>>Nick Pearson: Back in 2017 there was a huge outcry in the community of Holsworthy and
that was in response to the beds closing at quite short notice in the Community Hospital.
>>Jon Hutchings: Nobody was expecting it. The hospital was bought and paid for by local
people so they sort of felt it was theirs.
>>Sue Banks: Holsworthy is a very long way from any district general hospital and if
we lose the services of a local cottage hospital, we feel rather abandoned.
>>Geoff Cusick: It seemed to us that this was permanent closure by stealth.
>>Nick Pearson: There was an early public meeting and the full force of the community’s
worries was expressed.
>>Simon Tapley: It was highly charged. There was definite passion in the room.
>>Nick Pearson: There were marches. There were letters to MPs. Quite difficult headlines
for the NHS. It was very clear that we needed a very different discussion with people.
>>Simon Tapley: As part of the wider CCG strategy we always want to engage with the public,
but we have found we need to do it in two or three different ways. Public meetings are
great, but you often get voices drowned out so it’s really important to engage with
small, influential local leaders and that is what we wanted to do at Holsworthy
>>Nick Pearson: One of the first things we did was set up a group.
>>Geoff Cusick: That group comprises some local councillors, representatives of the
Church, plus a group of representatives of NHS organisations. And that’s the clinical
commissioning group and also the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust.
>>Nick Pearson: The NHS couldn’t come up with all these ideas. It had to come from
that community. And the reason we met every two weeks was because relationships had been
in such a bad place that we felt we really needed to greenhouse those relationships if
you like, and work together.
>>Simon Tapley: When we were thinking about how to put CCG and clinical input to that,
we asked one of our North Devon GPs to be part of the group and the group discussed
and felt it would be most appropriate for them to chair it - which I think was great
and we were seen as being open and part of it.
We also had nurses from the local trust and other allied health professionals, physios,
OTs etcetera - were working with the group.
>>Nicky Cheshire: I’ve been very involved with the Holsworthy Community Group since
it started. I have certainly felt valued and I think other members of the group have felt
valued as well because we are all bringing our own knowledge, skills and expertise to
the table. Working all together to try to come up with the best solution that we can.
>>Sue Banks: They moved from that position of being there because it was their job to
engaging with how it felt to be part of this community and wanting to make a difference.
And that became very apparent to us and that in turn builds trust.
>>Nick Pearson: Alongside the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, which gives you a baseline
and a feel for what’s going on in the local community, we also wanted to talk to the community
about what they felt were the local needs. So we launched a survey. The community members
around the table designed that survey with us. So it was in the language that people
would use. We put that online. We also made sure the survey was available in the local
town hall, in shops and put lots of posters out.
We then went out across the patch and I think we talked to a hundred and twenty people in
small groups and that creates a wealth of wonderful information which you then have
to analyse of course, and we did that through the group, and then recommendations would
follow that.
>>Geoff Cusick: We just went through a grinding process of working on recommendations and
arguing them through.
>>Nick Pearson: One of the early findings was that there was a need in this community
for rehab beds and end of life beds. And the suggestion from a member of the public on
our group was that perhaps we should think about providing that at a local residential
home. We set up a procurement process, and as a consequence of that, we have three beds
in the community that we were able to deliver quite soon after the survey results came back
in. So again, we were building trust with the community by delivering what we were promising
>>June Croft: Barnstaple Hospital is about an hour from where I live. Yes it was fine
going in the ambulance, but it’s not very good if people want to come and visit you.
Being here, I have seen a lot of people that mean a lot to me that wouldn’t have been
able to get Barnstaple, you feel you’re more at home.
>>Jon Hutchings: My family have made use of those beds very recently. My gran who was
in Barnstaple Hospital was then moved to Deer Park. And she spent her last couple of weeks
there. Which was, from a travelling point of view, was fantastic. My parents were travelling
to Barnstaple every day. Four hour round trip. Then parking issues and everything else. So
to have her back in Holsworthy, to make use of these beds, was for us, for me and my family
was fantastic.
>>Nick Pearson: For me, there are some really key take home messages. Meet often and build
rapport. Now you can do that really quickly by meeting often. We chose two weeks, but
it will be appropriate to your circumstances how often you meet.
It’s also important to get good representation around the table. So really “can do” people.
Really good politicians and make sure the District Council, the Town Council the County
Council, whatever your local council is, make sure they are represented.
Be honest about the challenges because your authenticity throughout this is absolutely
key. The public come with that authenticity - the NHS needs to come with that authenticity
too. So if there is something wrong, tell people there is something wrong. Equally,
if something is going right, tell them that also.
Information is King. Make sure you give people really clear information and make sure it’s
correct. Because it’s new, you’ve got to resource it properly. So you will need
a leader, for communications,. You will also need someone who can help out with graphic
design. And you will also need somebody who can book rooms and work with the community
to make arrangements
And finally, give something. Make sure that you are putting in an emotional investment
because people can feel that, they can feel your authenticity. And if the community feels
you are taking something away, make sure you’re giving something back.
>>Jon Hutchings: We had a public meeting recently, and the difference between our first meeting
two years ago, to this one, was amazing. We put forward all of the recommendations and
the public there seemed very happy.
>>Sue Banks: It’s been a long time getting there, but yes I think we feel that process
has produced us some proposals that have a chance to make a real difference.
>>Simon Tapley: I think the real ownership by local influential
leaders, the Major Jon, the local county councillor Barry, are really trusted by the local people
and the involvement that key people have had within the Holsworthy has really made this
project successful.