Lack of investment hindering progress of new NHS bodies – report
The bodies set up to redesign health and care services are being held back from fully delivering improvements because of underinvestment in workforce and capital and a lack of a social care workforce plan, according to the NHS Confederation.
The findings were published in a new report by the NHS Confederation, based on the views of leaders across the country’s Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in their first year as formal partnerships of health organisations, local authorities and other bodies.
ICSs have been tasked with overseeing the planning of services, improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities across 42 local areas in England.
Their development was a major structural change for ensuring healthcare in England is delivered in a more joined-up way when they were formally established as part of the Health and Care Act in July 2022.
In the survey, ICS leaders cited workforce pressures, issues with social care, and financial constraints as their main challenges, echoing the findings of reports by the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee which warned that ICSs would find it difficult to deliver on their long term aims unless these issues are tackled.
ICS leaders told the NHS Confederation that these challenges (and the disruption of industrial action in the last 12 months) make the task of balancing long-term transformation and short-term operational delivery significantly more difficult.
Sarah Walter, director of NHS Confederation’s ICS Network, said: ‘ICS leaders are proud of the progress they’ve made in really tough conditions but they are deeply frustrated by some of the potentially soluble barriers that are hindering the extent to which they can get on with transforming services for their local communities. They want to see these tackled urgently if ICSs are to fulfil their full potential.
‘Workforce pressure was cited as the biggest issue, closely followed by finances, with a call for the promised review of the entire NHS capital regime to progress without delay. ICBs are also concerned about having to reduce their running costs by 30% over the next two years, and the risk that this adds further pressure and absorbs management time and headspace in a context where the number of functions being delegated to ICSs continues to increase.
‘A further barrier holding back the progression of ICSs is the government’s refusal to commit to a long-term workforce plan for social care.
‘While it is encouraging that ICSs are recognised as the right model at the right time for health and care, more concerted action is needed to create the right conditions to help them succeed in delivering even better, more joined-up care for patients.’
Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya
‘Catastrophic’ report results forecast choppy waters for the NHS
Pressures on NHS mental health staff causing vicious cycle of staff shortages