The initial focus of the collaborative was centred on establishing a clinical improvement programme which was driven by a recognition of entrenched health inequalities, poor cancer outcomes, and a range of surgical specialties for whom access had deteriorated significantly.
The goals of the programme are to transform services by:
- improving access – through recovery and restoration with a strong focus on delivering the elective care backlog
- improving quality – focusing on equity and reduction of health inequalities through standardisation of care and the reduction of unwarranted variation across the Black Country
- system resilience and transformation – exploring new models of care to improve access, patient experience and health outcomes, whilst enhancing workforce recruitment and resilience.
Recently, there has been an increased focus on a corporate improvement programme with 'enabling' priorities to underpin their transformation plans.
These functions include:
- data, digital and technology
- estates and facilities management
- finance
- governance
- human resources, organisational development and workforce
- legal services
- payroll
- procurement.
To encourage a shared sense of purpose and accountability from across the collaborative, different executives from across the providers are being given responsibility for these priorities and work programmes. The leadership team hope that this will lead to wider engagement and contribution from across the collaborative executive and help people identify more closely with the collaborative.