An exciting new approach which aims to maximise the value of every pound spent on health and social care and improve lives for residents in the county has been agreed.
Described as ‘bold and ambitious’– the approval for a new approach to providing people with access to health and social care services aims to deliver better value for money and much improved outcomes for residents of all ages.
Through new governance arrangements and an integrated approach to how services are planned, purchased and managed across the county, a new health and social care plan will now be brought forward.
In a joint statement Cllr Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, and Clinical Commissioning Group chief clinical officers Dr Neil O’Brien and Dr Stewart Findlay said: “We are jointly leading the way on this approach to ensure that every pound spent in our county on these services delivers the best possible outcome for our residents. We have a well-demonstrated track record in improving people’s lives through strong partnership working and this latest agreement paves the way for potentially one of the biggest health and social care plans in the country.
“By integrating how we buy and provide these much-needed, important services we will be able to make it easier for people to access the help they need and make these often challenging journey through the system much easier to navigate. This is a really bold and ambitious approach that I believe will be seen as one of the most important things the county has ever done.”
The Health and Social Care Plan aims to tackle issues like duplication, maximise skills and knowledge and put a greater focus on benefits to communities.
The approach builds on the success of the Teams Around Patients model which acknowledges more care should be delivered in community settings and at home delivering better care for patients with complex needs and which puts a greater focus on prevention and independence.
The approach was agreed by Durham County Council’s cabinet when members met in Spennymoor on April 11.