Councils and the NHS in the North West are to joined forces in an effort to connect health, care and housing for the first time.
One Partnership will work with local authorities and the NHS to shape flexible solutions that meet the changing healthcare landscape, reducing hospital stays, minimising re-admissions and allowing people to get the care they need in a suitable environment.
The partnership combines the expertise of Eric Wright Health and Care with three NHS LIFT companies - East Lancashire Building Partnerships, Foundation for Life and BRAHM.
LIFT companies are public/private sector partnerships part owned by Community Health Partnerships, which work across the UK to improve and integrate health and care services across the primary and community estate.
Christine Winstanley, director at Eric Wright Health and Care, said: ‘Having worked with Clinical Commissioning Groups and local authorities within this landscape for a number of years through the LIFT companies, we understand the complexities around procurement, commissioning and estates management and have been working with partner agencies to devise long-term property and accommodation solutions.
‘By developing estates strategies, we can support service redesign, implement new models of care and work to maximise utilisation.’
Dr Sarah Raper, executive director at Community Health Partnerships added: ‘The NHS Five Year Forward View set out a future that dissolves the classic divides between family doctors and hospitals, physical and mental health and health and social care.
‘I’m pleased to welcome this new collaboration and I am confident that One Partnership will work to connect health, social care and housing across the North West in order to provide estate solutions that will make a real difference to the way that care is delivered for local communities.’
