With integrated care boards (ICBs) as statutory organisations taking up the reins across England, there is no doubt that further changes will be happening. The challenges that the health service is facing at the present time seem never ending, and the biggest challenge affecting all areas of the service is workforce.
In this edition of PCC Insight Professor David Colin-Thomé considers the Fuller Stocktake, and there is no better document to set out the potential challenges and opportunities ahead:
“ICSs [integrated care systems] come just at the right time, tasked with achieving four aims: improving outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience and access; enhancing productivity and value for money; and helping the NHS support broader social and economic development. The ICS CEOs believe that achieving these aims will only be possible if we support and develop a thriving integrated primary care system. This will need to be built as locally as possible, drawing on the insights, resourcefulness and innovations of patients and their carers, local communities, local government and NHS teams, other care providers and wider system partners, as well as, of course, primary care leaders.” Fuller Stocktake
This may be the time for the challenges to be addressed at a local, rather than a national level, and the opportunity for ICBs to really make their mark, supporting and enabling local services to address the challenges in their areas. Time is limited and they need to prove they can make the difference needed working in partnership with all local partners.
We include a case study on Derby City Place Alliance where partnership working brought together health, social care and third sector to start to improve patient pathways and smooth the patient journey. We also consider how the primary care estate can help with addressing inequalities.
Other articles include what the latest dental reforms mean in practice, top tips for presentation skills, an update on NHS Networks, which PCC supports and is developing a new website for, as well as examples of the questions we receive through our helpdesk for primary care commissioners.
If you would like to share a case study or article for a future edition contact maria.axford@pcc.nhs.uk.
