Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Accepted
Paragraph: 142
We welcome the Joining up Care for People, Places and Populations White Paper and commend...
Recommendation
We welcome the Joining up Care for People, Places and Populations White Paper and commend the Government for making the integration of health and social care a policy priority. We particularly welcome the Government’s ambitions around shared outcomes, workforce integration, and ensuring every citizen has a shared care record by 2024. However, we are concerned that inconsistent geographical boundaries could result in gaps which could also hinder the successful pooling of budgets. In Spring 2023 the Government should review how many places have established governance and accountability models and their geographical footprints, and should work with local partners to modify boundaries if necessary to ensure all citizens can benefit from effective arrangements. The Government should also publish without delay its review of the arrangements that govern pooled budgets under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006. The Government should seek to enable localised place-based arrangements between the NHS and individual councils, and pool budgets on that basis.
Government Response Summary
The government states that much of the activity to integrate care should be driven by collaboration between commissioners and providers within integrated care systems (ICS) and will continue to work with place-based partnerships as they develop collaborative arrangements, including reviewing ICS boundaries in certain areas.
Paragraph Reference:
142
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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