NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit

1 July 2022

Facilitating wellbeing conversations with health and care staff: Be Well Midlands

We helped health and care leaders in the Midlands to take a transparent, collaborative approach to uncovering opportunities for improvement in staff health and wellbeing and creating an…

1 June 2022

Enabling remote healthcare monitoring in Black Country and West Birmingham

We designed and implemented a programme of transformation to enable remote monitoring across healthcare in the Black Country and West Birmingham health system. Background In 2021, NHS England…

27 May 2022

Improving care for people with learning disabilities and autism

We codesigned and delivered a transformation programme for the improvement of care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Background NHS England and NHS Improvement set out key…

24 May 2022

Achieving the best from primary care network pharmacy teams

We provided a tailored package of strategic and operational support to a newly formed pharmacy team at a primary care network, helping them increase the rate of structured…

18 May 2022

Discovering efficiencies and service improvements in Leicestershire

We helped an NHS trust analyse and visualise data on key performance indicators with the aim of releasing efficiencies and to assess inequalities in service provision on a…

17 May 2022

Recovering hospital utility costs

By identifying and recovering electricity costs from rooftop telecom installations, we helped NHS trusts enhance their cost improvement programmes. George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust recouped approximately £170k in…

10 May 2022

COVID-19 vaccine safety at primary care network vaccination centres

We ensured that vaccination centres functioned with safety at the highest level by training staff and providing ongoing senior pharmaceutical support. Background When the COVID-19 vaccination programme began,…

25 April 2022

Helping a COVID-19 vaccination programme provide an efficient and equitable service

Our business intelligence experts helped the Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to provide an efficient and equitable service. Background The Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination…

7 April 2022

Informing COVID-19 vaccination centres’ geographical planning

Our dynamic heat maps showed where vaccine uptake was lower, where there was a higher concentration of social care providers and other population analyses by different criteria to…

5 April 2022

Increasing the uptake of health checks for patients with severe mental illness

We helped integrated care systems increase numbers of annual physicals health checks for patients with severe mental illness by finding and implementing suitable technology to enable healthcare staff…

4 April 2022

Helping North Staffordshire Trust pay suppliers

We quickly mobilised financial services helping an NHS Trust to process and pay supplier invoices. Background In April 2021, a cohort of learning disabilities and mental health patient…

31 March 2022

Integrating data for the Combined Intelligence for Population Health Action (CIPHA) platform

We helped key stakeholders in the Cheshire and Merseyside health system see combined intelligence reports on capacity and demand for health services, allowing them to respond to COVID-19…

22 March 2022

Support to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace

We facilitated the design of and implemented a bespoke online tool to make it easier for staff to report bullying, harassment and discrimination Background ‘Your Voice: Report and…

18 March 2022

Success in setting up community pharmacy services

We helped commissioners with medicines management expertise in setting up and maintaining community pharmacy services, freeing up capacity across primary care. Read the full case study For more…

15 March 2022

Embedding equalities and inclusive decision making in the LLR system

We helped an integrated care system implement a framework for making decisions that addresses bias and improves how equality is considered from the outset of decisions and proposals. …

10 March 2022

Improving equity and equality in maternity and neonatal care

We combined national metrics and local NHS, council and third sector data to help health systems understand where there are inequalities within local services. Background There was a…

2 March 2022

Improving use of medicines across Merseyside – Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee

We had another successful year in 2020/21 at the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee promoting the safe and efficient use of medicines and completing a series of medicines…

11 February 2022

Assessing demand for COVID-19 LAMP testing

We helped an integrated care system to evaluate demand and capacity for COVID-19 LAMP testing to ensure labs could meet the need for routine staff testing. Background The…

7 February 2022

Evaluating the national Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes programme

The evaluation of the National Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) programme demonstrated significant improvements in medication management, including reduced doses, discontinuation of unnecessary medications, and decreased use…

7 February 2022

Taking an integrated approach to equality and inclusion planning

We helped the council and clinical commissioning group in Trafford to develop a joint five-year equality, diversity and inclusion strategy. Background Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Trafford…

4 February 2022

Leading a hospital transformation programme

We developed a strategic outline case setting out the ambitions and next steps in one of the NHS’s largest hospital transformation programmes. Background The Transformation Unit at NHS…

2 February 2022

Incontinence medication reviews offer major patient benefits

We enabled medication reviews of patients with long-term prescriptions for urinary incontinence medication which enabled clinicians to recommend ‘drug holidays’. Read the full case study For more information…

2 February 2022

Boosting GP community pharmacy consultations

Our work supporting implementation of the GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service in the East of England led to a significant increase in practices referring patients with minor ailments…

28 January 2022

Improving health and wellbeing for NHS workers

We developed resources and videos and provided expert advice and evaluation to help NHS England and Improvement gather, develop and outline a wide range of wellbeing support options…

27 January 2022

Supporting redesign of acute services

Our Transformation Unit helped develop a new model of care for acute services at a health and social care partnership alliance. Background Cheshire East Partnership is an alliance…

25 January 2022

Using automation to reduce waiting lists

We have helped a hospital trust to tackle the backlog of waiting lists while maintaining quality of care by using a combination of chatbot, risk stratification and artificial intelligence.…

21 January 2022

Ensuring a COVID-19 vaccination programme met the Public Sector Equality Duty

Our experts ensured that the Lancashire and South Cumbria Vaccination Programme met the Public Sector Equality Duty. Background Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Vaccination Programme Board requested support…

20 January 2022

Advancing engagement and shared learning for COVID-19 support programme

We helped deliver the strategic engagement and created opportunities for shared learning in the development of a national programme of Community Champions supporting risk groups with COVID-19. Background…

19 January 2022

Supporting development of national digital strategies

Our Transformation Unit was commissioned by NHSX to support in the development of its national digital strategies for ambulance, community, dentistry, optometry and community pharmacy sectors. Background There…

14 January 2022

Supporting infection prevention and control with analytics

We analysed data and provided insight which informed a national programme for improving infection prevention and control about where to focus support to reduce infection levels. Background Following…

11 January 2022

Making a difference through Equality, Health Inequality Impact & Risk Assessments

Our Equality & Inclusion Team supported development of a hot hub service managing COVID patients in Leicestershire. Background At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Leicester, Leicestershire &…

11 January 2022

Ensuring essential information governance standards are up to date

Our Information Governance team provided crucial support to Warrington Primary Care Community Interest Company, ensuring the completion of essential Data Privacy Impact Assessments, guiding their first successful Data…

11 January 2022

Identifying and providing efficiencies for a mental health trust

Our finance experts helped North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust to find significant savings. Background North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust provides a range of mental health services…

10 January 2022

Meeting pandemic demand for oxygen and ventilators

Staff from across the NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) was deployed to support a national programme for oxygen, ventilation, medical devices and clinical consumables which ensured that…

24 December 2021

Aligning prescribing practices with NICE Guidance for improved healthcare

The Isle of Man’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) commissioned our Medicines Management and Optimisation team to assess the current position on NICE Technology Appraisals (TAs)…

24 December 2021

Pharmacy initiatives supporting COVID-19 response and digital prescribing rollout

Our pharmacy initiatives played a crucial role in supporting NHS England’s COVID-19 response, providing leadership and resources for end-of-life care, care homes, and stock tracking. We reduced duplication…

23 November 2021

Supporting infection prevention and control safety during COVID-19

We managed a programme of implementing infection prevention and control safety principles to reduce infection rates and provide better access to services during the pandemic. Background During the…

22 November 2021

Saving time in the core invoicing process

We saved time from data processing by introducing a new tool to streamline data entry when invoicing key customers. Background NHS Midlands and Lancashire used a manual process…

7 November 2021

Risk stratification tool reducing A&E admissions 

The Risk Stratification tool within Aristotle Xi has helped Wolverhampton CCG reduce A&E attendances and emergency admissions by identifying high-risk patients, enabling proactive care and improving integrated community…

3 November 2021

Financial process automation saving up to 50 hours per month

Our Corporate Finance and our Digital Innovation Unit have saved up to 50 hours per month in financial reporting and invoicing after introducing robotic process automation to some…

29 October 2021

Data warehouse cuts financial reporting time in half

We reduced the time it takes to process essential financial planning templates by 50% and established a data warehouse for financial reporting. Background Previously, the financial planning process…

20 October 2021

Better efficiency in uploading the financial forecast

We halved the time it takes to load the financial forecast into the ledger and reduced the risk of errors. Background NHS Midlands and Lancashire used a manual…

9 October 2021

Supporting NHS England’s consultation on low-value medicines

In 2017, NHS England sought public and patient input on proposals to limit the prescribing of 18 products considered low-value for routine NHS primary care prescriptions. Our communications,…

24 August 2021

Improving anti-coagulant prescribing in for better patient safety

In collaboration with Warrington GP practices, our Medicines Management and Optimisation team conducted a comprehensive review of Direct Oral Anti-Coagulants prescribing. The aim was to improve patient safety,…

20 August 2021

Supporting a successful launch of proxy medicines ordering

Our Medicines Management and Optimisation team worked with the Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, GP practices and care homes on a successful project to increase…

11 August 2021

Quick and easy patient referrals for post-Covid illness

Our Data Quality team developed a custom data input template to streamline referrals of patient with post-Covid illness, saving time and effort for clinicians, improving access for patients…

24 July 2021

Enhancing patient safety with face-to-face medication reviews

Western Avenue Medical Centre in Chester partnered with our Medicines Management and Optimisation team to conduct face-to-face medication reviews for high-risk patients. Over 25 sessions, our clinical pharmacist…

19 July 2021

UBook transforms room booking at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

We created a single online system which allows staff at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust to book desks, meeting rooms and clinic rooms. UBook really came…

30 June 2021

Using expertise to help the Sue Ryder charity improve its medicines management

We worked with the Sue Ryder charity to enhance its medicines management and governance across 10 services in the UK, resulting in a positive working relationship and well-received…

30 June 2021

Improvement Unit leads work to transform NHS continuing healthcare across England

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Improvement Unit set up and managed a successful programme management office (PMO) for the National NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Strategic Improvement Programme. Background NHS…

30 June 2021

Helping health and care services across Cheshire and Merseyside to plan five-year programme of improvements

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) are proud to have supported Cheshire and Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) with the development of their five-year strategy. Background NHS…

24 June 2021

Responding to the challenge of discharging patients during COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak placed an unprecedented strain on the health and social care system. A coordinated and well-managed response by NHS Midlands and Lancashire and our case management…

24 June 2021

Working with partners to create a faster, more efficient payment system for joint-funded care packages

The objective of the project was to streamline payments for joint funded packages between NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) and Staffordshire County Council by moving to a…

23 June 2021

Improving the process for managing domiciliary care placements

We introduced a brand-new management process for domiciliary care placements to benefit both patients and providers, successfully implementing provision across Staffordshire. Background Clinical commissioning groups in Staffordshire wanted to…

23 June 2021

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme uses technology to help hard-to-reach patient groups

We strongly believe that improving patient experience is at the heart of all that we do. In creating the weight management referral hub, we have embraced a person-centred…

22 June 2021

Rapid recruitment and training of expert CHC nurses to tackle the assessment backlog caused by…

Our programme helped the NHS to restore, recover and renew following the enormous disruption caused by COVID-19. It has created a blueprint for future recruitment and retention of…

22 June 2021

Boosting consultation and engagement through accessibility friendly innovation: Digital easy-read surveys

By producing easy-read versions of our questionnaires we can improve participation in our engagement and consultation exercises with people who would otherwise be put off by longer, more…

21 June 2021

Providing rapid recruitment services to NHS trusts in support of COVID-19 vaccination drive

Our work supported the recruitment of the bank and volunteer staff working at vaccination centres, at a time of high pressure in the NHS when work volumes were…

9 June 2021

Providing Media Management Training for CCG Senior Leaders

Background When NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) became a single organisation, a need for media training was identified to ensure all members had a…

9 June 2021

Stepping in to support strategic public health communications during the pandemic

Background As part of the ongoing response to the Coronavirus pandemic, St Helens Borough Council and NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) identified an increased need for…

9 June 2021

Providing a Central Integrated Care System Media Office

Background Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership (HCP) is an integrated care system where there is a collaborative partnership of local authority, NHS and community organisations…

9 June 2021

An accessible approach to explaining deaths of people with learning disabilities

Background The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent CCGs’ Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) annual report 2019/20 was not written with the public in mind. We were asked to produce an…

9 June 2021

Managing an acute trust’s annual report from start to finish – during the pandemic

Background The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust asked us to project manage their 2020/21 annual report and to showcase their achievements in a public summary. Action…

9 June 2021

Summarising a complex and high-profile consultation

Background The North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) requested support to summarise a complex public consultation about improving community-based services. NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s (NHS ML)…

21 May 2021

Clearing a 5,000-patient backlog of continuing healthcare assessments

We worked in partnership with local authorities to successfully complete retrospective assessments of individuals supported via COVID-19 funding arrangements during the suspension of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Framework.…

10 May 2021

Coordinating five CSUs to support national CCG mergers programme

We led a collaboration between the five care system support services in England to provide a range of programme management, project management and organisational change support, assisting the…

7 May 2021

Trailblazers in the North West help implement patient-clinician shared decision-making

We have been helping the recovery of elective care activity in the North West region, using innovative techniques to support engagement with NHS trusts for the national programme…

27 April 2021

Building a low-cost high-value website for GP surgeries

Using our website design tool, PrimaryWeb, and our tailored support, a GP partnership developed a purpose-built website to bring the services, guidance and stories of four practices all…

23 April 2021

Supporting the outpatient transformation programme in North East and Yorkshire

Our Improvement Unit supported the implementation of the outpatient transformation programme, optimising virtual consultations, increasing the rollout of patient-initiated follow up and mapping data from lessons learnt during…

21 April 2021

Providing workforce resource and expert pharmacy support to Nightingale hospital

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) successfully redeployed two staff members at short notice to provide essential pharmacy support at Manchester’s NHS Nightingale Hospital North West (NNW), contributing…

19 April 2021

Rapidly developing a bespoke booking system for flu jabs

We developed a tailored booking solution for Wirral University Teaching Hospital’s staff flu jab programme when COVID-19 made it unsafe to run the usual drop-in sessions with people…

26 March 2021

Mobilising a “Gold Command Room” to ease system pressure

We set up a “Gold Command Room” in collaboration with partners from across the Lancashire and South Cumbria health system, to provide tactical and analytical support and ease…

25 March 2021

Supporting the deployment of interim scheduling software for COVID-19 vaccinations

We facilitated the implementation of SimplyBook, an interim solution for COVID-19 vaccinations scheduling until the national system was operational. Background When NHS England and Improvement set an ambitious…

25 March 2021

Managing local delivery of the national vaccination programme

We provided programme and project management support to implement the national COVID-19 vaccination programme in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Black Country, establishing over 50 vaccination centres. Background Commissioning…

9 March 2021

Improving medicines safety in care homes

Through structured medication reviews, we supported the proactive management of individual care home patients needs, saving over £149,000 in drug costs and on average 62 GP appointments per…

18 February 2021

Using chatbot technology to improve referral management

Using chatbot technology for our referral management service has increased efficiency and a better patient experience. Background Our Referral Management Centre (RMC) makes bookings when a patient is…

8 February 2021

Enabling two Merseyside based CCGs to block book beds with ease

We helped our clients in Merseyside to identify and commission the most appropriate block contract of intermediate care beds, reaching a decision on a provider in less than…

3 February 2021

Improving Hard to Source Items (HTSI) supply chain resilience during COVID-19 surge

Following the COVID-19 surge in demand for clinical consumables and services, we were tasked with finding alternative ways to procure hard to source items such as masks, filters,…

3 February 2021

Ensuring successful implementation of a PCN Directed Enhanced Services Contract

We planned and supported the implementation of services in Southport and Formby GPs, in accordance with the latest Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Services Contract. Background Southport &…

2 February 2021

Improving PPE procurement data quality for NHS Supply Chain

We managed a project with NHSEI to standardise data and improve the quality of the NHS Supply Chain database, supporting the procurement of PPE. Background The COVID-19 outbreak…

10 November 2020

Rapidly rolling out video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s (NHS ML’s) change management specialists have ensured the rapid introduction of video consultations across the north of England to improve patient safety following the…

3 November 2020

Delivering a wave of rapid improvement challenges

We delivered a wave of rapid improvement challenges in elective care specialties across the North Region. BackgroundIn response to the continued operational pressures in elective care and following…

2 October 2020

Supporting the rapid procurement of ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic

NHS ML seconded over a senior member of staff with specialist procurement expertise to support the government’s ventilator procurement programme. Background At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,…

11 August 2020

Enabling a population health management approach to improve end of life care

Our population health analytics platform, Aristotle Xi, has helped a group of Leicestershire general practices to offer the right support to a greater number of patients nearing the…

6 August 2020

Rapid development of a system-wide COVID-19 sit-rep dashboard

A much-needed daily dashboard was produced at pace to provide crucial up-to-date reporting on COVID-19 developments across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Background Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland health system…

4 August 2020

Improving commissioner management of nursing care providers

The significant impact of improved supplier relationship management resulted in lowering hospital admissions, performance improvements and financial savings within the first 12 months of operation. Background Nursing care…

24 July 2020

Reducing medicines waste in Warrington with direct repeat ordering

In response to rising concerns about medicines waste, we partnered with Warrington CCG to pilot a patient-led repeat ordering system. By empowering patients to order their prescriptions directly…

16 July 2020

Increasing uptake of ​Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)​

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS England required a rapid increase in the uptake of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) across the Midlands. We led a collaborative project…

24 May 2020

Reducing hospital admissions and improving patient safety

We partnered with Wirral CCG to implement a 12-month integrated medicines optimisation project, targeting high-risk patients to reduce unplanned hospital admissions and improve medication management. By working with…

13 May 2020

Using a prior approval scheme to reduce inappropriate referrals for treatment

We vastly improved our funding application process by creating a comprehensive Individual Prior Approval Scheme, resulting in efficiency savings, improved patient flow with a faster turnaround of applications…

8 May 2020

Improving patient safety and cutting costs with a polypharmacy review

Our pharmacist-led Polypharmacy Review Service, commissioned by Birmingham and Solihull CCG, improved patient safety and reduced healthcare costs. By de-prescribing unnecessary or harmful medications and addressing patient concerns,…

30 March 2020

Enabling increased prescribing collaboration across Merseyside

Following a thorough review process to ensure a safe and cost-effective use of medicines across Merseyside, the prescribing collaboration has significantly improved patient care amongst Wirral residents. Background…

24 March 2020

Strengthening prescribing collaboration across Merseyside for improved patient care

In 2018, Wirral CCG and NHS trusts joined the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee, facilitated by our Liverpool Medicines Management and Optimisation team. This collaboration has streamlined prescribing…

9 March 2020

Supporting delivery of Staffordshire’s integrated care record programme

We have successfully introduced and effectively rolled out the integrated care record programme across Staffordshire county. Background NHS Midlands and Lancashire has provided the programme management team for…

9 March 2020

Helping patients get the most benefit from their medicines

Through the Me and My Medicines campaign, we empowered patients to raise concerns and use their medicines more effectively, improving overall health outcomes. Partnering with NHS Greater Preston…

14 February 2020

Evaluating the NHS continuing healthcare digital specification project

Our experts have helped to develop the national NHS continuing healthcare digital specification Background Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a complex, important and high cost element of clinical commissioning…

24 January 2020

Streamlining community pharmacy payment systems

The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) partnered with NHS Midlands and Lancashire to develop a bespoke automated system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of processing community pharmacy prescriptions.…

14 January 2020

Providing data protection support for a GP Federation in Staffordshire

We provided the North Staffordshire GP Federation with vital resource and operational support ensuring project set-up within the specified timeline. Background North Staffordshire GP Federation is a membership organisation…

3 December 2019

Supporting care navigation with data expertise

We introduced care navigation into practices across North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent which greatly improved the patient experience and significantly released capacity in practices. Background Care navigation uses signposting…