NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit

5 April 2022

Increasing the uptake of health checks for patients with severe mental illness

We helped integrated care systems increase numbers of annual physicals health checks for patients with severe mental illness by finding and implementing suitable technology to enable healthcare staff…

4 April 2022

Helping North Staffordshire Trust pay suppliers

We quickly mobilised financial services helping an NHS Trust to process and pay supplier invoices. Background In April 2021, a cohort of learning disabilities and mental health patient…

31 March 2022

Integrating data for the Combined Intelligence for Population Health Action (CIPHA) platform

We helped key stakeholders in the Cheshire and Merseyside health system see combined intelligence reports on capacity and demand for health services, allowing them to respond to COVID-19…

22 March 2022

Support to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace

We facilitated the design of and implemented a bespoke online tool to make it easier for staff to report bullying, harassment and discrimination Background ‘Your Voice: Report and…

18 March 2022

Success in setting up community pharmacy services

We helped commissioners with medicines management expertise in setting up and maintaining community pharmacy services, freeing up capacity across primary care. Read the full case study For more…

15 March 2022

Embedding equalities and inclusive decision making in the LLR system

We helped an integrated care system implement a framework for making decisions that addresses bias and improves how equality is considered from the outset of decisions and proposals. …

10 March 2022

Improving equity and equality in maternity and neonatal care

We combined national metrics and local NHS, council and third sector data to help health systems understand where there are inequalities within local services. Background There was a…

2 March 2022

Improving use of medicines across Merseyside – Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee

We had another successful year in 2020/21 at the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee promoting the safe and efficient use of medicines and completing a series of medicines…

7 February 2022

Evaluating the national Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes programme

The evaluation of the National Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) programme demonstrated significant improvements in medication management, including reduced doses, discontinuation of unnecessary medications, and decreased use…

7 February 2022

Taking an integrated approach to equality and inclusion planning

We helped the council and clinical commissioning group in Trafford to develop a joint five-year equality, diversity and inclusion strategy. Background Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Trafford…

4 February 2022

Leading a hospital transformation programme

We developed a strategic outline case setting out the ambitions and next steps in one of the NHS’s largest hospital transformation programmes. Background The Transformation Unit at NHS…

2 February 2022

Incontinence medication reviews offer major patient benefits

We enabled medication reviews of patients with long-term prescriptions for urinary incontinence medication which enabled clinicians to recommend ‘drug holidays’. Read the full case study For more information…

2 February 2022

Boosting GP community pharmacy consultations

Our work supporting implementation of the GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service in the East of England led to a significant increase in practices referring patients with minor ailments…

28 January 2022

Improving health and wellbeing for NHS workers

We developed resources and videos and provided expert advice and evaluation to help NHS England and Improvement gather, develop and outline a wide range of wellbeing support options…

27 January 2022

Supporting redesign of acute services

Our Transformation Unit helped develop a new model of care for acute services at a health and social care partnership alliance. Background Cheshire East Partnership is an alliance…

21 January 2022

Ensuring a COVID-19 vaccination programme met the Public Sector Equality Duty

Our experts ensured that the Lancashire and South Cumbria Vaccination Programme met the Public Sector Equality Duty. Background Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Vaccination Programme Board requested support…

20 January 2022

Advancing engagement and shared learning for COVID-19 support programme

We helped deliver the strategic engagement and created opportunities for shared learning in the development of a national programme of Community Champions supporting risk groups with COVID-19. Background…

19 January 2022

Supporting development of national digital strategies

Our Transformation Unit was commissioned by NHSX to support in the development of its national digital strategies for ambulance, community, dentistry, optometry and community pharmacy sectors. Background There…

14 January 2022

Supporting infection prevention and control with analytics

We analysed data and provided insight which informed a national programme for improving infection prevention and control about where to focus support to reduce infection levels. Background Following…

11 January 2022

Making a difference through Equality, Health Inequality Impact & Risk Assessments

Our Equality & Inclusion Team supported development of a hot hub service managing COVID patients in Leicestershire. Background At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Leicester, Leicestershire &…

11 January 2022

Identifying and providing efficiencies for a mental health trust

Our finance experts helped North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust to find significant savings. Background North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust provides a range of mental health services…

10 January 2022

Meeting pandemic demand for oxygen and ventilators

Staff from across the NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) was deployed to support a national programme for oxygen, ventilation, medical devices and clinical consumables which ensured that…

23 November 2021

Supporting infection prevention and control safety during COVID-19

We managed a programme of implementing infection prevention and control safety principles to reduce infection rates and provide better access to services during the pandemic. Background During the…

22 November 2021

Saving time in the core invoicing process

We saved time from data processing by introducing a new tool to streamline data entry when invoicing key customers. Background NHS Midlands and Lancashire used a manual process…

29 October 2021

Data warehouse cuts financial reporting time in half

We reduced the time it takes to process essential financial planning templates by 50% and established a data warehouse for financial reporting. Background Previously, the financial planning process…

20 October 2021

Better efficiency in uploading the financial forecast

We halved the time it takes to load the financial forecast into the ledger and reduced the risk of errors. Background NHS Midlands and Lancashire used a manual…

20 August 2021

Supporting a successful launch of proxy medicines ordering

Our Medicines Management and Optimisation team worked with the Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, GP practices and care homes on a successful project to increase…

11 August 2021

Quick and easy patient referrals for post-Covid illness

Our Data Quality team developed a custom data input template to streamline referrals of patient with post-Covid illness, saving time and effort for clinicians, improving access for patients…

19 July 2021

UBook transforms room booking at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

We created a single online system which allows staff at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust to book desks, meeting rooms and clinic rooms. UBook really came…

30 June 2021

Using expertise to help the Sue Ryder charity improve its medicines management

We worked with the Sue Ryder charity to enhance its medicines management and governance across 10 services in the UK, resulting in a positive working relationship and well-received…

30 June 2021

Improvement Unit leads work to transform NHS continuing healthcare across England

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Improvement Unit set up and managed a successful programme management office (PMO) for the National NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Strategic Improvement Programme. Background NHS…

30 June 2021

Helping health and care services across Cheshire and Merseyside to plan five-year programme of improvements

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) are proud to have supported Cheshire and Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) with the development of their five-year strategy. Background NHS…

24 June 2021

Working with partners to create a faster, more efficient payment system for joint-funded care packages

The objective of the project was to streamline payments for joint funded packages between NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) and Staffordshire County Council by moving to a…

22 June 2021

Rapid recruitment and training of expert CHC nurses to tackle the assessment backlog caused by…

Our programme helped the NHS to restore, recover and renew following the enormous disruption caused by COVID-19. It has created a blueprint for future recruitment and retention of…

22 June 2021

Boosting consultation and engagement through accessibility friendly innovation: Digital easy-read surveys

By producing easy-read versions of our questionnaires we can improve participation in our engagement and consultation exercises with people who would otherwise be put off by longer, more…

21 June 2021

Providing rapid recruitment services to NHS trusts in support of COVID-19 vaccination drive

Our work supported the recruitment of the bank and volunteer staff working at vaccination centres, at a time of high pressure in the NHS when work volumes were…

9 June 2021

Providing Media Management Training for CCG Senior Leaders

Background When NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) became a single organisation, a need for media training was identified to ensure all members had a…

9 June 2021

Stepping in to support strategic public health communications during the pandemic

Background As part of the ongoing response to the Coronavirus pandemic, St Helens Borough Council and NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) identified an increased need for…

9 June 2021

Providing a Central Integrated Care System Media Office

Background Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership (HCP) is an integrated care system where there is a collaborative partnership of local authority, NHS and community organisations…

9 June 2021

An accessible approach to explaining deaths of people with learning disabilities

Background The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent CCGs’ Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) annual report 2019/20 was not written with the public in mind. We were asked to produce an…

9 June 2021

Managing an acute trust’s annual report from start to finish – during the pandemic

Background The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust asked us to project manage their 2020/21 annual report and to showcase their achievements in a public summary. Action…

9 June 2021

Summarising a complex and high-profile consultation

Background The North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) requested support to summarise a complex public consultation about improving community-based services. NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s (NHS ML)…

21 May 2021

Clearing a 5,000-patient backlog of continuing healthcare assessments

We worked in partnership with local authorities to successfully complete retrospective assessments of individuals supported via COVID-19 funding arrangements during the suspension of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Framework.…

10 May 2021

Coordinating five CSUs to support national CCG mergers programme

We led a collaboration between the five care system support services in England to provide a range of programme management, project management and organisational change support, assisting the…

7 May 2021

Trailblazers in the North West help implement patient-clinician shared decision-making

We have been helping the recovery of elective care activity in the North West region, using innovative techniques to support engagement with NHS trusts for the national programme…

27 April 2021

Building a low-cost high-value website for GP surgeries

Using our website design tool, PrimaryWeb, and our tailored support, a GP partnership developed a purpose-built website to bring the services, guidance and stories of four practices all…

23 April 2021

Supporting the outpatient transformation programme in North East and Yorkshire

Our Improvement Unit supported the implementation of the outpatient transformation programme, optimising virtual consultations, increasing the rollout of patient-initiated follow up and mapping data from lessons learnt during…

21 April 2021

Providing workforce resource and expert pharmacy support to Nightingale hospital

NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) successfully redeployed two staff members at short notice to provide essential pharmacy support at Manchester’s NHS Nightingale Hospital North West (NNW), contributing…

19 April 2021

Rapidly developing a bespoke booking system for flu jabs

We developed a tailored booking solution for Wirral University Teaching Hospital’s staff flu jab programme when COVID-19 made it unsafe to run the usual drop-in sessions with people…

26 March 2021

Mobilising a “Gold Command Room” to ease system pressure

We set up a “Gold Command Room” in collaboration with partners from across the Lancashire and South Cumbria health system, to provide tactical and analytical support and ease…

25 March 2021

Supporting the deployment of interim scheduling software for COVID-19 vaccinations

We facilitated the implementation of SimplyBook, an interim solution for COVID-19 vaccinations scheduling until the national system was operational. Background When NHS England and Improvement set an ambitious…

25 March 2021

Managing local delivery of the national vaccination programme

We provided programme and project management support to implement the national COVID-19 vaccination programme in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Black Country, establishing over 50 vaccination centres. Background Commissioning…

9 March 2021

Improving medicines safety in care homes

Through structured medication reviews, we supported the proactive management of individual care home patients needs, saving over £149,000 in drug costs and on average 62 GP appointments per…

18 February 2021

Using chatbot technology to improve referral management

Using chatbot technology for our referral management service has increased efficiency and a better patient experience. Background Our Referral Management Centre (RMC) makes bookings when a patient is…

8 February 2021

Enabling two Merseyside based CCGs to block book beds with ease

We helped our clients in Merseyside to identify and commission the most appropriate block contract of intermediate care beds, reaching a decision on a provider in less than…

3 February 2021

Improving Hard to Source Items (HTSI) supply chain resilience during COVID-19 surge

Following the COVID-19 surge in demand for clinical consumables and services, we were tasked with finding alternative ways to procure hard to source items such as masks, filters,…

3 February 2021

Ensuring successful implementation of a PCN Directed Enhanced Services Contract

We planned and supported the implementation of services in Southport and Formby GPs, in accordance with the latest Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Services Contract. Background Southport &…

2 February 2021

Improving PPE procurement data quality for NHS Supply Chain

We managed a project with NHSEI to standardise data and improve the quality of the NHS Supply Chain database, supporting the procurement of PPE. Background The COVID-19 outbreak…

10 November 2020

Rapidly rolling out video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s (NHS ML’s) change management specialists have ensured the rapid introduction of video consultations across the north of England to improve patient safety following the…

3 November 2020

Delivering a wave of rapid improvement challenges

We delivered a wave of rapid improvement challenges in elective care specialties across the North Region. BackgroundIn response to the continued operational pressures in elective care and following…

2 October 2020

Supporting the rapid procurement of ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic

NHS ML seconded over a senior member of staff with specialist procurement expertise to support the government’s ventilator procurement programme. Background At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,…

11 August 2020

Enabling a population health management approach to improve end of life care

Our population health analytics platform, Aristotle Xi, has helped a group of Leicestershire general practices to offer the right support to a greater number of patients nearing the…

9 March 2020

Helping patients get the most benefit from their medicines

Through the Me and My Medicines campaign, we empowered patients to raise concerns and use their medicines more effectively, improving overall health outcomes. Partnering with NHS Greater Preston…

14 February 2020

Evaluating the NHS continuing healthcare digital specification project

Our experts have helped to develop the national NHS continuing healthcare digital specification Background Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a complex, important and high cost element of clinical commissioning…

3 September 2025

Supporting the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme

NHS Midlands and Lancashire is helping deliver the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme by equipping local systems with the tools, coaching and intelligence to reshape services and bring…

3 September 2025

Building a new website for primary care reporting

The CSU’s Communications and Engagement team successfully delivered a new website for the NHS Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS). CQRS is an NHS England funded programme managed by…

25 July 2025

Enhancing recruitment through a new, engaging website area

The collaborative Communications and Engagement team from Arden & GEM and Midlands and Lancashire CSUs worked with an NHS trust to deliver a new, engaging recruitment section on…

13 June 2025

New patient-focused website for Medway Community Healthcare

Our collaborative redesign and rebuild delivered an accessible, user-focused website for Medway Community Healthcare, enhancing digital engagement with patients and stakeholders. Visit the new Medway Community Healthcare website.…

13 June 2025

Workshop in a box at Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

We supported Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) to run local workshops that captured public and staff feedback for the national 10 Year Health Plan through…

13 June 2025

Shaping urgent care through community voices in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

A comprehensive 11-week public engagement programme supported Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) to shape a more efficient and patient-focused urgent and emergency care strategy. Background Staffordshire…

19 May 2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion training for Kent and Medway ICB

Our training helped to embed equality, diversity and inclusion principles into key decision-making processes including policy development, procurement and change. Background Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB)…

12 May 2025

Black History Month inclusion training for NHS finance professionals

The Inclusion Team partnered with the Midlands Finance Academy to deliver an impactful Black History Month session, combining education, lived experience and anti-racism tools to foster a more…

12 May 2025

Driving continuous improvement in histopathology services across the Midlands

A comprehensive review by NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Improvement Unit has created a roadmap for improving quality, efficiency and sustainability across histopathology services in the Midlands. Background Histopathology…

12 May 2025

Improving dementia care through a national self-assessment toolkit

A new national dementia self-assessment tool, co-developed by NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Improvement Unit, DHSC and NHSE, is enabling healthcare systems to improve services, reduce variation and drive…

9 May 2025

Developing an  NHS workforce campaign to drive inclusive recruitment

We developed a fully branded, organic workforce campaign to support NHS Birmingham and Solihull’s Integrated Care System’s ‘I Can’ programme, enabling local teams to raise awareness of inclusive…

25 April 2025

Project management support for NHS cost improvement programme

Discover how effective project management support helped an NHS hospital trust in the North-West save £1.5 million through their cost improvement programme (CIP). Learn about our approach, impact…

5 December 2024

Driving clinical leadership through mentorship at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Nursing and Urgent Care team supported the development of clinical leaders at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) through a year-long mentorship programme, helping Band…

25 November 2024

Collaborative solution for health inequalities reporting across NHS integrated care boards and trusts

Through a collaborative approach, we developed a common approach to reporting health inequalities metrics, enabling consistent, comparable reporting across NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) and allowing local teams…

4 November 2024

Solving fragmented healthcare data with integrated solutions

The One Health and Care (OHC) system has revolutionised healthcare in the Midlands by integrating patient data across sectors, leading to over £1 million in annual savings, significantly…

8 August 2024

Streamlining accounts payable at NHS trust

We worked with an NHS trust to streamline the accounts payable function by setting out a process map for the future, setting out several improvements and automations. Background…

24 May 2024

Optimising staffing strategies, cost reductions and strategic governance

Through detailed analysis and strategic governance frameworks, we reduced the usage of agencies for staffing, leading to notable reductions in agency costs and enhanced compliance with national targets.…

25 January 2022

Using automation to reduce waiting lists

We have helped a hospital trust to tackle the backlog of waiting lists while maintaining quality of care by using a combination of chatbot, risk stratification and artificial intelligence.…

3 November 2021

Financial process automation saving up to 50 hours per month

Our Corporate Finance and our Digital Innovation Unit have saved up to 50 hours per month in financial reporting and invoicing after introducing robotic process automation to some…

24 June 2021

Responding to the challenge of discharging patients during COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak placed an unprecedented strain on the health and social care system. A coordinated and well-managed response by NHS Midlands and Lancashire and our case management…

23 June 2021

Easy access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

A user-friendly digital hub developed by NHS Midlands and Lancashire streamlines referrals and offers personalised access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP), focusing on uptake by…