Integrated care systems (ICSs) are showing ‘signs of progress’ but increasing pressures on health and care services could derail the positive gains, health think tank warns.
A new report by The King’s Fund found signs that ICSs had some successes in organising local partners around a shared purpose, scaling and spreading success, and using resources more effectively.
However, the report – titled Realising the potential of integrated care systems – also warned that the ‘incredibly high pressures’ on health and care services, a political focus on hitting key national targets such as driving down waiting lists, and extremely difficult economic circumstances could undermine these gains.
ICSs became statutory bodies under the 2022 Health and Care Act with the aim of bringing together NHS organisations, local authorities, charities and other partners to deliver health and care services more effectively.
Chris Naylor, senior fellow at The King’s Fund and lead author of the report, said: ‘ICSs were born into a storm, but despite their rocky start, there are now signs of the benefits brought by more collaborative working through these structures. The new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has committed to avoiding imposing further structural changes in the NHS, which means the challenge is to make sure ICSs now have the best possible chance of driving improvements for patients.’
He continued: 'Central to this is avoiding the temptation to tie their hands with nationally dictated actions; instead, ICSs should be held to account for achieving outcomes while allowing them the freedom to achieve those outcomes in the most effective way for their area.
‘Much of the work that happens within ICSs goes unseen. We found that where system working is functioning well, changes have been underpinned by the efforts of local leaders to strengthen relationships between their organisations, change mindsets and culture to one of collaboration, and encourage different behaviour within their system.’
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