Our acute NHS Foundation Trusts (the organisations who run our hospitals) are increasingly working together to improve clinical standards and outcomes for patients.

The guiding principle is that by working together patients can access the best care. Whilst the majority of hospital care will continue to be provided in the patient’s local hospital, trusts working together will give patients access to more specialist services.

They want to make their organisations great places to work while tackling inequity and making efficiencies. The work they have already done together on procurement and back-office functions has saved £5.5m so far.

A recent review of Hospital Services, which focused on five challenged services, (urgent and emergency care, maternity, paediatrics, stroke and gastroenterology), looked at the configuration of services - and how trusts could work together better. This resulted in the setting up of Hosted Networks. This unified and structured approach with partners across the ICS strengthens our partnership working arrangements.

Hosted Networks work in three ways:

  • Level 1 -  a focus on shared approaches to workforce, clinical standards and innovation
  • Level 2 - to involve a higher level of sharing resources across the system
  • Level 3 - a closer relationship, with one Trust providing or supporting services on another Trust’s site(s)