News

Health leaders launch major shift to community-based care this winter

This winter, health leaders from across the county’s Integrated Care System are driving a major shift towards more community-based care. The scheme is aimed at supporting patients to recover from illness and injury closer to home, in more familiar and comfortable surroundings.

To enable this shift, community rehabilitation services will be expanded while the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust will also increase its bed capacity through the addition of two new modular wards.

The Rehabilitation and Recovery Units, currently located at both hospital sites, will close to enable the reinvestment needed to develop community services, whilst ensuring the correct level of acute (hospital) beds required for patients who need acute care.

The move is backed by a £3.6 million reinvestment, which will work to relieve pressures in the hospital this winter and support the delivery of more joined-up, efficient care for patients and residents.

This collaborative programme is a partnership between NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW), Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (Shropcom), The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), the two Local Authorities, and Primary Care. Partners will also work closely with the new provider for the GP Out of Hours Service, HealthHero Integrated Care.

The programme includes the expansion of the Urgent Community Response (UCR) service to operate until midnight (currently 8pm). This offers prompt, short-term support for people with urgent health needs, aiming to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and provide access to treatment and recover safely at home.

A portion of the reinvestment will also support the enhancement of the Care Transfer Hub to ensure patients return home safely and promptly once they are ready to leave the hospital. Further elements of the scheme include additional therapy and rehabilitation support, helping patients regain strength and independence after a hospital stay.

Dr Lorna Clarson, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: “This move, from hospital to community care, is a vital part of the Government’s NHS 10 Year Plan, launched in July. We recognise that people often recover better at home or in familiar settings, and we’re committed to supporting this shift by working with our partners across the health and care system.

“Through our ‘Change NHS’ engagement earlier this year, residents consistently told us they want care to be more local and accessible. Reducing travel time, receiving treatment at home, or closer to home, and being in a more comfortable environment were common priorities.

“We also heard concerns about ensuring the right resourcing and infrastructure (support systems) were in place - something we’ve carefully considered and built into our plans.

“This move delivers on the shared vision for the 10 Year Plan. It strengthens local services, enhances recovery and rehabilitation support, and ensures we’re better prepared for the winter months.”

To learn more about the Government’s 10-Year Plan for the NHS in England, visit: The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. For further information on the ‘Change NHS’ engagement exercise, please click here.

NHS launches ‘Think Twice, Order Right’ campaign to reduce medicines waste and protect patient safety

NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has today launched a new campaign — ‘Think Twice, Order Right’ — to help reduce the estimated £2.6 million worth of medicines wasted unnecessarily across the area every year. Almost 40% of this waste could be avoided – and everyone can play a part in changing that.

£2.6 million is equivalent to 61,900 GP appointments, 179 hip replacement operations, or over 98,000 working hours of a Community Pharmacist.

The campaign urges people to check what medicines they already have at home before ordering their repeat prescriptions, and to only request what they genuinely need. By doing so, we can prevent medicine shortages, reduce risks at home, and minimise environmental harm.

Minesh Parbat, Chief Pharmacist for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:

“We’re launching ‘Think Twice, Order Right’ because we need your help to reduce medicine waste, support safe patient care, and safeguard NHS resources.

“Small actions, like checking your medicines before ordering, can have a significant impact. Ordering unnecessary medicines can contribute to shortages, create risks at home — especially for children and pets — and once medicines have left the pharmacy, they can’t be reused or recycled.

“Thank you to everyone who is already taking these steps to help their community and NHS.”

Dr Lorna Clarson, GP and Chief Medical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin added:

“Patients often don’t realise that by ordering medicines they don’t need right now can have a real impact — from creating avoidable shortages to putting extra strain on NHS resources.

“The small step of checking what’s in your cupboard before ordering makes a big difference. It helps us focus NHS time and funding on supporting patients who truly need care, and ensures medicines are used safely and effectively.”

The campaign asks people to:

• Check their current medicines before requesting more
• Only request what medicines they need, even if it appears on their repeat list
• Speak to their pharmacy team if they are unsure or need help

By ‘Thinking Twice and Ordering Right’, patients will be helping to protect NHS resources, keep medicines available for those who need them, and prevent unnecessary environmental harm.

Any unused or expired medicines can be returned to local pharmacies for safe disposal.

Find out more about our medicines waste campaign, ‘Think Twice, Order Right’, at: ThinkTwiceOrderRight.co.uk

Women's Health Hub Menopause Events

We're pleased to announce a series of menopause events from our Women's Health Hub, brought to you in collaboration with Community Resource and Shropshire Council.

Menopause Awareness Events

Monday 7 July, 6.30pm - 8.30pm @ Ludlow Mascall Centre

Wednesday 9 July, 10.30am - 12.30pm @ Bishop's Castle Community Hospital

Wednesday 16 July, 6.30pm - 8.30pm @ Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton

Wednesday 10 September, 10.00am - 12.00pm @ Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton

All events are free and open to South West Shropshire PCN patients. They include information on:

• The wide range of symptoms of menopause and perimenopause
• The risks and benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms
• Resources which provide support for people in this phase of life

Each event also includes a recorded Q&A session with Dr Deborah Shepherd and a free gentle yoga taster session.

To book your place, call 01743 360641 or email healthevents@community-resource.org.uk

Prescription Charges To Rise From 1 May 2024