We have had lots of emails and questions from you about the Vanguard sites and what this might mean for you.You’ve also been telling us you know you should read and be more informed about the strategy/plans for Vanguard projects – but you find the language/jargon a bit off putting.
We think the vanguards are doing Fabulous Stuff and we don’t want to wait for the trickle-down effect, waiting for evaluations and all that palaver. We think people are grown up enough to get on with it and we hope our new Vanguard page and news pieces will help you do just that.
So whats our plan?
- Well today we are going to summarise where we are with Vanguards and signpost you to further information
- We will regularly be adding new posts, initially looking at the four active Vanguard work streams (integrated primary and acute care systems, enhanced health in care homes, multispecialty community provider and urgent/emergency care).
- Explore specific services and findings and consider the implications and potential for you.
A brief summary of the Vanguard journey to date:
In January 2015, the NHS invited individual organisations and partnerships to apply to become ‘vanguard’ sites for the new care models programme.
Two hundred and sixty brave organisations applied to be a 'Vanguards.
37 Vanguard sites have been selected so far.
There are 4 themes but no central plan or plot or proposal. It is just people doing fabulous stuff that they know will work for them... and you know how I like Fabulous Stuff.
The dictionary definition of Vanguard is:
"... a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas."
... and that's just what we have. NHS Vanguardistas; enthusiasts giving it a go, making change work.
What is required for change and does the Vanguard programme have what it takes?
- People feeling they are in charge; Vanguards are ground up ideas
- Visions; yes, a plenty. Enthusiastic visions.
- Re-structuring: oh yes local service restructuring to redesign service delivery - that the basic tenet of the Vanguard plans.
- The 'elastic bit'; once these ideas are in place there is no going back.
- Making change stick; if ownership is the glue, the Vanguards will stick. We all have a role in ensuring we disseminate the ideas and the change process, for us its all about 'the how'.
- Early adopters; board-rooms to the front-line involved and FabNHSStuff sharers and collaborators will be key in ensuring the ideas and practical know how is disseminated throughout the whole NHS frontline.
https://youtu.be/xyuc2efto_I
Lets get behind the Vanguards, lets learn early from their work because:-
The NHS was born when we died, of something or other, at 60, after a short illness. Today the NHS cradles and cares for us until we are three score and thirty, perhaps more; struggling with a dozen ailments or more. We must make our place in the vanguard of healthcare remodelling, world-wide.
Call me over optimistic, call me unrealistic - but I have every confidence that FabNHSStuff sharers and collaborators are going to be key in the dissemination and early implementation of Vanguard 'know how'.