The partnership is between Barts Health, East London Foundation Trust, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the GP Care Group (a community interest company of all 36 practices in Tower Hamlets).
The partnership has grown over the last 2 years from a loose grouping of the providers to a multispecialty community provider Vanguard site (THIPP and Tower Hamlets CCG), and now the joint holders of the contract for community health services in Tower Hamlets.The focus of THIPP has also changed from complex adult care to prevent hospital admissions, expedite discharge and (most importantly) improve the well-being of the residents of Tower Hamlets, to now include public health initiatives and how we look after the health and well-being of children in Tower Hamlets though new models such as The Bridge virtual ward for children.
Successes so far include the Community Geriatrician post which has reduced admissions from local nursing homes to Barts Health by supporting the GPs who provide the enhanced service to the nursing homes. The community Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) clinic where GPs can ask for advice from a renal physician via EMIS (the GP computer system) and get feedback as to whether a person needs to be seen in clinic or not. The wheelchair services are looking at different seating for service users to improve independence and quality of life and not need a chair at home and a separate wheelchair. The Home Support Pathway piloted this winter which has reduced admissions to the inpatient rehabilitation beds (and reduced readmissions to the Royal London).
As THIPP is the preferred provider for the Community Health Services in Tower Hamlets (with GP Care Group as the prime contractor) we will jointly be able to develop new services in the community around the extended primary care team (including mental health and social care workers), pilot the Buurtzorg model for community nursing, set up a complex needs assessment clinic encompassing Mental Health for Older People (from East London Foundation Trust), Older People’s Services (from Barts Health) and Community Health Services, as well as develop new models for the care of children with complex health needs in the next year.
All of this work has been led by “frontline” staff in the separate organisations and will continue to grow and develop in the future. For further information please contact [email protected] , mobile 07703469220