healthcare update - issue 10
Integrated care pilots - widening the net
Following the launch of the two-year pilot programme which
focused on the evaluation and testing of various models of
delivering integrated care in April 2009, the 16 Integrated Care
Pilots (ICPs) began the process of testing their individual methods
of integrated service provision. Each of the sixteen pilots took a
different approach from the other pilot programmes, and the initial
stages of this programme have been successful.
The Department have now announced that the number of original
ICPs (16), would be expanded so as to enable the knowledge and
experience gained in the original pilot programme to be shared and
built on, with a view to exploring further the possibilities
available (including those identified by projects that are taking
place outside the remit of the national programme) for delivering
safe and effective integrated care.
How will the pilot programme expand?
The expansion of this programme intends to provide a wider base
for knowledge-sharing and a support network for integrated care
projects. The original two-year period for the project remains, and
it is still intended that this programme will end in March
2011.
When the pilot scheme ends in 2011, the national programme will
gather the knowledge gained by all the participating trusts, for
use in developing the effective delivery of care in the future. The
Department has set out in its
press release of 2 February 2010 that “the participating
sites will identify best practice and help sustain integrated
services for the local community long after the pilot scheme is
over”. The expansion of this programme provides an opportunity
for trusts which were not one of the first wave of pilot trusts, to
become involved now, and to feed into the process for developing
effective care delivery going forward.
There is no limit to the number by which this project can
expand, but the Department are particularly interested in
innovative projects. The Department has suggested that “the
most ambitious projects will not just be looking at integration
within the health service or between health and social care, but
might incorporate other sectors such as education, criminal justice
[and] housing”[1]. There has also been an indication that
projects focusing for example on children’s services would be
particularly welcome.
An opportunity to address local issues?
You may be aware that there has been increased publicity in
connection with safeguarding procedures recently, particularly in
relation to the provision of services to children. Children’s
Services in the Midlands has been the subject of some scrutiny of
late, and it is clear that there is a consensus that improvements
are necessary. Although some improvements have already been
recommended, involvement in the extended ICP programme may provide
a welcome means of sharing the knowledge and experiences of other
trusts, authorities and organisations nationally.
Whilst a decision has been taken by one local authority to
postpone its involvement in a similar pilot scheme focusing on
social work, much work has already gone into preparing for the
commencement of this project.
There are clearly opportunities locally to develop a support
network for integrated care projects, both across trusts, and
between trusts and local authorities, and other organisations, and
participation in the extended ICP scheme is worth considering.
It is not yet known the extent to which the pilots will be
mirrored within the wider Total Place initiative or indeed the
'co-operative proposals' suggested by the Conservatives but it is
clear that integration across a range of publicly funded functions
will gather momentum as government departments look to achieve the
operational efficiencies demanded by the Treasury whilst grappling
with new and complex models of governance which will emerge during
this process. Nor is it known whether this proposal will
re-invigorate integrated children’s trusts – in view of the limited
timescale for the pilots, the latter is unlikely.
Next steps
For those who are interested in participating in the extended
programme, the
self-assessment tool which is now available on the Department
website should be completed so as to determine eligibility to
participate.
If you have any queries, or would like to discuss issues that
may be related to the provision of integrated care, please get in
touch.
[1] DH Gateway Reference: 13542
talk to us
save to PDF
The content of this update is provided for the purposes of general
interest and information. It contains only brief summaries of
aspects of the subject matter and does not provide comprehensive
statements of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does
not provide a substitute for it.