Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership (HCP)
A wide range of stakeholders are involved in the Medway and Swale’s health and care partnership, including the acute hospital, community healthcare providers, the mental health trust, councils, and commissioning colleagues, as well Healthwatch representatives.
Once fully established, the HCP plans to hold a single contract with Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, enabling local system partners to decide collectively how services are developed and provided.
The HCP has adopted a principle of co-production and engagement to make sure the local community is involved. We have already been invited to speak at meetings held by local community organisations, and held workshops with patient groups. If you are a member of a local organisation and would like us to give a presentation to your members, contact us on this email address. You can also use the same email address to subscribe to Medway and Swale HCP’s newsletter.
- Healthwatch Kent
- Healthwatch Medway
- Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Kent County Council
- Kent Local Medical Committee
- Medway and Swale primary care networks
- Medway Community Healthcare
- Medway Council
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Medway Voluntary Action
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- Swale Borough Council
- Swale Community and Voluntary Services
- HCRC Care Group (formerly Virgin Care)
Medway and Swale HCP covers a population of about 427,000 people. It has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK with some wards being in the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country.
- Medway and Swale has a younger population compared to Kent and Medway as a whole.
- The majority of the population are classified as White British, although the proportion of the population from black and minority ethnic groups is increasing.
- A third of children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese and these children are more likely to stay obese into adulthood. Over two-thirds (69%) of adults in Medway are classed as being overweight or obese.
- The rate of premature mortality from cancer in Medway is higher than England, while the rate for Swale is similar. Local survival rates for cancer are among the lowest in the country. The HCP has the lowest and second lowest lung cancer survival rates.
- In Swale, over a fifth (21%) of people smoke, which is significantly higher than England (14%). Medway’s is similar to the national average.
- The HCP has a high prevalence of hypertension (high blood pressure); and the prevalence of diabetes has been consistently higher than the average for England for a number of years.
- There is a higher rate of suicide, particularly in men, than nationally and there is a 2 percent higher prevalence of depression
The HCP has a programme board which sets the direction and oversees the development and delivery of the areas of work.
Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership’s vision is:
To put local people at the heart of the services we design and deliver, helping local people to realise their potential; to live healthier, happier lives; and to stay well and independent in their families, homes and communities for as long as possible.
We will do this by:
- Listening to local people and our staff to design and develop responsive, effective, equitable evidence-based care pathways;
- Delivering high quality health and care services across care pathways from home to specialist care provider (both physical and mental health);
- Shifting the focus of care from treatment to prevention;
- Meeting constitutional standards, and a delivering sustainable financial position; and
- Making the best use of health and care resources (people, money, estate, IT infrastructure etc.)
We want people living in Medway and Swale to be as healthy, fit and independent as possible, participating in their local economies and communities, and being able to access the right help and support.
We also know that a strong health and social care system is pivotal to achieving our vision, and that developing our workforce is critical.
We want Medway and Swale to be a great place to live, work and learn.
We want to create a vibrant voluntary sector and a strong sense of community in our towns and villages, where people feel connected, where we support one another across the generations, and where we feel in control of our health and happiness.
