Welcome to our latest newsletter
Instead of our usual newsletter, on behalf of all the health and care leaders across Surrey Heartlands we wanted to take this opportunity to focus on the current coronavirus outbreak and describe how we are working together to respond to this hugely challenging situation.
Described as a ‘once in a generation’ event, this outbreak poses a challenge and threat the like of which we haven’t seen in peacetime and requires a response of the same magnitude. At the same time, we’ve been amazed (but not surprised) by the fast and willing response health and care colleagues, community partners and others have been giving and the way we are all working towards one common goal. The willingness of people to help and the speed with which things are being done has been nothing short of remarkable. Staff across our partnership have risen to the challenge and are working tirelessly to plan our response in meticulous detail, preparing for the huge influx of cases that is already being seen elsewhere, and to ensure other urgent and life-saving care continues.
Across all areas, our teams have been gearing up and changing how they provide care in the best and most appropriate way – from virtual consultations wherever possible, to freeing up hospital beds and making huge increases in critical care capacity; massive strides are being taken across the board. And we will need to continue to make many more rapid but necessary changes as this situation continues and trust you will bear with us as we do.
Since the announcements made by the Prime Minister just over a week ago around more stringent social distancing, we have all found ourselves living very different lives. And whilst we are hugely concerned about the impact this virus will have, both the serious risk to our health and lives, but also in terms of jobs and the wider economy, it is those small (and so often big) acts of kindness that truly bring us together as a community. The admiration for health and care colleagues expressed during the #ClapforCarers last Thursday was a wonderful testament to the gratitude people are feeling towards those working so hard to battle this pandemic.
Please stay safe, follow all the latest Government guidance and if you or any of your loved ones are in the most vulnerable category, make sure you know how to access additional help and support if you need it (more about this below).
Finally, on behalf of all to all of to everyone working in and supporting our health and care system, and those providing help and support in our local communities - a very, very big thank you.
On behalf of Surrey Heartlands:
Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership
- Councillor Tim Oliver, Chair of Surrey Heartlands System Board
- Dr Claire Fuller, Senior Responsible Officer
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Andy Field, Chair
- Suzanne Rankin, Chief Executive
CSH Surrey
- Andy Field, Chair
- Steve Flanagan, Chief Executive
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Gillian Norton, Chair
- Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive
First Community Health and Care
- Florence Barras, Chair
- Sarah Billiald, Chief Executive
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust,
- Sue Sjuve, Chair
- Louise Stead, Chief Executive
NHS Surrey Heartlands CCG
- Dr Charlotte Canniff, Clinical Chair
- Matthew Tait, Accountable Officer
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
- David Astley, Chair
- Phillip Astle, Chief Executive
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Ian McPherson, Chair
- Fiona Edwards, Chief Executive
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Richard Shaw, Chair
- Michael Wilson CBE, Chief Executive
Surrey County Council
- Councillor Tim Oliver, Leader of the Council
- Joanna Killian, Chief Executive
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