Northern Trust – delivering sustainable transformation with your help!

The Northern Trust is encouraging patients and service users to become involved in helping to shape the future of the health services in their area. The progress to date of their five year Reform and Modernisation Programme (RAMP) was acknowledged at a recent Board meeting and the Trust is encouraging those who use our services to come forward and help shape the next stage in the transformative journey.

The Board heard how staff across the organisation had risen to the significant challenge of reorganising community services on a locality basis and been developing acute services across the Trust’s two acute sites at Antrim Area and Causeway Hospitals.

Trust Chairman, Bob McCann said, “The Trust is committed to a service model that has a strong emphasis on integrated, locality based services, delivered in partnership – a model that supports people to live independently, avoid hospitalisation and supports prompt discharge when a period in hospital is needed.

“We also committed to acute services delivered from two acute hospitals working collaboratively and networked with other acute services, to help strengthen what we provide locally. I am delighted to see real evidence of progress.

“14 fully integrated locality teams are now becoming well established around GP surgeries and there has been real progress in developing joined up services that keep people at home – for example, we have a 25% increase in the number of service users accessing homecare re-ablement each month. This type of intensive support helps get people back on their feet after an acute episode, rebuilding confidence and independence’

“Acute services have seen an increase in attendances and have managed to make a positive improvement in the four hour Emergency Department performance. It is a very positive step which is due to a lot of hard work, in the hospitals and in the community.

“The RAID – Rapid Assessment Intervention and Diagnosis mental health service saw 90% of patients within two hours of referral. This unique service, along with dementia companions working in Antrim Area Hospital, has significantly changed the way people with mental health issues, including dementia, are seen and supported particularly during a period in an acute hospital. The Trust will now introduce dementia companions to Causeway and our community hospitals.

“This first complete year of our RAMP programme shows real efforts have been made and improvements achieved for our patients. I would like to thank all of our staff who have made this happen. Much more work lies ahead and it is clear we have a tremendous group of staff who are committed to ongoing improvement. We also need the help and support of our service users and would encourage people to get involved and give their views.”

‘target=”_blank”>The Journey So Far’ document has been produced to outline our achievements and challenges to date in transforming services through RAMP.

If you would like more information on how you can get involved in any aspect of the service reform and modernisation programme please see the Involving you section or contact the Northern Trust Equality Unit on 028 2766 1377 or email equality.unit@northerntrust.hscni.net.

27th June 2017