Brand new integrated health and social care partnerships to get green light to deliver some NHS services locally

The local 'place-based partnerships,' based in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and South Cumbria, have been formed within the area of Lancashire and South Cumbria, following a decision by the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) last year to align them to reflect the area's four upper tier councils.

Now the ICB, which has responsibility for NHS spend and performance, has given the green light this week to delegate some future NHS services to all four partnerships in future, enabling good quality, joined up health care to be delivered locally.

The significant decision, welcomed by Lancashire County Council's cabinet, will mean greater integration between health and wellbeing services, local authorities, Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) and partners, with decisions made closer to where services are delivered and accessed.

As the largest of the four partnerships, the 'Lancashire Place' covers a population of 1.3million residents and will get delegated responsibility for a range of services over a two-to-three year period.

This could include primary care, such as General Practice, community pharmacy, dental services and eye health as well as a range of community based NHS services like district nursing, child health, occupational therapy, health visiting and bed-based community rehabilitation.

Bringing together planners and health providers, local authorities and the wider community, the 'Lancashire Place' aims to improve health outcomes by joining up good quality health care and support, preventing ill health and reducing health inequalities across Lancashire's neighbourhoods.

Louise Taylor, director of health and care integration for Lancashire within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Lancashire County Council's executive director of adult services and health and wellbeing, said: "This will be a very positive development, as our 'place-based' partnership will take collective responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.

"Our vision is to create a place-based partnership which recognises the critical role of the public and all organisations that support people to live healthier lives,  delivering good quality, integrated care and support with partners, and to ensure our services are joined up to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the population, prevent ill health and really work hard to tackle health inequalities across our neighbourhoods."

Kevin Lavery, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB chief executive, added: “Meeting our population’s needs requires us to organise and deliver care at the most appropriate level and as close as possible to the residents we serve.

“It is our ambition to have a world-class, all-age, community-centric, integrated care system to be able to improve health and care outcomes and experiences for our population.

 “Our four places will be a key driving force in ensuring our residents have healthy communities, high-quality services, and a health and care service that works for them, and this deal will pave the way for further innovations in integrated working with local government and wider partners.”

County Councillor Sue Whittam, who presented the plans to the County Council's cabinet, said: "I welcome the Integrated Care Board's decision to delegate responsibility for some NHS services to the four places.

"This will mean many health services can be much more tailored to the specific needs and requirements of local areas in Lancashire in future."

County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "This significant decision recognises the critical role of health and social care integration, allowing for excellent, locally based, integrated services that mean Lancashire residents can enjoy healthier lives and stay as independent as possible during their lives."