Oxleas already integrating care for better patient experience

Norman Lamb, Minister for Care and Support
Norman Lamb, Minister for Care and Support

The Government's announcement yesterday that health and social care will be fully joined up by 2018 reflects how we are working with partners at Oxleas. 

The plans announced by Norman Lamb, the Minister for Care and Support yesterday include:

  • An ambition to make joined up and coordinated health and social care the norm by 2018
  • The first ever agreed definition of good integrated care and support
  • New 'pioneer' areas around the country which will be looking for the innovative practical approaches needed to achieve changes as quickly as possible
  • New measures of people's experience of joined up care and support so change can be evaluated.

Mr Lamb said: "People don't want health care or social care, they just want the best care...This is a vital first step in creating a truly joined up system that puts people first."

In Greenwich and Bexley, our community health and mental health teams have already taken several big steps towards joined up care. They have been working with social services and other agencies towards a fully integrated model of care for some time. This work was recognised in the 2011 Health Service Journal Awards  where we won the Secretary of State Award for Excellence with Greenwich Council. We will continue this integration work across our services to improve how we meet people's needs.

Our aim is to ensure that people receive a coordinated approach to their care when it's delivered by more than one care provider. For example, an older person discharged from hospital may need adaptations to their home. We will work closely with social services to ensure this happens before discharge. Working together in this way helps reduce hospital readmissions and improves the experience for patients.

Published on 15th May 2013