Start Well: We would like to hear from you 

We would like to hear your views on how we could improve NHS maternity, neonatal, children and young people’s services in north central London (NCL). 

Health and care organisations across five north London boroughs are working together on Start Well, a long-term programme looking at children and young people, maternity and neonatal services.  

The aim is to understand if we are delivering the best services to meet the needs of people living in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, and those from neighbouring boroughs and beyond who choose to use services in NCL. 

Opportunities for improvement 

We would like to invite you to read the Start Well case for change report, which describes current local maternity, neonatal, children and young people’s NHS services and highlights some opportunities for the future. 

Start Well is specifically looking at: 

• Children and young people’s planned (elective) services in hospitals 
• Children and young people’s emergency services in hospitals 
• Maternity services 
• Neonatal care for babies who are unwell when they are born or are born early and need extra support. 

It is focused on services at four hospital trusts in north London: 

• North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 
• Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (which includes Barnet Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, and Chase Farm Hospital) 
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
• Whittington Health NHS Trust. 

The programme also touches on services provided by specialist providers, including Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The links between local hospitals and specialist hospitals, particularly GOSH, have been considered as part of the review. 

Community, mental health services, and primary care are not part of Start Well, but the overlap between them and this programme is being carefully considered. 

Share your views 

Patients, the public, staff and partners are invited to share their views on the opportunities included in the case for change over the summer. The deadline for feedback is 9 September 2022. 

We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has current or recent experience of these services, or anyone who might need these services in future, and their families and carers. 

You can read full and summary versions of the case for change, or a leaflet which gives an overview, on the NCL Integrated Care System website. 

To give feedback you can: 

• Fill in an online survey or request a printed version using the details below 
• Write to FREEPOST NCL NHS (no need for a stamp or postcode) 
• Invite the Start Well team to speak to your group (email nclccg.startwell@nhs.net ) 
• Phone 020 3816 3776.