Dear Colleagues,
Across the NHS and local government, we continue to make progress in reducing reliance on inpatient care. The latest data shows a 15% reduction in inpatient numbers nationally since March 2015.
We have published a new set of key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) and workbooks to help you conduct CTRs. Over this month and next, NHS England will be working with providers to deliver our commitment to commission hundreds fewer adult secure learning disability beds in our 2018/19 contracts; and we have also published a Funding Transfer Agreement (attached to this bulletin) setting out how local commissioners can secure a transfer of funds from specialised commissioning as these beds close.
With your help, work to build and strengthen our community services also continues apace. NHS England has published specifications for forensic CAMHS outreach services, to come on stream in 2018, which will serve children and young people with a learning disability or autism – it is worth having discussions within your TCP partnership about how to ensure that happens effectively.
New intensive support services and community forensic services are opening across the country – you can learn how other TCPs are setting up these services at Expo, by reading about examples we have gathered here, or by attending our national conference in October, full details will be available soon, in the meantime please email learning@bild.org.uk to register interest. I’m pleased to say that the LGA and NHS England have recruited new regional roles to support TCPs with challenges around housing and social care, as well as an Assistant Director. Details will shared soon and introductions made to TCPs.
There is also more happening on improving access to NHS services and reducing health inequalities for people with a learning disability – with more progress made on Annual Health Checks including the latest data for 2016/17, and a new guide on end of life care for people with a learning disability
Please share your good news stories and see others via #CareTransformed.
Best wishes,
Best wishes,
Dr Julie Higgins
Director of Transformation/ SRO – learning disabilities, NHS England