Lincolnshire

Improving access to healthcare services

Lincolnshire Community Health Services (LCHS) have led on an initiative to offer screening
for latent tuberculosis, general health checks, information and advice to factory workers in south
Lincolnshire.

The work was delivered by members of the countywide Community Tuberculosis (TB) Service and the Trust’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team. Sue Silvester, TB lead nurse at Lincolnshire Community Health Services, explained “Through this project, we wanted to improve people’s understanding of how to access local health services, break down language barriers and increase screening for TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).”

Although Lincolnshire has a low incidence of TB, the uptake for conventional home visiting for
TB and LTBI screening was low and so the project allowed Sue and the team to visit the factory
workers and to carry out on site screening, thus contributing to a wider programme of reducing
the number of TB cases across the county.

“By offering services in a different way, we have been able to help reduce health inequalities, facilitate a
dedicated time for workers to access information, reduce the incidence of TB locally, facilitate
onward referral where necessary for a range of health issues and build great working relationships
with local employers.” Rachel Higgins, equality, diversity and inclusion lead at LCHS, said “Our services are constantly looking at new ways to engage with members of our local communities. With the support of a number of local employers, this project is making a real difference to people who otherwise would have been difficult for us to reach out to.”

UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST STAFF AWARDS 2020
Earlier in September, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust celebrated their 2020 staff awards
where staff from nursing, clinical and non-clinical backgrounds were recognised for their efforts. Watch their 2020 Staff Awards Video.

LINCOLNSHIRE CCG
Lincolnshire CCG posted a thank you message to the public from all of Lincolnshire’s NHS Leaders. Watch the messages.