Health leaders from Rochdale showcased the success of their collaborative working model in Greater Manchester to over 1,000 delegates at a conference in Belgium.
Dr Salman Shahid, associate medical director of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, along with a team from One Rochdale Health and Care, presented their integrated health and social care services that have improved the well-being of residents in Rochdale and the wider Greater Manchester region. The presentation took place at the International Conference on Integrated Care in Antwerp.
During the conference, Dr Kirsty Marshall, Dr Shona McCallum, and Alison Kelly highlighted their work on enhancing patient and public involvement in health and social care services in the region. Dr Shahid, joined by colleagues Sandra Crossdale and Andrew Hulcoop, addressed the conference on the topic of the “Integration Continuum.”
Dr Shahid stated, “Attending this conference allowed us to learn from and share experiences with healthcare professionals facing modern-age challenges. We demonstrated how hospital, community, GP services, the voluntary sector, and educational and research teams work together to deliver patient-centred care within an integrated healthcare model.”
He added, “The conference provided an excellent opportunity for us to learn from our European colleagues and further improve our approaches and systems, ultimately creating a better health and social care system for our residents.”
Rochdale is one of the ten areas in Greater Manchester that experiences high levels of health and care inequalities.
Dr Shahid emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and valuing all contributors in the healthcare system, including the voluntary, research, and education sectors. He stated, “Patient care is a joint responsibility, and better integration helps achieve a seamless health and well-being model, particularly in addressing long-term medical conditions.”
One Rochdale Health and Care is part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT) and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (PAT). The group delivers healthcare services to over one million people in Salford, Oldham, Rochdale, and Bury, as well as providing specialized services to patients from Greater Manchester and beyond.
