Integrated care pilot programme—UK Department of Health

INTRODUCTION: The NHS Next Stage Review set the direction for a more locally-driven NHS, with quality as its organising principle. It also highlighted the need for improved integration between health and care services, to improve access to and quality of care within local communities. This was followed, in High Quality Care for All, by a commitment to test and evaluate a range of models of integrated care that should help improve patient, carer and service user outcomes. ABOUT THE ICP: The programme of integrated care pilots (ICP) has been established to address that need. It is an exciting and innovative way of exploring the benefits that greater integration could deliver for local health and well-being. ICP is designed to examine different ways in which health and social care could be provided to help drive improvements in local health and well-being. It allows communities to take a fresh look at how to deliver such care, based solely around the needs of the local population. The aim is to look beyond traditional boundaries (e.g. between primary and secondary care) to explore whether new, integrated models can improve health and care services. Each pilot will be exploring a new approach to a key health issue within the local community, and seeking to deliver improvements in quality, service user satisfaction and local health and well-being. Although the pilots have designed new models for delivering care, they must also ensure that key features of the current health systems are safeguarded, e.g. choice, competition, and the role of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) as the commissioner of local health services. The pilots will run for two years and will be evaluated over three years against a set of national and local measures. The criteria involved include impact on health outcomes, improved quality of care, service user satisfaction, and effective relationships and systems. ICP sits alongside other programmes, such as practice-based commissioning (PBC), to inspire innovation in service development and to encourage stronger partnership between clinicians and those working in local government and social care. It is an exciting opportunity to help deliver better health, better care and better value for local populations and for taxpayers. THE PILOT SITES: Table 1 summarises information of each of the selected pilot organisations. INTERNATIONAL INNOVATIONS IN INTEGRATED CARE: Alongside the work being undertaken in the pilot sites, the DH is carrying out a review of international exemplars in integrated care. The evidence from these will be used to stimulate further development within the NHS. This is supported by a learning network encouraging local, national and international co-operation and collaboration. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: ICP presents a major opportunity to explore new and exciting models of developing and delivering care services for local communities. If you could like any further information about the programme, please contact the Integrated Care team at the Department of Health, on integratedcare@dh.gsi.gov.uk and http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/IntegratedCare/DH_091112.