Joint working initiatives

An opportunity to partner effectively with the NHS

As we all know, the NHS has been under incredible pressure in 2020. While the peak of Covid-19 seems to be over, the challenge for the NHS is not. There are set to be new waves of implications from the pandemic with or without a potential second outbreak.

The NHS Challenge for Covid-19

Wave 1

Immediate shock of mortality, morbidity and post-ICU recovery

Wave 2

Impact of resource restriction on urgent non-Covid-19 care e.g. oncology

Wave 3

Impact of interrupted care for chronic conditions e.g. respiratory, CV, diabetes

Wave 4

Psychological trauma, mental illness, economic injury and burnout – healthcare professionals and patients.

Reports indicate that we’re in Wave 2 at the moment. Cancer Research estimates about 2.4 million people in the UK are waiting for screening, treatment or tests with a potential 23,000 having done undiagnosed during lockdown. Cancer referrals have dropped 60% during the pandemic.

The impact on chronic conditions - Wave 3 - remains to be seen. What is certain though is that there will be a surge in demand for services from the NHS at a time when healthcare professionals are exhausted and at risk of burn out.

Could Joint Working initiatives be at least part of the answer for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to boost the NHS’ capacity at one of the most critical times in its 75-year history?

What is Joint Working?

The ABPI describes Joint Working as a “specific type of NHS/pharmaceutical industry collaboration rather than a generic term for all cross-sector collaboration. The Department of Health and Social Care defines Joint Working as: “Situations where, for the benefit of patients, one or more pharmaceutical companies, the NHS and others (e.g. Patient Groups) pool skills, experience and/or resources for the joint development and implementation of patient-centred projects and share a commitment to successful delivery”.

Examples of Joint Working projects, given by ABPI, include but are not limited to:

• Funding of project staff requirements (e.g. provision of administrative, clinical, analytical health, economic and/or management resources by either party)
• Proportionate contribution to nurse services which lead to measurable interventions and outcomes
• Facilitation of pathway redesign
• Economic analysis
• Identification of undiagnosed patients
• Reviewing uncontrolled patients
• Improving patient adherence to medicines
• Generating patient experience data
• Increasing system capacity to treat patients

There are strict criteria that must be met and a recommended process, all of which are outlined in the ABPI Toolkit for Industry and the NHS. If you’re keen to support the NHS at this critical time, but the process seems a little daunting CHASE is able to make it hassle-free for you.

Hassle-free Joint Working with CHASE

CHASE has significant experience in delivering Joint Working initiatives. Our in-house expert, James Sedgley, is currently delivering his 42^nd initiative. We run Joint Working projects from start to finish to make it a smooth, hassle-free process. Our full service includes:

• Consultancy
  Benefit from our experience as we advise on the feasibility, scope, timelines, costs of your initiative and liaise with the NHS, organisations, clinical practices and third-party suppliers on your behalf.
• Project Planning
  We can plan the project for you from all of documentation required for the process, website, signatory and contracts through to managing the important day-to-day practicalities such as clinic room availability, patient identification, employing specialist nurses, training and integration into primary or secondary care.
• Set-Up
  With our technical know-how we’re able to look after all of the recruitment and IT set-up for you, including defining the measurables, liaising with the practice manager, setting up on the clinical system and patient recall, and managing all of the response rates.
• Supply & Delivery
  Our expertise includes cleaning patient registries, supplying nurses to review patients and conduct home visits for patients, providing secondary care consultants to advise and educate GPs, facilitating links between primary and secondary care to improve patient experiences and producing clinical audit results.
• Evaluation & Review
  Once all of the results have been gathered, we can produce a report of findings for you to evaluate the project.

We’d love to talk to you about Joint Working and what opportunities there could be to benefit patients, the NHS and your organisation.