LGA responds to PAC report on extreme weather

RESPONDING to the Public Accounts Committee report on extreme weather, Cllr Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association said:- "LGA polling found that just 5 per cent of the public feel prepared for the impacts of climate change, following recent years of excess heat, flooding and storms. It also found that public trust their Council the most to lead the effort to prepare villages, towns and cities to the climate impacts. This is because Councils are rooted in communities and understand places, we must be given the tools and funding needed to make that happen."

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Teams Up with Netcall to Transform Patient Engagement with Cutting Edge Digital Solutions

MERSEY and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has chosen Netcall, a leading provider of intelligent automation and customer engagement software, to enable and support their patient engagement digital strategy. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both organisations as they work together to enhance patient care and transform healthcare operations in the Region.

As part of this new partnership, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has procured Netcall's Patient Engagement Portal, Patient Hub, along with Waiting List Validation. The introduction of these innovative technologies is set to revolutionise and streamline the patient experience within the trust, generating renewed efficiencies and improving overall patient care.

Netcall's Patient Hub delivers a seamless patient journey, enabling individuals to easily manage their appointments, access personalised health records and receive tailored notifications and reminders. By empowering patients to take a more proactive role in their own healthcare, Patient Hub fosters an environment of increased engagement and empowerment for patients.

The Waiting List Validation solution within Patient Hub engages with patients by assessing their wait time and inquiring about their treatment preferences, providing specialty based, customisable responses.

Christine Walters, Director of Informatics at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, emphasised the patient-centred approach that Netcall's solutions enable. She said:- "Our collaboration with Netcall has empowered us to prioritise what's important to our trust right now, which is waiting list validation. We have implemented the Waiting List Validation solution within 1 month, enabling us to better manage patient flow and ensure timely, efficient care for our patients. Our partnership will help us to empower our patients, giving them greater control over their healthcare journey. By adopting Patient Hub, we are equipping patients with the tools they need to actively participate in their care, leading to better health outcomes and satisfaction."

John Clarke, Director of Client Solutions at Netcall, expressed his delight about the partnership, stating:- "We are extremely proud to be working with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. By leveraging our industry leading solutions, the trust is demonstrating its commitment to delivering exceptional patient care and driving operational efficiency. We look forward to supporting them on their journey to transforming healthcare experiences in the Region."

This partnership between:- Netcall and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust promises to not only enhance patient care experiences but also improve staff capacity. The implementation of Netcall's Patient Hub and Waiting List Validation solution is a significant step forward in delivering personalised and patient centred care that will benefit the entire Region.

Prof Joe Rafferty CBE steps down as Mersey Care's Chief Executive Officer

PROFESSOR Joe Rafferty CBE is to retire on 31 October 2024 as Chief Executive Officer at Mersey Care, having transformed the organisation into 1 of the largest and successful mental and community health trusts in the country during his 12 years in charge.

Since taking over as Chief Executive in 2012, Mersey Care has almost tripled in size through acquisitions while maintaining or growing its performance. The Trust has also been internationally recognised for its work in restorative just and learning practices, suicide prevention and a leader in digital and data led innovation. Mr Rafferty's retirement ends 34 years within the NHS, following an earlier career in cancer research.

Mersey Care will now undertake a robust recruitment process to identify Mr Rafferty's successor, which will begin immediately. This involves engagement with various stakeholder panels representing external partners, service users and carers and staff prior to an interview with the Trust's Chair, Non-Executive Directors and external assessors. The preferred candidate will also be subject to a range of pre-employment checks and the Leadership Competency Framework for Board Members.

Mr Rafferty said:- "Helping Mersey Care to evolve into the organisation it is today has been an absolute joy and 1 of the highlights of my working life, however it has been a lot of hard work for the whole team who have been brilliant to work alongside. Although in a lot of ways I am sad to be leaving Mersey Care, I'm pleased to handover an organisation that is in good shape, with a talented and committed workforce and an Executive Group capable of leading it through the undoubtedly challenging times ahead. I feel the time is right for me to explore new opportunities and make way for others to lead Mersey Care through a period of consolidation."

During Mr Rafferty's time in charge, Mersey Care has transformed its estate by building:- Clock View Hospital, Rowan View Hospital, Hartley Hospital, Aspen Wood, renovating Leigh Moss Hospital and are currently working on building a state of the art mental health Hospital on the site of the former Mossley Hill Hospital, investing a total of circa £300 million.

Under his tenure he has also faced significant challenges like leadership of Cheshire and Merseyside out of Hospital response to the Covid19 Pandemic, acquiring the former and troubled Liverpool Community Health, North West Boroughs Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, and acquisition and transfer of services at Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The bigger Mersey Care Trust still delivered an overall 'good' rating for the last inspection of the CQC, including:- 'outstanding' for caring and well led.

He is also a founder member of the Zero Suicide Alliance and was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year's Honours List 2020 for his work on suicide prevention. He became an honorary professor at the University of Liverpool Institute for Population Health Sciences the following year, followed by the award of the Bicentenary Fellowship at Liverpool John Moores University in 2023.

Mr Rafferty was key to establishing a partnership between:- Mersey Care and the University of Liverpool to create the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC), a ground breaking research facility based in Liverpool and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research which aims to impact directly on NHS mental health services. Rafferty's lasting impact and influence has been further reflected by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) consistently naming him in their list of the Health Service's top 50 CEOs over many years.

Mersey Care's Chair, Rosie Cooper, said:- "I've been fortunate enough to know and work with Joe a long time, going back to my days as the MP for West Lancashire. For as long as I have known him and especially throughout his work here at Mersey Care, he has shown what a remarkable leader, innovator and strategic thinker he is, always striving for a better way of doing things which benefits patients, service users and carers. Mersey Care, like much of the NHS, has faced a lot of challenges in recent years; the Covid19 Pandemic, the independent review into Liverpool Community Health and the constant pressures on the health and care system. Throughout these difficult times, Joe has demonstrated his great knowledge and expertise, receiving widespread acclaim for his work in forging a path for Mersey Care. His presence and personality will be greatly missed within Mersey Care and the NHS Leadership community, and I wish him well in retirement."