Social care is rated among finest in land
ROCHDALE has been named as having one of the best performing health and social care systems in the country.
The success story was revealed in statistics released by the Department of Health.
Rochdale was ranked in the top 10 of 152 local authority areas on how health and social care partners work together to reduce the strain on NHS services.
Health and social care services were assessed in six categories, including the length of unnecessary stays people have in hospital, the number of delayed discharges and the quality of local reablement services helping people to continue living at home.
Health and council chiefs say Rochdale’s high ranking underlines the success of its pioneering and award winning Intermediate Tier Service, which ensures people can leave hospital quicker with access to good quality health and social care in an environment of their choice.
The council drew praise from the Department for Health for its partnership work with Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning group.
Coun Iftikhar Ahmed, cabinet member for adult services, said: “We are proud of our work to free up much needed hospital beds and provide people with high quality care in an environment of their choice.
“We have achieved so much, but there is still more to do.
“Well done to all health and social care staff on this outstanding achievement.”
Steve Taylor, chief officer, Bury & Rochdale Care Organisation, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, on behalf of the partners delivering community services in Rochdale, said: “The successes within the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale community have been as a result of true partnership working across health, social care, housing, voluntary and third sector providers each putting local people first and ensuring that we provide the care that matters to them.
“We are very proud of the innovations we have made to date and we will continue to develop our services to provide the very best care and support we can.”
Sally McIvor, joint director of integrated commissioning for Rochdale council and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG, said: “Working closely with our partners and commissioning joined up health and social care services are central to the success we are seeing here in Rochdale.
“We are delighted to be recognised as one of the best performing areas in the country for health and social care and we look forward to building upon our achievements further and making real improvements for the people of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.”