MAGAZINE

EnsuringCare is in theHub of theCommunityMersey Care has embarked on anambitious programme of improvementsto its community services acrossLiverpool – here we take a lookat what they are and why they areimportant.Hubsandspokes12ThePlanWe have been committedfor many years to ensuringthat people with mentalhealth, learning disability orsubstance misuse problemsare treated as close to homeas possible.Services are being transformedso that people spend lesstime in hospital; go less totraditional outpatient clinicsand are instead supported inthe community among theirfriends and family.The PlanWe knew that new sites wereneeded for our communitymental health teams toprovide the type of care wewant people to have. Thiswas already happening forpeople being treated in ourinpatient units. So we set outa five year plan to make sureit happens.The framework was agreedlast year - a massive stepforward in providing thetherapeutic environments ourservice users and staff deserve– light, airy modern buildingsthat will be fit for purpose foryears to come.Hubs and SpokesOne of the biggest changeshas been the creation of‘hubs’ and ‘spokes’. Imaginea bicycle wheel – it has acentre, or hub, and lots ofspokes around it. In the sameway we have created hubs,three so far - which houseclinical, support andadministration staff. Allhave office space, meetingrooms and clinical areas.Our spokes are smaller sites- usually other venues in thecommunity to be used as andwhen and where they areneeded.Donna Robinson, DeputyChief Operating Officer forLiverpool Services and HubsProject Executive is confidentit will work.“We know from thesuccessful implementationof our hub at South Sefton ayear ago that this model canprovide huge benefits, bothto patients and staff. We areinvesting substantially to giveour staff the tools to workwith service users in theirown homes.“Developing such anambitious model is a big task,but we are well on our wayto delivering improvementsthat will support the Trust’saim to provide Perfect Care.”