Councils must play a more pivotal role in health and care integration

[Northerner]

The number of people in the UK with complex needs who require both health and social care is increasing rapidly. In the south-east of England, for example, our population of over 75-year-olds (already the largest in England) is expected to nearly double to 1.5m in the next 20 years.

Health and social care provision looks increasingly unsustainable financially and local government fears the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) process won’t solve the problem.

The present system, with health services delivered by the NHS and social care by local authorities each working separately and meeting different pressures, can lead to inefficiency, delays, duplication and gaps in care.

Real integration of health and care services holds the promise of providing seamless care, tailored to the individual’s needs and focused on outcomes rather than the workforce, organisational structures or the setting in which care is delivered. It allows patients to choose and control what care they receive, where and by whom it is provided by and places more emphasis on prevention.Integration has the potential to realise cost savings and dramatically improve the quality of care.

https://www.theguardian.com/social-...councils-pivotal-role-health-care-integration

 

[HOBIE]

Are the Council getting the blame now ?

 

[trophywench]

Well they (because they now are i/c care homes and the like) ARE to blame for a large part of bed-blocking, except some of the delays are inbuilt. Years ago we got whinged at almost constantly for a fortnight since our mum needed to go into a care home and they just handed us a sheaf of papers with names and addresses of all the places in the area.

So we had to go home and start ringing. Lovely - but in the evening (both of us worked full time) they usually can't tell you anything because the Admin staff only work office hours ..... then of course you have to make an appointment to visit the place should they even have a vacancy when you eventually speak to whoever - you arrive, they open the door and the stink of ammonia and cheap air freshener (it could have been expensive, who knows) hits you ....

Back to the drawing board you go .....

Until you settle on one. Great! We can't take her till next Thursday though, since we need to decorate the room and they can't come until ......

You get NO help finding anywhere whatever. You just have to keep your fingers crossed that they aren't granny bashers etc.