Buurtzorg Diaries - A Self-Led Start to our Trip – Emma Walker & Siobhan Reading

Early in March, several AQuA staff and members embarked on an exciting study trip to the Netherlands, to learn more about the Buurtzorg health and care system.

Throughout the week, they’ll be sharing their learning and experiences of the trip in a series of blogs. Starting off the series, our Strategic Portfolio Lead Emma Walker and Programme Support Officer Siobhan Reading bring us up to speed after landing in The Hague…

Emma Walker

Siobhan Reading and Emma Walker

AQuA and member colleagues excitedly arrived in The Hague for our Buurtzog study visit to see how self-led teams work in the Netherlands.

It was quickly apparent from the initial welcome meeting with our Buurtzorg hosts that we were not just going to observe self-led teams, but the programme itself for us was going to be very self-led.

Teams were given their programme for the next 3 days and then we all had to work out how to get to various points across the city - some by 7.30am the following morning!

Initially, folk talked about getting taxis, but it didn’t take long for their adventurous spirit to creep forth and you could see why these folk had been chosen as they quickly embodied self-led ‘ness’ and a can-do approach; working in small groups (with good old Google) to work out which tram, from where and when they needed to get to by when (how did we manage before the wonders of smartphones?)

So, we are off with our phones, clutching maps on bikes, trams and foot to explore the 3rd city of the Netherlands to see how Buurtzorg works in practice - not only observing nurses with patients today, but also visiting a Buurtzorg office, seeing how the very streamlined back-office function works and how social and health care provision in the community functions together.

Siobhan Reading

Today I was surprised to learn that setting up a Buurtzorg team requires an entrepreneurial streak!

You have to be prepared for the challenges of business planning, budgets and watching your overheads.  You also need to have identified if the model will work within your neighbourhood by reaching out to GPs and other community organisations.

AQuA staff and members alongside Buurtzorg colleagues

It’s not enough to just have a team of nurses. With no formal support the team has to be prepared to make all their own decisions regarding staffing and working practices.

For anyone who's had a desire to set up their own business or be free of line management maybe the Buurtzorg model can apply to more than just healthcare.

However, taking on that responsibility might not be for everyone…

Teams from localities across East Cheshire, Manchester, and Wirral will also be sharing their experiences from the trip, so stay tuned to our news page for more.

Alternatively, you can follow Emma Walker (@EmmaCherub) or our Whole System Flow Lead Wendy Lewis (@ERPwend) on Twitter for the latest.