New toolkit for Welsh NHS and industry to work together for patients

The Welsh NHS Confederation and the ABPI Cymru Wales have launched a toolkit to support joint working between the pharmaceutical industry and NHS Wales.

The toolkit has been launched at the 21^st Welsh NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition, entitled, Working Together Towards A Healthier Wales.

The Conference offers a unique opportunity for colleagues from all sectors of the health and care system to come together, share ideas, reflect, learn and network. An eminent programme of speakers will share their experiences and learning in a wide range of areas in the health and care community, including representatives from the pharmaceutical industry during a workshop session.

The joint-working toolkit aims to deliver ‘triple wins’ in the form of benefits to patients, the NHS and the pharmaceutical company or companies involved.

Darren Hughes, Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said:

“Our Annual Conference, Working Together Towards A Healthier Wales, brings leaders from all aspects of health and social care together to drive forward improvements in how we work together.

“The Conference is the perfect time to launch this initiative to support joint-working between the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS in Wales.”

“This toolkit will help to deliver on the aims set out in the Welsh Government’s long-term plan for health and social care, A Healthier Wales, bringing care closer to home and fewer hospital admissions.

“We also believe this toolkit will help to provide higher quality care and better health outcomes for patients.”

Launching the guidance, Dr Rick Greville, Director ABPI Cymru Wales, said:

“When the industry and NHS work together, the benefits are significant for all concerned – higher quality care, lower hospital admissions and more appropriate use of medicines. We want to help more people in Wales benefit from this triple win.

“That’s why we’re delighted to launch this toolkit at the Welsh NHS Confederation’s Conference.

“I hope this guidance will give people in companies and the NHS the confidence to work together in new ways, and kickstart many successful new joint working projects.”

Joint working is already set to bring benefits to patients in Wales. In one project, Janssen - the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and Myeloma UK have partnered to co-create an ‘All Wales Haematological Malignancy Data Solution’. This will capture real world evidence to help deliver improved outcomes for patients with myeloma, while facilitating a value-based healthcare environment.

Gaëtan Leblay, Managing Director, Janssen UK & Ireland, said:

“At Janssen, we are always looking for opportunities to build partnerships that can make a difference to patient’s lives and the Haem Base Cymru initiative is a really strong example of this.” 

“Through our collaboration with NHS Wales, Welsh Government and patient organisations, we have together created a data solution that will help to identify the treatments, interventions and pathways that deliver the best outcomes for cancer patients in Wales.”

The toolkit can be found here, and the Welsh version here. Details of Janssen's work in Wales are here.