integrated services

Health and wellbeing boards: system leaders or talking shops?

Report that forms part of a wider programme of work being carried out by The King’s Fund on health and wellbeing boards. The programme has supported several local authorities and their health partners to develop their shadow boards. As part of the programme, in late 2011, a survey of 50 local authority areas was conducted, covering all regions of England to find out how they and their health partners are implementing the new boards. Telephone interviews were conducted in September and October 2011 with lead officers identified by local authorities themselves.

National evaluation of the Department of Health’s integrated care pilots

Document of the final output of an evaluation of the 16 DH Integrated Care Pilots (ICPs). It provides an account of the evaluation activities conducted, the data collected and the analyses completed.

Based on this it identifies key findings and conclusions about the processes and outcomes seen within the pilots during the evaluation. The evaluation was conducted by a team from RAND Europe and Ernst and Young LLP, with additional statistical analysis provided by the RAND Corporation and The Nuffield Trust.

Social care (Fourteenth report of session 2010-12)

The purpose of the inquiry has been to consider the issues facing the future of social care, and to make recommendations for consideration by the Government in advance of publication of its White Paper on social care and update on funding.

Although the report focuses particularly on those people aged 65 and older, many of the recommendations are equally relevant to services for younger people who have a disability, and other people who have long-term conditions.

Long-term conditions and mental health: the cost of co-morbidities

People with long-term physical health conditions – the most frequent users of health care services – commonly experience mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, or dementia in the case of older people. As a result of these co-morbid problems, the prognosis for their long-term condition and the quality of life they experience can both deteriorate markedly. In addition, the costs of providing care to this group of people are increased as a result of less effective self-care and other complicating factors related to poor mental health.

Transforming your care: a review of health and social care in Northern Ireland

In June 2011, the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots, MLA, announced that a Review of the Provision of Health and Social Care (HSC) Services in Northern Ireland would be undertaken. The review aimed to provide a strategic assessment across all aspects of health and social care services, examining the present quality and accessibility of services, and the extent to which the needs of patients, clients, carers and communities are being met.