London Development Centre

The reports below summarise the proceedings of a series of seminars held during the summer in Camden, Greenwich and  Kingston, facilitated by CSIP and sponsored by Melanie Walker (CE Newham PCT) and by NHS London. The seminars focused on the ‘12-week’ indicator, which is set out in the NHS operating framework for 08-09.

Three background papers were presented by CSIP to open each seminar, on:

v    the importance of the 12 week indicator

v    defining terms and developing a common language, and

v    developing a framework for a full health and social care needs assessment.

These were followed by presentations by local stakeholders, summarising relevant local data.

The remainder of each seminar focused on a process mapping exercise. Two groups worked simultaneously on, firstly, mapping the ante-natal care process, identifying steps in the process as well as potential problems and possible solutions; and secondly, on reviewing the maps to re-order, integrate and combine the detail to arrive at a ‘leaner’, clearer pathway. Both stages, incorporating a mass of detail, were recorded on the maps which appear with each report. At the end of each stage, the two groups compared notes. Reassuringly, in each locality, many similar issues emerged as central to both maps, enabling the seminar as a whole to arrive a list of key points for future action.