Health leaders from Rochdale have showcased the benefits of collaborative working in Greater Manchester to a conference of over 1,000 delegates 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 how they have integrated health and social care services to enhance the well-being of individuals in the borough and the wider Greater Manchester area at the International Conference on Integrated Care in Antwerp.
During the conference, Dr Kirsty Marshall, Dr Shona McCallum, and Alison Kelly highlighted their efforts in increasing patient and public involvement in health and social care services in the region to the delegates.
Dr Shahid, along with his colleagues Sandra Crossdale and Andrew Hulcoop, addressed the conference on the topic of “Integration Continuum.”
“We participated in this conference to learn from and share experiences on the challenges faced by modern healthcare systems,” said Dr Shahid. “We were able to demonstrate how hospitals, community services, GP practices, and the voluntary sector are collaborating, along with educational and research teams. This collaborative approach enables us to provide patient-centred care within an integrated healthcare model.
“This conference provided an excellent opportunity for us to learn from colleagues across Europe on how we can further improve our approaches and systems, creating an even better health and social care system for our residents,” he added.
Rochdale is one of the ten areas in Greater Manchester with high levels of health and care inequalities.
“In these three days of continuous sessions, we have learned that addressing long-term medical conditions requires a multidisciplinary approach and appreciating the contributions of all stakeholders in our system, including the voluntary, research, and education sectors,” explained Dr Shahid. “Patient care is a collective responsibility, and improved integration helps us achieve a seamless health and well-being model.”
One Rochdale Health and Care is a part of the broader Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT) and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (PAT). The group provides healthcare services to over one million people across Salford, Oldham, Rochdale, and Bury, and offers specialized services to patients from Greater Manchester and beyond.
