Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership celebrates first birthday

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership is celebrating its first birthday this week – marking a significant milestone in the transformation of healthcare services in the region.

Since its formation, the Health and Care Partnership (BLMK HCP) has been at the forefront of driving collaboration, innovation, and patient-centric care, fostering a more integrated healthcare system that delivers improved outcomes for the community.

Formed on 1 July 2022, BLMK HCP is responsible for delivering health care for a population of one million people across four diverse local authority areas – Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

Comprising representatives from the NHS, local authorities, social care providers, and with close links to the community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors, the partnership has been instrumental in driving collaboration and innovation to address the complex health and social care challenges faced by our population.

Dr Rima Makarem, Chair of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“As we celebrate the first anniversary of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership, we are immensely proud of the progress we have made in transforming healthcare delivery.

“Our collaborative efforts have enabled us to break down traditional boundaries and create a system that truly puts the patient at the centre. We remain committed to our mission of helping everyone in our area to live longer, healthier lives, and we look forward to the journey ahead.”

Felicity Cox, Chief Executive of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“As BLMK HCP enters its second year, we are poised to continue our journey of transformation, addressing the needs of the local population and delivering innovative solutions to ensure healthier communities.

“It is an exciting time, and I hope local residents will take the opportunity to get involved in our work and to help us ensure that their priorities remain our priorities.”

Over the past year, the Health and Care Partnership has achieved remarkable milestones in its first year. Highlights include the following landmark areas of work:

NHS and social care providers in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have developed an exciting new workstream, through which residents can give faster access to data to professionals involved in their care, speeding up the care they need.  The Share For Care programme is already making a difference, with residents in greater control of their own information.

Residents also enjoy greater involvement in decisions regarding their care.  Co-production is a way of working which involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership, recognising that people with ‘lived experience’ of a particular condition are often best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives.  By engaging groups of people at the earliest stages of service design, development and evaluation, NHS and social care providers are able to enhance residents’ involvement, participation and engagement in the services they use.

And in May 2023 the partnership signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.  This is a formal agreement which sets out how it will work in partnership with charity and community groups to improve the health of local people.

The organisation will continue to engage widely with local people about its future plans, starting with its Joint Forward Plan, which is due to be published shortly.