Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 141
During this inquiry we heard about a proposal for a national care service, under which...
Conclusion
During this inquiry we heard about a proposal for a national care service, under which health and social care would be delivered by the same organisation. This would be similar to systems in place in Northern Ireland and Wales. This proposal was roundly dismissed by our witnesses. We support the Government’s policy of getting health and care to work better together at a local level, which is far more preferable than a massive reorganisation to create a national care service.
Government Response Summary
The government recognizes the importance of collaboration between commissioners and providers within integrated care systems (ICS) and will provide further support and advice to help places develop their approaches where needed, including reviewing ICS boundaries in certain areas.
Paragraph Reference:
141
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Whilst strategic, at-scale planning and commissioning is at integrated care system (ICS) level, the government recognises much of the activity to integrate care should be driven by collaboration between commissioners and providers over smaller geographic areas within integrated care systems (places). Place boundaries should be defined locally between key partners including local government and the NHS. The government will continue to work with place-based partnerships as they develop their collaborative arrangements including governance models. We have seen some good, albeit variable, progress in this area, and we will provide further support and advice to help places develop their approaches where needed. As far as possible, places should fall within ICS boundaries, but we recognise that in some areas this may be challenging. We have previously committed to reviewing the Cheshire and Merseyside ICS boundaries and the areas of North Yorkshire and Cumbria following the restructuring of local government in these areas. Partners may wish to review place arrangements to ensure that they meet local needs following any decisions related to these ICS boundary reviews. The government recognises the benefits of pooling resources to support the joint delivery of services. There are many good examples of local areas using mechanisms such as