The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) have launched details of its new five-year plan which sets out how the local NHS will work collaboratively to improve health and care services and outcomes for patients across the city and counties over the coming years.

The LLR Integrated Card Board (LLR ICB) have developed the plan along with University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) to build on the significant improvements that have been delivered since the LLR ICB was formed in July 2022. To date improvements that have been delivered include enhancement of urgent care services; reduced planned care waiting lists and modernised mental health services.

Andy Williams, chief executive of the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland ICB said: “We’re proud to launch our first five-year plan as a ICB and we’re committed to working with our NHS colleagues and partners in local authorities, the voluntary and community sectors, and other public services to support people to stay healthy and lead independent lives. We want to offer our people assurance that when they are unwell our services are there for them, their carers, and families no matter where they live.

“Our five-year plan builds on our progress to date but also addresses the ongoing challenges we still face, for example in access to primary care, hospital, mental health and children and young people’s services. Our workforce is populated by colleagues working with outstanding dedication and professionalism but we’re also working hard to tackle the significant number of vacancies which affects our ability to meet demand.”

The plan features 13 pledges that the LLR ICB will commit to deliver over the next five years. The pledges are based on the things the public have told us are really important to them and includes:
• We will work to improve access to GP practices and reduce waiting times for ambulances and treatment.
• We will improve health equity, including in mental health services, and focus on preventing illness.
• We will improve services for children and young people and women and girls. We will keep our frailest people well and ensure more patients with a learning disability receive a health check.
• We will continue to join-up services, closer to home, and grow our workforce around patients’ needs.

Richard Mitchell, chief executive University Hospitals of Leicester, said: “The five-year plan sets out how we will work in partnership to improve the health, care, and wellbeing of people in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Our shared ambition is to provide joined-up care around people’s individual needs, in the right place and at the right time. At UHL we are keen to continue to integrate our services and to work in partnership with GPs, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, local councils, voluntary services, and community groups to improve outcomes for patients and communities. The plan also builds on our strong commitment to tackling health inequalities and working with communities to design services.”

Additionally, the plan also sets out our key focus areas that we believe will enable us to overcome our challenges and improve access and equitable outcomes for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland in a financially sustainable manner.

Angela Hillery, chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership Trust, said: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our new NHS five-year plan for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. We are fully supportive of the pledges that people have told us they want us to prioritise. We are committed to working with our NHS and voluntary sector partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population, particularly in relation to mental health, learning disabilities and children and young people’s health. Working in partnership has already resulted in significant progress in these areas – for example, in the number of completed annual health checks for people with learning disabilities; the development of mental health cafes in neighbourhoods with our voluntary sector partners; and joined up health and social care services closer to or within people’s own homes.

“It is crucial that we continue to build on this progress, addressing health inequalities and improving parity of esteem for mental health. Working together, we are committed to doing more to create high quality, compassionate care, and well-being for all.”

The full five-year plan can be viewed in detail by clicking here.