A North East Lincolnshire scheme that puts NHS staff in the driving seat of innovative projects to transform patient care was given a boost by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today.
North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus has two of 15 projects that will form the second wave of NHS organisations that want to set up as social enterprises, a scheme that gives public sector workers the ability to take over the services they deliver.
The NHS arm of the scheme, known as ‘Right to Request’, gives all Primary Care Trust staff the right to request setting up enterprises.
Locally this concerns services that are currently being provided by the Care Plus directorate of the Care Trust Plus. Two separate social enterprises will be established, one providing services for vulnerable people and the other for integrated community services, which will be developed with partnership organisations, particularly primary care.
Peter Noble, managing director – provider arm for North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, said: “Creating these two social enterprises will provide us with the ability to innovate and to be more responsive to local people’s needs while still delivering high quality patient care.”
The new projects span two thirds of Strategic Health Authorities and include cities like London, Bristol, Leeds and Birmingham. Projects include a wide range of services like increasing access to psychological therapies, improving end of life care and a wider range of children services. They build on the first wave of ‘Right to Request’ projects that are already putting their plans into action.
Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister, said: “The Eden Project and the Big Issue show us what we can achieve through social enterprises.
“Instead of reaping rewards for shareholders they plough resources back into the community. NHS staff have the local know-how on how resources can best be used and I want to put them in driving seat - and Right to Request combines NHS values with business principles in an effective way.
“Already we are seeing projects that are making a real difference. In Leicester, a GP and nurse led project has helped tailor service for the homeless and those with substance misuse problems.
“We want to empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services. There is still an opportunity for frontline PCT workers to be part of the next wave of the scheme in the autumn.”
Peter Holbrook, chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition, said: "Social enterprises working in health and social care have a transformative impact on lives and communities by giving patients a stronger voice in the care they receive and empowering their frontline staff to be resourceful and innovative.
“The 'Right to Request' has been a crucial initiative to support the development of social enterprises in health and social care where there is a demand and a need for something different, and encourages new ways of delivering a better, more personalised service for the public that gives greater value for money."