We want everyone in Greater Manchester to live a good life with improved health and wellbeing. When they need it, they will have access to high quality care from health and care services that work together and are sustainable.
Over the last 12 months, there has been a number of examples of how we are working together, including in Hyde where the local Primary Care Network (PCN) is improving the health and wellbeing of some of their most vulnerable residents.
Healthy Hyde began in December 2021 after the PCN was tasked with improving the health and wellbeing of the most deprived 10% of its population. PCNs are groups of GP practices working closely together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas to provide integrated services to the local population. The Healthy Hyde programme aims to make changes to someone’s life early on, in order to improve their life before they hit crises.
Much of their work is with the homeless population, refugees, asylum seekers, food bank users, children struggling in schools, and parents with young children. The range of support includes help with employment, housing, health, nutrition, social care, pre and post-natal education.
This programme is funded through the Locally Enhanced Service (LES) scheme. Healthy Hyde is run from the 30-strong PCN offices covering a variety of health and wellbeing practitioners, a PCN manager and two clinical directors. The team also partners with organisations such as housing, domestic violence, voluntary and community groups, the local council, housing shelters and statutory services at a variety of levels.
By taking the time to get to know their communities, listen to what they want and adapt their offer to fit their needs, Healthy Hyde has introduced a number of initiatives, including English lessons for refugee and asylum seekers with incorporated wellbeing checks, advice sessions at local food banks, health drop-in sessions for homeless people, post-natal courses, mum and toddler groups with an emphasis on health matters, and a memory café run by mental health practitioners aimed at combating loneliness among carers.
As result of this integrated collaboration with the local community, voluntary and faith groups, they managed to gain their trust in the health and care services which enables the system to provide even better service where most needed and follow the motto ‘prevention is better than cure’.
To find out more about Healthy Hyde, visit their Facebook page or website.
