Local Health and care partners sign historic partnership agreement to improve joint working

A formal partnership agreement has been signed by local health and care partners in Rochdale borough to improve the health, care and wellbeing of residents of all ages.

The HMR Integrated Care Partnership agreement has been signed by representatives of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, Rochdale Borough Council, the Local Care Organsation, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and the six Primary Care Networks in the borough. The six partners from across the system will work together to harness collective resource and expertise and work closer to deliver shared objectives, which include, better care: quality, safety and safeguarding, population health, better care: performance,  financial sustainability, people, and system transformation.

The agreement is one of three key documents required, along with the Locality Board Terms of Reference and Section 75 agreement, to formally constitute the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Locality Board, with delegated decision making from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and Rochdale Borough Council. It is an annual agreement and will run from 31^st January 2023 until 31^st March 2024.

Steve Rumbelow, place lead for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council said: “The impact of the pandemic on health and wellbeing and the current cost of living crisis provides a compelling and well-known case for change that underpins our need to work together collaboratively to improve outcomes for our residents.

“We can only achieve improved health outcomes for our residents by working together, this means our services and residents need to work in partnership, each playing a part so that residents in our borough live long and happy lives that are as healthy as possible, for as long as possible.”

Steve Taylor, chief officer, Rochdale Care Organisation, said: “The signing of the Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale integrated care partnership agreement is an important milestone in setting out how we will continue to strengthen our existing collaborative working. It is through working together as services and in partnership with residents that we will have the greatest impact on improving the health, care and wellbeing for our residents.”

Anthony Hassall, Pennine Care chief executive, said: “This agreement sets out a shared commitment to ensuring local people receive the standards of care they deserve. Together we can focus our attention, skills and expertise on the six priority areas that’ll deliver the greatest impact.”

Dr Mo Jiva, clinical director Middleton Primary Care Network (PCN), said: “This new Partnership agreement will bring into the borough a new way of working. It will conclude any silo working across different health and care providers and put the residents back into the centre, ensuring that services are proactive and reactive in managing the public’s needs.”