Northamptonshire selected to help shape the future of integrated care
Northamptonshire has been selected as one of the first areas in the country to help develop a new approach to integrated health and care.
The announcement comes as the NHS marks the first anniversary of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, which identified Integrated Health Organisations as one way of supporting more joined-up, preventative and population-focused care. Northamptonshire has been recognised nationally as one of the leading systems helping to develop this approach.
Following a nationally assessed process linked to achieving the NHS 10 Year Health Plan ambitions, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has been designated as eligible to take on an Integrated Health Organisation (IHO) contract for Northamptonshire.
An Integrated Health Organisation is not about organisational change - more importantly it creates opportunities to bring partners together around a shared ambition: to improve the experience and outcomes of people by organising care around their needs, rather than organisational boundaries.
Being selected reflects Northamptonshire's positive track record of partnership working and creates a framework for organisations to work together differently around the needs of local people and communities.
The development builds on the designation of NHFT as an Advanced Foundation Trust earlier this year, recognising the organisation's maturity and the strength of partnership working across Northamptonshire.
Designation does not create an Integrated Health Organisation. It confirms eligibility to develop local arrangements, with the next phase focusing on detailed business cases, engagement and commissioning decisions.
The approach is designed to support more joined-up care, earlier intervention and a stronger focus on improving population health outcomes. Initial development work will focus on Children and Young People and Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism services, with opportunities to expand over time.
The next phase of work will focus on developing detailed business cases for Children and Young People and Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism services. These will explore opportunities to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and strengthen prevention while informing future decisions about how the model develops.
Angela Hillery, Chief Executive of NHFT, said: "This is an important moment for Northamptonshire, and one that reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to improving care for local people.
"This is not about one organisation doing more. It is about all of us working together differently, bringing our collective experience, skills and insight to support people earlier and in a more joined-up way and so that people experience more joined-up, responsive and compassionate care.
"We know that people experience services as a whole, not as separate organisations. This gives us an opportunity to design care that feels more connected and responsive."
Toby Sanders, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, said: "Northamptonshire has been recognised nationally as a place with strong partnership foundations and a shared ambition to improve outcomes for local people.
"Earlier this year, NHFT was designated as an Advanced Foundation Trust, recognising the strength of the organisation and the partnership working that exists across Northamptonshire. Since then, partners across our system have been working together to explore how we can build on those foundations and help shape new approaches to integrated care.
"This opportunity allows us to explore new ways of organising services around people's needs, with a stronger focus on prevention, reducing inequalities and improving population health. The overall aim is for people to experience care as one journey, not as separate organisations.
"The ICB remains committed to working alongside NHFT, primary care, local authorities, voluntary sector partners and local communities as we develop the next phase together."
The development of the Northamptonshire IHO approach will continue in partnership with Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, primary care, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and local communities.
Further engagement with staff, partners and stakeholders will take place over the coming months as the next phase of development begins.