Government takes action to strengthen local care systems

Yesterday NHS England announced that the government has committed to a number of measures to support integrated care systems (ICSs) in response to two key reports.

Responding to the Hewitt Review, which was commissioned after the Health and Social Care Committee launched its inquiry into ICSs in July 2022, the government reaffirmed its support for ICSs – partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in the area.

In its response, the Department of Health and Social Care outlines the steps its will take working with the NHS England and local health and care systems, to support learning and improvement and join up care for patients and communities.

As part of this, the department will review and streamline national targets to ensure that systems are able to focus on improving health for their populations.

ICSs bring together NHS, local government, social care providers, charities and other partners to deliver on four goals:

• improving outcomes in population health and healthcare
• tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience and access
• enhancing productivity and value for money
• helping the NHS support broader social and economic development

In line with the recommendations of the reviews, the government has also committed to:

• Continue supporting local systems to adapt to NHS England’s new operating framework, which lays out the new roles NHS England, ICSs and NHS providers will play in the wider health and care system
• Work with NHS England, local authorities and local health and care services to develop better information around funding for prevention services to inform future investment decisions
• provide greater certainty over budgets for local health and care systems, by working to ensure reporting for small in-year funding pots is proportionate, freeing up time for planning and delivery of health and care to local people

The actions from the government’s response will support health and care systems to be more effective, making them a vital tool for improving the speed at which people will receive care in their local areas and in some cases reducing their need to be placed on an NHS waiting list where community support is available.

Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said: ‘Integrated care systems are already making a difference by bringing together local NHS organisations along with social care and the voluntary sector. We know that joined up care benefits patients and that’s exactly what ICSs are there to provide.

‘We have listened to the reports and the actions we’re going to take, like reviewing how we reduce admin burdens on local systems, will build on the excellent work that ICSs are already doing.’

Image: Hush Naidoo Jade Photography