Bromley child health service nominated for national award
Bromley Child Health Integrated Partnership (BCHIP) has been shortlisted for an NHS Parliamentary Award for the development of a multi-agency approach to developing and implementing integrated children’s triage and clinics in the borough. BCHIP was nominated by Orpington MP, Gareth Bacon in the Excellence in Primary and Community Care Award category. The winner will be announced on 14 October.
The BCHIP model is a new way of providing a network of Bromley services, drawing in the many health, care, and support services families and children need, facilitated by a multi-disciplinary team from a range of Bromley services. It aims to reduce hospital admissions and attendances and empower families to better understand and manage their child’s wellbeing. This means children and families can access the services they need closer to home. Fewer children need to attend hospital outpatient clinics and can be seen much sooner, by the right clinician and service for their needs. The programme was launched in 2023 and is currently available in seven of eight Primary Care Networks (PCN) in the borough, with the final PCN planning to begin delivery later this year.
GPs can refer children and young people into a BCHIP multi-disciplinary team community clinic for triage. The team is made up of GPs, nurses, and paediatricians who meet weekly to triage all referrals and agree on next steps, which can be advice and guidance to the family and GP, and referrals if needed into community services or an appointment in the BCHIP clinic.
Dr Andrew Parson, Co-Chair and Clinical Lead for One Bromley Local Care Partnership said: “Once fully embedded across Bromley we will begin to integrate additional services and professionals. This could, for example, include community paediatricians, asthma nurses or mental health professionals. It will serve as a blueprint for other areas seeking to improve services for children and families within neighbourhood locations.
“Attending hospital can be daunting for children and families due to the unfamiliar environment, anxiety about medical procedures, fear of the unknown and the association with illness. The BCHIP has led to a significant reduction in hospital visits for children.
“Feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the benefits of the community clinic model. Families appreciate the longer appointment times, the convenience of seeing specialists at their GP surgery, and the caring and attentive nature of the paediatricians.”
Initial data shows:
- Fewer children attending hospital as they are seen by a paediatrician in a community clinic.
- Efficient Triage Process: Approximately 21% of children were referred to the next step of the BCHIP pathway, the multi-disciplinary team community clinic, indicating an efficient triage process that directs children to the appropriate level of care.
- Reduced Wait Times: Each child needing specialist paediatric input seen in the community clinic, had an appointment at least 20 weeks sooner than in the traditional outpatient referral model.
- Positive experience: 96% said they were satisfied with the outcome of the appointment.
Dr Angela Bhan, Bromley Executive Lead, NHS South East London said: “The BCHIP service supports our aim to ensure that every Bromley child, young person, and family is as healthy as they can be and that they can get the help they need to stay well and thrive. I am delighted that the team is getting the recognition that it deserves, and I am grateful to Mr Bacon for nominating the service
Bromley Child Health Integrated Partnership is an integrated service delivered by the primary care networks, Bromley Healthcare and the Princess Royal University Hospital as part of the wider One Bromley local care partnership.
Feedback from service users has included:.
“Enabled us to see a consultant very quickly and conveniently. It was also good to see clear collaboration between attending GP and consultant.”
“So convenient and quick without the 6-9month usual wait. Paediatrician examination at a GP surgery is genius, wish it was available sooner!”