public sector experience having worked previously for Newport City Council and Bristol City Council.

No stranger to North Somerset Council, Mandy previously worked as an Assistant Director before leaving in 2018 to take up a new role at Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Health and care services shortlisted for national healthcare awards

Health and care partners in Healthier Together, the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System, have been shortlisted in this year’s prestigious national HSJ Awards for their commitment to healthcare excellence.

The annual awards highlight exceptional work and innovation in UK healthcare and this year judges have singled out a range of local initiatives for praise including the Children and Young People’s Vanguard Project and the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Mental Health and Wellbeing Integrated Network Teams initiative.

Find out more about the shortlisted initiatives on the Healthier Together website.

Sirona's health visiting service retains UNICEF award

Sirona care & health's health visiting service has retained its prestigious Baby Friendly status for the excellent care it provides to babies and families in South Gloucestershire.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UK Baby Friendly Initiative supports breastfeeding and parent infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards of care. Baby Friendly status is given to providers who demonstrate best practice standards.

Sirona's health visiting team in South Gloucestershire has been re-accredited with the award, after first receiving it in 2020, and has been encouraged to strive for the gold award in the next 12 months.

UHBW nurse celebrates 40 years as ward sister

A Bristol nurse has celebrated 40 years in the same role as a ward sister at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), part of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

Chris Oram first qualified as a nurse in 1979, and worked at the Bristol General Hospital, before working her way up to the role of sister.

Chris, 67, was then transferred to the BRI, working in the Old Building, then King Edward VII building, before moving to the Queens building where she ran the stroke unit for 22 years.

ICB Board meeting update

Leaders of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) recently met for the September board meeting.

Visit the ICB website for a recording of the full meeting and board papers.

Listen to a summary of the meeting from ICB Chair, Jeff Farrar (pictured), in a short video available on the ICB's YouTube channel.

ICP Board meeting update

The latest Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Board meeting was held on 11 September.

Councillor Jenna Ho Marris (pictured), Chair of the ICP Board, gives an update from the meeting in a short video, which is available on the Healthier Together YouTube channel.

Papers from the meeting are available on the Healthier Together website.

UHBW hits one million digital appointment letter milestone saving £2.1m

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) has sent 1,000,000 digital appointment letters to patients, saving an estimated £2.1 million, based on the average cost of an outpatient appointment.

The service, delivered in partnership with digital patient engagement platform DrDoctor, has transformed how the Trust communicates with patients, providing instant, more convenient access to appointment information.

Over 51,000 appointments at Bristol Community Diagnostic Centre

More than 74,000 tests and scans were provided for patients last month in the South West's growing network of NHS community diagnostic centres (CDCs), which are now all open evenings and weekends.

The North Bristol CDC is located next to the Asda store at Cribbs Causeway, and patients have undergone more than 50,000 scans and tests since it opened in April 2024.

North Bristol NHS Trust reaccredited as veteran aware

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) is proud to have been reaccredited as a Veteran Aware Trust by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.

This recognition confirms the Trust continues to meet national standards for supporting veterans, reservists, and Armed Forces families, ensuring its services remain inclusive, informed, and responsive to the needs of the military community.

Glyn Howells, Hospital Managing Director at NBT and Sanjoy Shah, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NBT (pictured) with the Veteran Aware accreditation certificate.

Local Health and Care Jobs

Here is a selection of vacancies in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area. For a full list of opportunities, please see the NHS Jobs website.