Acute Network: our achievements in 2021/22

Over the last year we have supported members, lobbied on their behalf and represented their views on a range of topics. We have: 

Connected

1. We have connected leaders to learn from each other and discuss challenges and solutions around provider collaboration.
2. We have brought together leaders who are interested in working together at place level in a peer support forum.
3. Our virtual care forum shares learning and best practice around virtual care, including interactive webinars and case studies.
4. We have supported leaders to connect in a community investigating how to tackle health inequalities as part of the elective backlog.

“It was a great event – thank you!  I was talking to our director of public health and health and wellbeing board lead later on in the day and was able to reflect on some of the discussion in the morning.  Many thanks for organising!” Acute trust chief executive in response to an event we ran for NHS and local government leaders in the South East.

Represented

1. We have been the sensible voice of the frontline throughout the pandemic, using the insight we have drawn from members to influence both privately and publicly through the media.
2. We have contributed to elective recovery plans, in discussion with government, contributing to the planning process and gaining additional funding.
3. The voice of providers has been represented throughout workforce discussions with national policymakers, including on mandatory vaccinations and ensuring social workers are listed on the government’s shortage occupation list.
4. We have helped gain an additional £1 billion for NHS providers through the effective lobbying in the Spending Review.
5. We have ensured that the voice of providers has been able to influence the health and care bill, and we continue to shape it on its journey through parliament, including on proposed powers for the Secretary of State.
6. We have represented ambulance services’ views on provider collaboration, connecting them with NHS England and NHS Improvement and influencing guidance on their behalf to ensure that ambulance services were included.

Supported

1. Our popular peer learning and support programme for first-time provider chief executives has now benefited almost 50 chief executives, the vast majority of which are acute sector leaders.
2. We have supported ambulance trusts and ambulance commissioners, through a series of roundtables, in developing guidance on how ambulance services should be commissioned by ICSs. We also connected ambulance services with others to explore issues, such as out of hospital care.
3. We have supported thinking about provider collaboration and the role of providers in the new ICS world.
4. Our networks for providers have supported leaders to engage with the Care Quality Commission on their experiences of the inspection process.
5. The NHS Confederation’s Integration and Innovation in Action series of breakfast briefings, reports and case studies highlighted ways that other parts of the NHS are working with their ambulance trusts to reduce the pressure on ambulance services.
6. We have provided support through our regional team, which cover the seven NHS regions, including bespoke regional events.