Swift moves to improve care

8 February 2010

Just under £2m million is being invested this year on a programme of health-related schemes to improve life for people in Norfolk.

Much of the money is being spent on training for carers and professionals and improving the way that services are managed and delivered. The aim is to raise the skills of people working in health and social care countywide.

Carers will be getting extra support, GP practices will be offered training to enhance the treatment of minor injuries out of hospital and there will be further training offered to staff in care homes who deliver palliative care to people in the last stages of their life.

This programme, called SWIFT (Strategic Workforce Investment Funds for Tomorrow) is funded by NHS East of England and will be jointly delivered by NHS Norfolk, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney and Norfolk County Council.

The seven training packages about to be launched are:

• Information and advice for people with long term conditions (£180,000)
• Training and support for unpaid carers and a drive to raise the profile of carers and the essential job they do (£200,000)
• Palliative care training involving care homes - which could lead to fewer people being admitted to hospital at the end of their life (£300,000)
• Helping health professionals understand the new drive to personalise health care (such as Personal Health Plans and Personal Health Budgets) (£20,000)
• Expanding psychological therapy in the community by working with the voluntary sector and helping develop therapeutic services and career pathways (£100,000)
• Enhancing minor injury skills in Primary Care - enabling GP practices and pharmacies to treat more patients in the community, reducing the number of hospital visits for minor injuries (£150,000)
• Looking at how to support and advise pregnant women in healthy eating to improve the long-term health of their babies and helping to improve targeted health services to young families (£150,000)

On top of these, £800,000 will be spent on new roles, NHS apprenticeships and leadership development, helping staff rise to the challenges of tomorrow.

That brings the total spend to £1.9 million.

Director of Workforce at NHS Norfolk, Ian Tegerdine said: "I am very excited about the opportunity that this investment provides.

"The SWIFT projects will have a direct impact on people's lives. By improving the skills of the county workforce we shall be able to continue to deliver high quality health and social care in Norfolk."

He said the investment will work towards NHS Norfolk's five year plan "Bold and Ambitious" which pledges to help people remain healthy for longer, give patients greater choice and deliver more health care in the community rather than in hospitals, build on partnership working and improve leadership skills.

Tracey Greenwood, Associate Director of Human Resources at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, added: “This SWIFT funding will support workforce initiatives to achieve NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's vision of having the fastest improving health in England.

“As part of our Five-Year Strategy we have set out ambitious plans to continually improve the health services for our population, which will be delivered by NHS and social care staff across the whole health system. We are committed to working with our provider partners and using the SWIFT funding to target initiatives to deliver these improvements for the health and well being of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney population. We are delighted with the opportunities that SWIFT offers us.”

There is more information for members of the public at http://www.norfolk.nhs.uk/norfolk-county-workforce-group