Our Projects

MSK

Musculo-skeletal problems are some of the most common ones presenting to GPs and often end with patients being referred to hospital for tests and treatments. This has historically meant long waiting lists and expensive time in hospital. We have developed a model for a Community based service that will dramatically reduce waiting times and improve the quality of service offered to patients including a "Self Referral" option allowing patients to ring up and book an appointment without having to see a doctor first.  This enhanced service was put out to tender in July 2010 with the expectation that it will start in April 2011.

Gynae

We are currently exploring various options that could enable us to develop a Community based service. 

Community Services

Core services have now been documented and some costings are available.

We are currently looking into commissioning an integrated District Nurse service to improve patient care.

Dementia

Dementia care improvement has been targeted by the government as a major priority. With an ageing population and increased diagnosis of Dementia occurring it is imperative that we find a way to deal with the needs of sufferers and carers more effectively. York Health Group has been working in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust, City of York Council, York District Consultants and local voluntary sector organisations to investigate existing care and to draw up new care pathways designed to meet the increasing need. It is hoped that new ways of delivering care will be brought into effect in 2010.

COPD

We are wanting to maintain the excellent progress made by last winter's COPD project.  Accordingly we are looking at how the current pathway could be further improved for the forthcoming winter period and will be looking at how we could further improve training and education, access to pulmonary rehabilitation, hospital referral and discharge arrangements and patient reviews.

We are also working with York Health Economics Consortium to provide an independent assessment of last winter's project, the report of which should be available by the end of August 2010.

Dermatology

Following on from the successful pilot of the Community based service we are looking to deliver a more enhanced service in the future that:

  • Ensures ease of access for patients.
  • Ensures all patients requiring specialised services are seen within two weeks.
  • Reduces waiting times for surgery to less than four weeks.
  • Develops a new self referral service for patients who would benefit from a managed care programme.
  • Develops a specialist leg ulcer service that improves the support to patients and carers.

Community Eyecare

Following on from the successful pilot of the Community based service, York Health Group have been asked to develop an enhanced service for the whole of North Yorkshire.  Accordingly we are looking at developing a service based on the principles of the Community pilot, but which could also include a Cataract follow-up service and a Glaucoma screening and follow-up service.