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We are excited to announce that SIX headline speakers will be topping the bill at this year’s Northamptonshire Virtual Wellbeing Festival – and you can save the dates to your calendars right now!
Taking place from Monday 3 to Friday 7 July, the Virtual Wellbeing Festival 2023 (VWBF23) will feature a different headliner each day plus a double bill on the Monday. Joining us for this year’s Festival will be:
Our VWBF23 headliners are just part of an exciting programme of entertaining, inspiring and informative events taking place throughout Festival week. All sessions are hosted online and completely free of charge – exclusively for health and social care colleagues in Northamptonshire.
To add any of our headliner sessions to your online calendar, just visit the VWBF23 website at www.wellbeingfestival.live and click on the Headliners page.
Further details of the remaining Festival line-up will be announced soon and you can be among the first to find out more if you register for updates now.
Read Headliners announced for Virtual Wellbeing Festival 2023…The April 2023 edition of ICN Today, Integrated Care Northamptonshire's e-newsletter for health and care colleagues, stakeholders and the wider community, is now available to read online.
In this month's packed edition, we bring you news of a new Chair for Kettering and Northampton general hospitals, how local stakeholders are being invited to shape the future of Northamptonshire's short breaks services, the appointment of a new Digital Director for our Integrated Care Board, and the launch of ICN's brand new Engagement Insight Library.
We're also very excited to reveal for the first time the SIX famous faces who will be headlining this year's ICN Virtual Wellbeing Festival from 3 to 7 July – all of which you can save to your calendars now. Plus, it's Northamptonshire Carers CEO Mark Major's turn to take on our Three in 60 Challenge.
Read the April 2023 edition of ICN Today.
Do you want future editions emailed directly to your inbox? Become an ICN Today subscriber .
Read April edition of ICN Today newsletter now published…The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) – which is a collaboration between Kettering and Northampton general hospitals – is appointing a joint Chair to support closer working between two neighbouring organisations.
John MacDonald – who is currently chair of the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) will become Chair of both UHL and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s two hospital boards on July 1. He will be stepping down from his role as Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board to take up the position of chair at Northamptonshire’s two hospitals.
The move will build on the closer relationships being developed between the three Trusts through their shared Biomedical Research Centre. Kettering and Northampton general hospitals also formally achieved University Hospital status with the University of Leicester, and other academic partners, to become the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group on July 1, 2021.
Mr MacDonald’s leadership will help to drive further collaboration between the organisations in areas such as research, clinical development, and recruitment. This will benefit the patients of the three Trusts, their communities and NHS colleagues.
KGH Interim Chair Trevor Shipman said: “We are delighted to welcome John as Joint Chair for both Kettering and Northampton general hospital Trusts. He has a wealth of NHS experience and the additional depth that comes from working both in the private sector and internationally. He will be in a great position to support the collaborative work we are developing between our organisations and with our local partners.”
NGH Interim Chair Rachel Parker said: “John’s work as Chair and Chief Executive of a number of NHS acute hospitals and the new Integrated Care Board in Derbyshire means he is ideally placed to support greater collaboration and partnership between UHL and UHN and with our university partners.”
Mr MacDonald has been Chair of the UHL since April 2021. He was previously Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for four years. In addition to his NHS roles he has worked with management consultants Touche Ross and has ten years’ experience of working as an economist with international aid agencies.
He said: “To take on the leadership of the Northampton and Kettering boards is a huge privilege. ‘I am very much looking forward to working with the team to strengthen clinical collaboration and reset the Group model.’
“I am grateful for the work of my predecessor, Alan Burns, who established and led the UHN group. Building on this, Northampton and Kettering will continue to work closely together, providing high quality services to the people of Northamptonshire.
“We are also keen to explore closer partnership working between Leicester, Kettering and Northampton. There are already well-established relationships to build on, and exciting opportunities to make a bigger difference for the people we serve. We are all invested in supporting our staff and making the three Trusts rewarding and enjoyable places to work.”
Mr MacDonald replaces Alan Burns who stood down as Chair of Kettering and Northampton general hospitals on March 31, 2023, after serving as Chairman of Kettering General Hospital since August 2017 and Chairman of Northampton General Hospital since December 2018.
The appointment of Mr MacDonald will not change the Trust Board arrangements at either UHL or UHN which will continue as they are.
Read New chair announced for Kettering and Northampton general hospitals…Many of you will already be aware of the changes to the special rules for end of life that have been implemented from 3rd April, but please see below for a release from the DWP regarding the final stage of extending the eligibility criteria for PIP, DLA and AA:
For more information about the Special Rules, obtaining an SR1 form and for guidance about providing medical evidence, please go to www.gov.uk/dwp/special-rules.
Read Changes to Special Rules for End of Life…This is an invitation to all primary care colleagues to take part in the new learning programme, Creating Community Conversations. The programme is open to anyone working in primary care and the limited spaces are fully funded by NHS England. Therefore, there are no costs for primary care colleagues to participate and you can choose how much of the programme you get involved in.
What is the programme?
‘Creating Community Conversations’ is an online learning programme that gives primary care colleagues the knowledge and practical resources to connect with and work alongside local people and communities. Registration is open to anybody working in any role in primary care who wants to help local people have their say in how services are designed and delivered. The modules, outlined below, follow a logical progression and can also stand-alone, meaning you can focus your valuable time on an area that is useful to you.
Three levels of participation per Creating Community Conversations modules:
Level 1: Join a Master class - 4 x 90 minute standalone webinars, 1 in each module, covering relevant topics from expert speakers (100 spaces available per Masterclass)
Level 2: Join an Exploration Session – Relating to each Masterclass, 1 in each module, to deepen learning and work through real solutions with peer support (16 places available per Session)
Level 3: Join a Coaching Session – For participants requiring further support, a one-to-one coaching session will be available to work towards specific solutions (very limited spaces available)
Why take part?
This programme will guide you towards meaningful, targeted conversations with people in your community, especially those who experience the poorest health outcomes. This can bring a great number of benefits for individuals and for primary care, including more equitable access to services, improved health outcomes, and better use of resources. This programme will also help you to fulfil your contractual requirements with confidence and with impact.
NHS England are working with Co-create to give you practical support and guidance to create community conversations in your work. Their team of expert associates will deliver the learning programme and have extensive skills and experience in both community involvement and in working alongside primary care.
How can you get involved?
You can choose to dip into any of the Creating Community Conversations modules. Each module has three levels; you will start at level 1 and discuss with facilitators if you want to progress to the next level in that module or not.
Full details of the Creating Community Conversations programme, session dates, and registration are all available at www.wearecocreate.com/community-conversations/.
Read Creating Community Conversations – A new online learning programme for Primary Care…