Despite significant financial pressures, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has succeeded in remaining in budget while still improving care and services for people in Sheffield.

At its annual public meeting last year, where Star editor Nancy Fielding put readers’ questions to the governing body, the CCG shared that it was facing a £30 million shortfall following national changes to funding and increasing demand for services.

However, its annual report shows it has managed to remain within its budget and still deliver improvements to health services for people in the city, such as improving cancer services and increasing support for people experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues.

NHS Sheffield CCG Chair and GP, Dr Tim Moorhead, said: “We have done a huge amount of work to improve efficiency and make sure we are getting the best possible value for public money. A big focus has been joining up services and working together with our local hospitals, GP practices, Sheffield City Council and other organisations across the city to look at how we can make them for effective for people in Sheffield.

“Many of the changes that improve services and health for patients also improve efficiency and this has continued to be our priority. For example, changing the treatment used for people with Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration has meant fewer eye injections and trips to outpatient clinics for patients and also saved the NHS over £250,000.

“Our main aim of bringing services into the community makes it more convenient for people to get the care they need without having to go to hospital. It also costs less so that money can be used elsewhere in the NHS.  Similarly, we have continued to invest in prevention, such as our new programme for people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes which aims to help them avoid developing the condition by changing their lifestyles.

“It’s not been easy though and we’re facing even more pressure this year so we may have to take some difficult decisions to make sure we keep within our budget.”

Designed as a ‘photo album’, the report shows residents how their money has been used to provide local health services and improve care. Other achievements featured that are benefitting patients include:

• Investing in social ‘prescriptions’ for non-medical support or services for a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs that can affect people’s health and wellbeing.

• Setting up a telephone prescription ordering line to give patients advice and help with their medication, and reduce medicine waste in the city.

• Developing a ‘neighbourhood’ way of working, with GP practices joining together, along with other local and voluntary services to coordinate care in their local area.

• Doubling the uptake of free ‘Healthy Start’ vitamins for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• Supporting the Sheffield ‘Healthy Minds’ project which helps identify and support school pupils who may need mental health and emotional wellbeing support.

To get in the picture on how the NHS spends your money, you can read the Annual Report here.