It’s early days for HealthPathways South Tyneside, but the project is already set to make an impact in the local health system.

Implementation Consultant Juanita Gibson, Chief Clinical Editor Graham McGeoch, and Chief HealthPathways Adviser Andy Froggatt have returned from the UK, where they spent two weeks with the South Tyneside team.

They report that changes are already being felt as the first HealthPathways team in the UK launches out of the starting blocks.

There are some differences in how the local health system works compared to New Zealand and Australia, Juanita said, but nothing HealthPathways can’t manage.

“Just in the short time we've been here, we've seen the impact the HealthPathways way of thinking and working is going to have.

“The clinical editors are already pleased at how much they have learned about their own health system.”

The HealthPathways South Tyneside team is hard at work localising 50 pathways for a launch date in August and have their eyes firmly set on achieving a wide set of goals for local patients.

These include developing closer working relationships within the health system, managing the flow of patients to and from hospital services, and achieving more integration between health and social services.

“We are genuinely excited to be working with the Canterbury and Streamliners teams,” said Dr David Hambleton, the Chief Executive of the NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group.

“And we too think HealthPathways will help make a real difference to patients and our workforce in the borough.”

Indeed, Graham said the enthusiasm for the project was obvious.

“We met many people, attended GP education sessions, and talked with SMEs. The impression was of enormous enthusiasm, a great platform for change, and them being a great bunch of people. I was most impressed with the South Tyneside team and very pleased that HealthPathways and aspects of the Canterbury way of working translate readily to the NHS.”

For Andy, the trip was a chance to catch up with the South Tyneside team after his last visit in February. One of the highlights was seeing the clinical editors working in full swing with Graham and Juanita, and getting down to the nitty-gritty of generating pathways that support health and social care in the region. 

“South Tyneside may be facing the challenges of ongoing austerity in the NHS, but already the values and principles that underpin the Canterbury system and HealthPathways are making a difference,” Andy said.

“But, of course, it helps that South Tyneside has outstanding leadership across its health and social care system that shares these values and principles. Despite their challenging environment, they are well placed to further improve patient care in South Tyneside.”