North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) press call: NEAS unveils ambitious future plan for the future of care
PRESS CALL:
WHAT: North East Ambulance Service will be unveiling its plans for the future at its Annual General Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, 8 October: 2pm-4pm
WHERE: The Durham Centre, Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham, DH1 1TN
WHO: There will be an opportunity to meet some of the teams working on the frontline and behind the scenes and interview Chief Executive Kev Scollay
******* PRESS RELEASE – EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 ON 8 OCTOBER *******
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) unveils ambitious future plan for the future of care
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has today launched an ambitious new strategy that will help shape the future of urgent and emergency care for the 2.7 million people living across the North East.
Developed with staff, patients, carers, communities and partners, and informed by detailed clinical analysis and future demand forecasting, the strategy sets out how the Trust will respond to major changes in the region's health needs over the next decade.
The work identified key challenges including an ageing population, rising numbers of people living with long-term conditions, growing demand for mental health support and persistent health inequalities.
As the organisation responsible for all NHS 111 and 999 calls across the region, NEAS says the strategy will help ensure patients continue to receive rapid emergency care while expanding opportunities for more people to access treatment, advice and support closer to home.
The strategy focuses on four long-term priorities:
- Delivering outstanding care and quality
- Creating a great place to work
- Providing reliable and responsive services
- Strengthening partnership and system leadership
Alongside the strategy, NEAS has developed a new Clinical Operating Model which aims to bring together expertise from across health and care services to help patients access the right care first time.
Future developments will include greater use of specialist clinical teams, stronger links with community and mental health services, improved digital technology and enhanced clinical assessment. The Trust says this will mean more patients can receive care without needing a hospital visit, while maintaining rapid responses for life-threatening emergencies.
Analysis undertaken as part of the work identified five clinical areas expected to have the greatest impact on future demand and patient outcomes: respiratory disease, cardiac conditions, stroke, gastrointestinal illness and mental health crisis care.
NEAS Chief Executive Kevin Scollay said:"The healthcare needs of our communities are changing, and this strategy sets out how we will respond over the next decade."
"People told us they want excellent emergency care when they need it, but they also want faster access to the right support, better communication and more care delivered closer to home. That feedback has directly shaped our plans for the future."
"We will continue to be there for every life-threatening emergency, while working with partners across the NHS and beyond to help more people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time."
Over the last year, NEAS answered more than 1.475 million NHS 111 and 999 calls and responded to more than 40,000 life-threatening emergency incidents across the North East.
NEAS Chair Stuart Corbridge said: "This strategy represents a shared ambition for the future of healthcare across our region. It has been shaped by the people who use our services, work in them and partner with us."
"By strengthening partnerships, investing in our people and making better use of clinical expertise, we can help improve outcomes for patients while creating a sustainable future for urgent and emergency care."
The full strategy will be available on our website.
ENDS
For media enquiries, interview requests or to confirm attendance at the press call, please contact:
Email: public.relations@neas.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0191 406 1269