Members of the Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership met recently to review the progress made during its first six months of operation.
The partnership was established in October 2022 to explore new ways of delivering services and identify interventions that address the wider influences on health and wellbeing in Spelthorne. The group determine spending on the health and wellbeing priorities in conjunction with stakeholders across the health care system, as well as communicating health and wellbeing information.
The Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership assess the effectiveness of existing services and interventions in meeting local need and identify opportunities to improve service delivery. It also aims to give a voice to residents on health and wellbeing issues to deliver services which truly meet the needs of local people.
The partnership highlighted the following achievements:
- the opening of 27 warm hubs across the borough
- six-day-a-week opening for the community centres to provide warmth during the cost-of-living crisis, resulting in an additional 600 visits
- provision of 9,600 subsidised meals at the community centres
- delivery of 15,916 subsidised meals with the associated welfare checks
- management of more than 250 referrals to the social prescribing team
- commitment of ยฃ1m for home adaptations to help residents live independently
- provision of step-down accommodation for 29 patients leaving hospital
- provision of health smartwatches for step-down clients
- household support fund payments made to over 3,300 residents
- establishment of a ยฃ200K fund to support those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, with a payment of up to ยฃ1,500 per household
- handling of 4,435 lifeline alarm activations and cover for ambulance strike days with our partners in Mole Valley Borough Council
- delivery of three โprepare to recoverโ exercise groups to help residents improve their fitness before elective surgery
- delivery of cost-of-living support events in Staines-upon-Thames
- establishment of personal budgets for green social prescribing
- provision of 750 health and wellbeing activity sessions
Cllr Maureen Attewell, Chair of the Spelthorne Councilโs Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, said: โThe establishment of the Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership is making a huge difference to the health outcomes of people in Spelthorne as we can highlight local priorities and have a greater influence on the strategies that will help our residents the most. This joined-up approach is giving everyone a better understanding of the healthcare needs of our communities and enables us to respond with flexible and tailored solutions with our partners.โ
Jack Wagstaff, Chief Officer for North West Surrey Alliance, said: โNorth West Surrey Health and Care Alliance has been working with colleagues at Spelthorne Borough Council for some time to help establish the Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership, and the list of achievements goes to show just how much has been achieved by the partnership in a quite a short space of time. By working together, we are having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of residents in Spelthorne and look forward to continuing to develop more services which improve long-term health outcomes.โ
The Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership is made up of representatives from the following organisations:
- Spelthorne Borough
- Surrey County Council including Adult Social Careand Childrenโs Services
- North West Surrey Alliance
- Voluntary organisations including Voluntary Support North Surrey, Action for Carers and Catalyst
- CSH Surrey
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Ashford & St Peterโs Hospitalโs NHS Trust
- Representative from the third sector, community care borough wide forums or groups (for, children with disabilities, older people and adults with physical and sensory disabilities.)
- Faith groups and leisure providers