The Integrated Care System Digital team has continued to respond at pace to the impact of COVID-19 on our primary care workforce and our patients, and the need to support the implementation of a Digital First approach across the GP practices in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Health and care partners in Lancashire and South Cumbria have today launched the next phase of their suicide prevention campaign encouraging residents to keep talking throughout the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

Together with hospital trusts across the region, Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance is reassuring people that it is safe to attend cancer appointments during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. People who are being tested or treated for cancer are being urged to keep their appointments. New measures are in place to help protect patients and staff from coronavirus, it is important to not delay cancer treatment.

To enable GPs and primary care colleagues to more easily identify patients who are potentially in the last year of their life and support improved care planning, a new clinical search tool has been tested out by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Palliative and End of Life Clinical Network, in collaboration with colleagues across the North West and North East London. The “EARLY” clinical search tool was first developed in Lancashire and South Cumbria by Dr Andrew Fletcher with the support of Midlands and Lancashire CSU. It uses clinical codes within EMIS and SYSTM1 to identify patients who could potentially benefit from individualised care planning to support improved end of life care.

Have you had a video consultation with your GP? We’re currently seeking patients from across Lancashire and South Cumbria to take part in research and tell us their thoughts about video consultations.

Health care leaders from across Lancashire and South Cumbria have come together to reassure patients it is safe for them to attend hospitals for operations and appointments.

Local councils, Lancashire Police, support agencies, the NHS and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have come together to create the #NoExcuseForAbuse campaign.

New government advice has been updated for people who are shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19). The government has this week relaxed some of the shielding measures to allow those who have been shielding to go out once a day and, if they live alone, to see one person from outside their household. Social distancing must be maintained at all times.

Coproduction is at the heart of everything we do when using a personalised care approach to mental and physical health. Personalised care is the care that is best for the person; by giving individuals time to talk about their needs, and how these can be met in partnership with a healthcare professional.

As lockdown eases due to the continuing fall in coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates, local organisations in Lancashire and South Cumbria are reminding residents of the best ways to stay safe, reduce the risk of spreading the virus and save lives.

The ICS System Leaders Executive is calling on partners throughout our local health and care system to work together to collate learning about the response to COVID-19 in what is our region’s largest collaborative learning project.

Hospital services have been working together across Lancashire and South Cumbria to deliver more than 14,800 virtual clinics, totalling more than 6,000 hours, to make sure local patients get the best possible advice and support from their homes.

GP practices in Lancashire and South Cumbria have implemented new local measures on the use of face masks and coverings to help protect patients, the public and to help maintain services.

Health organisations in Lancashire and South Cumbria have worked in partnership to develop an interactive map of mental health services for people living in the area.

Local organisations in Lancashire and South Cumbria are supporting this year’s Learning Disability Week (15-21 June 2020), with a focus on the importance of friendships during lockdown.