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I write this blog having recently heard the news that our bid to become a Department of Health Integrated Care Organisation Pilot. I am indebted to all of the staff, those involved both in front and behind the scenes who can now be truly proud of this great achievement for WISMS which has been won on behalf of some of the most vulnerable patients in the Wakefield District. Officially launched on April 1st, this two year project will see WISMS receive coaching and support from an expert team of Programme Managers and Evaluators who will be collaborating with us to identify the systems and processes and success criteria that define why integration works for us. The two year programme includes some funding that will support programme management, information and knowledge management and the development of clinical leadership and this will be combined with further support from our commissioners who are both supportive and involved in this work. Over the coming two years, this website will be filled with information and news about the progress of the project, it will also form part of our communications and service user and carer involvement strategy. The team are working hard to put together an official launch of the project which we hope to coincide with Tackling Drugs Week and will be working with partners to deliver an event that showcases innovation, partnership as well as providing our stakeholders with the interesting detail and experiences of being involved in such a unique and exciting programme in the history of British healthcare. You will see a link from this blog and our home page to the ICO project where we will be posting information relating to our original bid, our responses to the further clarification questions and presentations used when the Department of Health visited us earlier in the year. We welcome individuals both from within the patch and from outside of Wakefield who are interested in integration in respect to substance misuse and those experiencing social exclusion to share good practice. Once again can I thank my colleagues in the ICO Project Team and our partners the NHS Wakefield for their ongoing energy, enthusiasm and support. Warm regards Yours enthusiastically Linda |
