NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit

18 November 2024

Improving IT support efficiency with our AVA Chatbot

Our AVA chatbot has streamlined IT support, saving over 520 hours of analysts time, enhancing service quality, and providing…

12 November 2024

Investigation and intervention proposal for ICBs

In addition to the work NHS England’s (NHSE’s) Intensive Support Teams are undertaking at both regional and national level,…

5 November 2024

A walk through of the Court of Protection Deprivation of Liberty process

Fergus Campbell, Clinical Lead, NHS ML In the final post of our blog mini-series on Court of Protection Deprivation…

4 November 2024

Solving fragmented healthcare data with integrated solutions

The One Health and Care (OHC) system has revolutionised healthcare in the Midlands by integrating patient data across sectors,…

1 November 2024

Join the tenth anniversary edition of The School for Change Agents!

Would you like to develop skills to make a difference and create change in health and care?   The School…

23 October 2024

Delivering communications for NHS England’s eye care e-referral system in North East and Yorkshire

NHS Midlands and Lancashire and Arden & GEM Integrated Communications and Engagement team supported NHS England North East and Yorkshire…

17 October 2024

Ensuring compliance and enhancing care of individuals through community Deprivation of Liberty applications

We helped the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board ensure legal compliance, improve patient care, safeguard individual rights, and reduce…

15 October 2024

Shaping the future of NHS care at the 2024 NHS Providers Annual Conference

The four NHS Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) will be taking part in this year’s NHS Providers Annual Conference and…

15 October 2024

Identifying Deprivation of Liberty

Fergus Campbell, Clinical Lead, NHS ML In the second of our blog mini-series on Court of Protection Deprivation of…

10 October 2024

Comprehensive endoscopy strategy for Northern Care Alliance

Developing a Trust-Wide Endoscopy Strategy for Northern Care Alliance In March 2022, the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) commissioned NHS…

8 October 2024

Court of Protection Deprivation of Liberty backlog and rising applications

Fergus Campbell, Clinical Lead, NHS ML In the first of our blog mini-series on Court of Protection Deprivation of…

2 October 2024

Supporting a review of West Midlands community dental services

Our engagement study significantly informed decision-making by highlighting key themes such as access, travel, and patient experience, ensuring that…

18 September 2024

Our commitment to ethical sourcing and supplier management

Our Procurement teams – healthcare and goods and services – have once again achieved the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethics Mark,…

13 September 2024

NHS Midlands and Lancashire shortlisted for the 2024 Patient Experience Network National Awards

We are delighted to announce that NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) Nursing and Urgent Care Team has been…

12 September 2024

Join our inaugural ‘SU Insights’ session: Contracting for health outcomes

Join us for the inaugural session of our new event series, ‘SU Insights’, where we’ll explore the evolving landscape…

9 September 2024

Successful implementation of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation in Wolverhampton

NHS England sought to implement the Ottawa Model of Smoking Cessation in secondary care across England, integrating smoking cessation…

4 September 2024

Transforming Derbyshire healthcare’s medical workforce for future resilience

Our work with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has significantly strengthened workforce planning, supported planning for the expansion of…

23 August 2024

Navigating the new provider selection regime

What do the 2023 regulations mean for healthcare procurement? The Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Regulations 2023, officially enacted on…

23 August 2024

Understanding frameworks: Simplifying procurement for the NHS and public sector

Frameworks are a key tool for NHS, public and third-sector commissioners, providing an efficient way to procure goods and…

13 August 2024

Corporate social responsibility: doing more good

Blog by Tom Parnell | Senior Communications Manager | Health Economics Unit Corporate social responsibility (CSR) often gets a…

8 August 2024

Streamlining accounts payable at NHS trust

We worked with an NHS trust to streamline the accounts payable function by setting out a process map for…

2 August 2024

Building stronger connections for team development: Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI)

NHS Midlands and Lancashire used Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) to help several teams at different stages of their team…

19 July 2024

Unifying medication prescribing across Cheshire and Merseyside

The harmonisation project led by our Medicines Optimisation team successfully established governance and streamlined formulary reviews. By creating a…

4 July 2024

Optimising immunisation services with an integrated hub and spoke model in Greater Manchester

Our Improvement Unit’s independent service evaluation led to the recommendation of an integrated hub and spoke model, aiming to…

1 July 2024

Enhancing efficiency and sustainability with a diagnostic healthcare workforce strategy

Through strategic collaboration and comprehensive planning, we enhanced the efficiency and sustainability of the diagnostic healthcare workforce within an…

1 July 2024

Implementing a flexible working framework and training package for enhanced workforce culture

An NHS foundation trust, in collaboration with NHS Midlands and Lancashire, developed a flexible working framework and training package…

1 July 2024

Sustaining and expanding international recruitment for an integrated care system

Our Workforce Planning and Transformation team’s efforts secured a three-year investment for the International Recruitment Workforce Bureau, enabling the…

13 June 2024

Advancing maternity and neonatal services with interactive data dashboards

Our collaboration with NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB resulted in the development of an interactive dashboard that significantly…

12 June 2024

Reshaping an integrated care board for future success 

We successfully guided the organisational change process for an integrated care board, aligning its workforce with the long-term vision…

11 June 2024

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Digital Data and Technology Directorate Awarded “Towards Excellence in Digital Standards…

We are excited to share that our Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate has been formally presented with the…

10 June 2024

Developing a user-centric website for cardiovascular care excellence

The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) partnered with NHS Midlands and Lancashire and NHS Arden and GEM…

6 June 2024

Improving mobile breast screening in Liverpool, Sefton, and Knowsley

Implementing recommendations within the Liverpool, Sefton, and Knowsley Mobile Breast Screening Programme has brought about substantial enhancements. Augmented engagement,…

6 June 2024

Evaluating the Answer Cancer service in Greater Manchester

Our evaluation of the ‘Answer Cancer’ initiative increased cancer awareness in underserved communities and demonstrated good value for money.…

6 June 2024

Integrating Cheshire and Stockport breast screening services

The successful implementation of NHS England Screening Quality Assurance Service (SQAS) approved recommendations resulted in the establishment of a…

5 June 2024

Driving strategic workforce planning and operational excellence in an integrated care board

Through strategic leadership and effective collaboration, we significantly enhanced the understanding and implementation of a comprehensive workforce plan for…

4 June 2024

Integrating recruitment services into a central team to deliver at-scale efficiencies 

Centralising recruitment services for NICE through NHS Midlands and Lancashire significantly improved efficiency, reducing time-to-hire to under 30 days,…

29 May 2024

Developing a seamless user journey website for the National Institute for Health and Care Research

In May 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) unveiled a…

24 May 2024

Optimising staffing strategies, cost reductions and strategic governance

Through detailed analysis and strategic governance frameworks, we reduced the usage of agencies for staffing, leading to notable reductions…

21 May 2024

Calculating Quality Reporting Service Local’s impact on driving efficiency in primary care claims management

Our involvement in Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) Local has proven to be a critical asset in improving efficiency,…

14 May 2024

New Podcast: Revolutionising patient engagement and care with personalised healthcare videos

Join host Richard Caddy for another thought-provoking session in our latest podcast with our Digital Innovation Unit. New Podcast:…

3 May 2024

Enhancing our expertise in Workforce Planning to meet growing needs

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (ML) are excited to announce that we’ve secured five places for members of our People…

1 May 2024

Study reveals promising early outcomes of NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

Obesity is a pressing global health challenge, linked to various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues,…

29 April 2024

Aligning medication guidelines: The Cheshire and Merseyside initiative 

The Cheshire and Merseyside initiative, aimed at aligning medication guidelines, has enhanced medication management practices across the region. By…

18 April 2024

Registration open for NHS-R Community annual conference 

We are incredibly excited to announce that ticket registration for NHS-R/NHS.pycom Open-Source Conference (RPySOC) 2024 is open! The conference…

16 April 2024

NHS ML secures place on Transforming Organisations, Partnerships and Systems Framework

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (ML) has been successful in its bid for an important national procurement framework. The Transforming Organisations,…

16 April 2024

Scaling non-medical prescribing services for enhanced patient care

Our Medicines Management and Optimisation team has improved patient care by improving processes and automating tasks to ensure timely…

12 April 2024

New podcast: Lessons from the Clive Treacey Review

In this three-segment podcast sequence, part of our Inside ML series, we discuss the lessons learnt from the Clive…

9 April 2024

Supporting hospital transformation programmes to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion considerations

Between 2022 and 2023, our Inclusion Unit provided a bespoke ‘due regard’ support package to the Lancashire and South…

2 April 2024

Ensuring Care Quality Commission readiness through collaborative intervention at Portway House

Our Nursing and Urgent Care Team’s intervention significantly transformed a care facility, enhancing staff morale, competence, and confidence, ultimately…

28 March 2024

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Gender Pay Gap Report 2023

NHS Midlands and Lancashire has published its Gender Pay Gap Report for 2023. Download the report here.

14 March 2024

The digital transformation of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust website

Our Communications and Engagement team helped Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust achieve a digital overhaul, enhancing website usability, functionality,…

4 March 2024

New Podcast: Unravelling unconscious bias in healthcare

Join host Richard Caddy for another thought-provoking session in our latest podcast with our Inclusion Unit. New Podcast: Unravelling…

27 February 2024

In-depth analysis and insight: A cancer pathway review within Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated…

As referenced in the national NHS priorities and operational planning guidance for 2023/24, the significance of early cancer diagnosis…

20 February 2024

Enhancing stroke risk management by developing a comprehensive reporting dashboard

The implementation of the cardiovascular disease prevention dashboard markedly enhanced stroke prevention strategies, offering healthcare providers critical data on…

8 February 2024

Transforming tobacco control: How our data analytics improved health outcomes

The development of interactive dashboards and comprehensive data analysis significantly helped NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System to…

2 February 2024

Reducing the use of Lorazepam at a dementia nursing care home

Our Medicine Optimisation Care Home team successfully reduced the reliance on regular Lorazepam prescriptions in elderly residents of a…

2 February 2024

Achieving operation excellence and strategic impact

Our adoption of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Procurement Excellence Programme has significantly increased operational control.…

31 January 2024

New podcast: Revolutionising urgent care in Northern Ireland

Recorded live at the NHS ConfedExpo, join host Richard Caddy in an engaging dialogue with Kelly Bishop, Assistant Director…

31 January 2024

Empowering healthcare workers in population health management

Our Health Economics Unit (HEU), in a successful collaboration with the Midlands Decision Support Network, has marked a significant…

30 January 2024

Data-driven personalised health videos and their role in supporting healthcare services

The Digital Innovation Unit (DIU), along with their commercial partner Citizen Communications, are hosting an event on the 31 January…

29 January 2024

Understanding performance drivers across urgent care pathways

Our Business Intelligence team in partnership with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, revolutionised data management and decision-making processes within the urgent care…

26 January 2024

Explore the intricacies of unconscious bias: A webinar for local authorities

In the ever-evolving landscape of local governance, the pursuit of equitable decision-making remains a paramount objective. To advance this…

17 January 2024

Improving frailty care through data innovation

We developed an innovative, interactive dashboard that has significantly enhanced the delivery and effectiveness of frailty care in Lancashire…

10 January 2024

Enhance your business case skills with our accredited training

Are you looking to advance your expertise in business case development?  Please see our new and improved page about…

9 January 2024

New podcast: How to unlock urgent care intelligence

Dive into the latest episode of Inside NHS ML as we unravel the intriguing world of the Urgent Care…

29 December 2023

Addressing the challenges impeding patient flow at the Patient Flow Conference 2024

We are excited to announce that we will be speaking at The Patient Flow Conference North 2024. In attendance…

22 December 2023

Improving workforce sustainability at an NHS foundation trust

Our Organisational Development team implemented a dynamic five-year integrated workforce plan at an NHS foundation trust, resulting in a…

19 December 2023

Supporting the transition to an integrated care board

Our Digital Transformation team’s expertise in programme management significantly enhanced an integrated care system’s readiness for the 2023 integrated…

15 December 2023

NHS Midlands and Lancashire celebrates triple HSJ award nominations

We are thrilled to share that NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Transformation Unit, has earned three esteemed nominations at the…

13 December 2023

Enhancing programme management office functions at Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care system

Our Digital Transformation team’s in-depth review and strategic guidance significantly improved Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care system’s programme…

11 December 2023

New podcast: Inclusive decision-making in healthcare

Recorded live at the NHS ConfedExpo, join host Richard Caddy in an enlightening conversation with Jess Tyrrell and Rachel…

5 December 2023

Upholding equality, diversity, and inclusion in times of financial cutbacks

Robert Beardall, Inclusion Unit Project Manager, NHS ML As a professional navigating the financial landscape of the NHS and…

5 December 2023

New partnership to ensure a robust continuing healthcare assessment service

We are excited to announce a partnership between NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Personalised Healthcare Commissioning Team and Bristol, North…

28 November 2023

Navigating new waters: The NHS’s response to financial strain and industrial action

Nicola Ainscough, Head of System Delivery, NHS ML The recent communication from NHS England, referencing the letter titled ‘Addressing…

22 November 2023

New podcast: How automated innovations are helping to reduce hospital waiting times

Recorded live at the Digital Healthcare Show 2023, host Andy Downton engages in a captivating conversation with Priyantha Jayawardane,…

14 November 2023

NHS Midlands and Lancashire exhibiting at NHS Providers Show

We are excited to share that we will be participating in the upcoming NHS Providers Show on 14-15 November.…

13 November 2023

Navigating winter challenges with a proactive resilience strategy

Our strategy in navigating winter challenges enabled real-time monitoring and prompt adjustments in urgent and emergency care capacity, significantly…

10 November 2023

Enhancing equality impact assessments at Terrence Higgins Trust

The Inclusion Unit’s workshops significantly improved Terrence Higgins Trust’s approach to equality impact assessments, fostering deeper engagement, understanding, and…

9 November 2023

Driving healthcare transformation through data-driven intelligence

We achieved a system-wide enhancement in healthcare service delivery, decision-making efficiency, and operational effectiveness through advanced data management and…

8 November 2023

New podcast: Our Head of Safeguarding on a complex mental capacity case

Welcome to our new podcast series, “Inside NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML)”, and our first episode about the…

7 November 2023

Join us for an insightful session at Access All Areas 2023 with Dr Sam Gower

We are delighted to announce that Dr Sam Gower, Clinical Director for Personalised Healthcare Commissioning at NHS Midlands and…

3 November 2023

Examining health inequalities among people with learning disabilities in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland

This study revealed significant health disparities among people with learning disabilities in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, prompting targeted prevention…

2 November 2023

Highlights from the NHS-R/NHS.pycom Conference 2023: Fostering collaboration and innovation in healthcare analytics

At this year’s NHS-R/NHS.pycom Conference 2023, the NHS-R Community and its co-community NHS.pycom put together an exciting event to…

1 November 2023

Revisit the first national Health and Care Analytics (HACA) Conference 2023

Health and Care Analytics (HACA) 2023 was the first national annual conference bringing together analysts and promoting, celebrating and…

24 October 2023

Implementing Electronic Repeat Dispensing in Halton and St Helens

Our Medicines Management and Optimisation team supported NHS England’s initiative to implement the Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) service across…

16 October 2023

Hope and Honesty: Reflections on NHS Employers Strategic Workforce Conference  

Adam Burgess-Evans, Deputy Director of People, NHS ML Attendance at the NHS Employers Strategic Workforce Conference last week proved…

13 October 2023

Empowering Rose: Court of Protection and exemplary application of the Mental Capacity Act

We supported an integrated care board (ICB) to assess the mental capacity of a patient with complex issues, represented…

13 October 2023

Strengthening Dudley Integrated Health and Care Trusts operations through programme management

Our programme management capabilities significantly enhanced the operations of Dudley Integrated Health and Care Trust, ensuring timely project completion…

11 October 2023

Exploring the future of patient care at the Patient Flow Conference 2023

We’re pleased to announce that Kelly Bishop, Assistant Director of Nursing and Urgent Care at NHS Midlands and Lancashire…

10 October 2023

Supporting an integrated care board’s achievement of the race equality code quality mark

Our collaboration resulted in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) becoming the first Integrated Care Board in the…

6 October 2023

Meet the Future of Healthcare Management: EMS+ by NHS ML

Why choose EMS+? Enter EMS+, the dynamic web-based escalation management system. Developed by NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML),…

29 September 2023

Join us at the Elective Care Conference South 2023

We are excited to share that NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) will be both exhibiting and speaking at…

28 September 2023

Unlocking collaboration and efficiency: Introducing our organisational GitHub account and R package 

What are these game-changing tools?  GitHub: the hub of collaboration  Scott Johnson, Business Intelligence Lead, NHS ML NHS Midlands…

27 September 2023

IT integration and facility upgrade for the Shawbirch Medical Centre

Our Digital Transformation team seamlessly transitioned Shawbirch Medical Centre to their new facility, introducing advanced IT systems, successfully integrating…

25 September 2023

Digital roadmap for implementing a primary care network clinical system hub

We helped implement a clinical system hub which led to significant cost savings, enhanced efficiency, and halved GP time…

21 September 2023

Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both (STOMP) 

We tackled overmedication in individuals with learning disabilities and autism by upskilling primary care pharmacists, facilitating structured medication reviews,…

19 September 2023

Two awards at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards

We are thrilled to announce that our Medicines Management and Optimisation team has won two awards for Improving Medicines…

5 September 2023

Join us at The Pharmacy Show 2023

Join us at The Pharmacy Show on 15-16 October 2023 to learn how NHS Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) help…

4 September 2023

Excellence in Informatics Accreditation achieved

We are thrilled to announce that our Data, Digital and Technology directorate has achieved the prestigious “Excellence in Informatics”…