Health and care services across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are preparing for the busy winter months with a package of improvements designed to help people get the right care, in the right place, as quickly as possible.
The plans, agreed by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), aim to keep people well at home wherever possible, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and make sure those who need urgent or emergency care can be seen quickly and safely.
Local NHS sets out winter preparedness plans
Key improvements this winter include:
- Extended Urgent Treatment Centre opening hours – now open 8am–midnight daily, treating more patients without the need to go to Emergency Departments.
- Integrated Community Front Door – a team of nurses, GPs, therapists and social workers helping people get same-day support at home or in the community. Now operating 8am–8pm, 7 days/week.
- Enhanced Urgent Community Response – the service which provides rapid home-based care to prevent hospital admissions extended to midnight.
- Two-hour Domiciliary Care Bridging – care workers providing urgent short-term home care to help people return home quickly and safely after hospital discharge.
- Care Transfer Hub (CTH) – the CTH coordinates safe hospital discharge from hospital to the community. Operating hours have been extended 5pm-8pm, 7days a week and a new CTH system manager has been put in place. This will hlep ensure smoother, faster hospital discharges with extra weekend and evening cover.
- Extra hospital capacity – more beds and reconfigured wards at both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital to support seasonal demand.
- British Red Cross A&E support scheme – practical and emotional support to help patients leave hospital safely and avoid readmission.
- System-wide communications campaign – “Think Self-Care, Think Protection, Think Which Service” to help the public stay well, get vaccinated, and know where to go for the right care.
Dr Lorna Clarson, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:
“Winter is always a challenging time for the NHS. We’re putting in place a wide range of improvements across our hospitals, community teams and urgent care services so people can get faster, safer care and more can be supported at home.
But we also need the public’s help – simple actions like getting your flu and COVID vaccinations, choosing the right service, and practising self-care can make a big difference to keeping our NHS running well this winter.”
How the public can help
Everyone has a role to play in easing winter pressures. The NHS is encouraging people to:
- Get vaccinated – flu, COVID-19, RSV and other eligible vaccinations help protect you and others.
- Practise self-care – keep warm, eat well, stay active, order prescriptions in advance, and keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
- Look after your mental health – reach out early for support if you’re struggling and use trusted resources.
- Choose the right service – use NHS 111 online or by phone for urgent advice, visit a pharmacy for minor conditions, use GP practices for non-emergency care, and only attend A&E or call 999 in life-threatening situations.
For more information on local services and winter health advice, visit: Think which service – NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact:
Harriet Hopkins
Communications and Engagement Lead
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
E-mail: [email protected]
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin was created on 1 July 2022, replacing NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
We are responsible for planning and buying a wide range of health and care services for the whole of the county.
We are part of Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System. This means we work closely with our partner organisations across the county, including the two local authorities, the 51 GP practices, the hospitals, and the voluntary and community sector, to plan and deliver joined up health and care services.
Working closely together, in a more joined-up way, means we can have closer links to our communities so we can develop more personalised local services which will improve the lives of our residents and reduce inequalities.
To find out more visit: www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk
