Bromley Child Health Service Highly Commended at NHS Parliamentary Awards
Bromley Child Health Integrated Partnership Team (BCHIP) has been highly commended at yesterday’s NHS Parliamentary Award for the development of its multi-agency approach to integrated children’s triage and clinics in the borough. The team, nominated by Orpington MP Gareth Bacon in the Excellence in Primary and Community Care Award category, was highly commended on 14 October in a proud moment for local healthcare.
The BCHIP model is an innovative approach to providing a network of services that draws in the many health, care, and support services families and children need. It is facilitated by a multi-disciplinary team from a range of Bromley services. The programme aims to reduce hospital admissions and attendances, while empowering families to better understand and manage their child’s wellbeing. Children and families can access the services they need closer to home. As a result, fewer children attend hospital outpatient clinics and are instead seen more quickly by the right clinician or service for their needs.
Since its launch in 2023, the BCHIP programme has grown to cover seven of the eight Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Bromley, with the final PCN preparing to deliver later this year. The service is already making a significant difference in the community.
GPs refer children and young people into BCHIP’s community clinics, where a dedicated team of GPs, nurses, and paediatricians meets weekly to triage cases, providing families with advice, guidance, and referrals as needed.
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, attentive nature of the paediatricians.
Initial data shows:
- Fewer hospital visits: Children are seen by paediatricians in community clinics.
- Efficient triage process: About 21% of children are referred to the next step of the BCHIP pathway, the multi-disciplinary team community clinic, indicating an efficient triage process.
- Reduced wait times: Each child needing specialist paediatric input is seen at least 20 weeks sooner than through the traditional outpatient referral model.
- Positive experiences: 96% of families reported satisfaction with their appointment outcomes.
Dr Angela Bhan, Bromley Executive Lead, NHS South East London, said: “We are thrilled that BCHIP has been recognised in this national award category. The team’s work reflects our commitment to ensuring every child, young person, and family in Bromley has access to the care and support they need to thrive. This recognition is well-deserved, and we are grateful to Gareth Bacon for his nomination.”
Bromley Children’s Integrated Health Clinics is an integrated service delivered by several Bromley organisations working together within the 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 usual 6-9 month wait. Paediatrician examination at a GP surgery is genius—wish it was available sooner!”
- “So fast and convenient.”