Wakefield District Health & Care Partnership launched as NHS changes become law

Organisations from across Wakefield District will work closer together than ever before to provide the best care for people from today (Friday 1 July, 2022) – as national legislation comes into effect.

The Health and Social Care Act 2022 today becomes law and puts integrated care, joined up and wrapped around patients, on a statutory footing.

It will see 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) established across the country, each of which will have an NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) responsible for planning and arranging the provision of health services to meet the needs of the local population. Clinical Commissioning Groups, which used to perform this function, have been abolished.

In Wakefield District, the ICS will have a place-based partnership operating across council, NHS, social care providers and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to lead the delivery of integrated services.

This is called Wakefield District Health & Care Partnership and will see the organisations come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services to improve people’s lives and reduce inequalities.

Jo Webster, Accountable Officer for Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership, said: “We have been working this way in Wakefield District for many years now and we can trace our own integrated care journey all the way back to 2010 when we first came together with a shared vision for local care.

“Prevention and supporting people to stay well in their own homes is a key focus of this work. Our Connecting Care hubs have seen health, social care, housing, voluntary and community organisations all under one roof working side-by-side on a daily basis, providing support for people when they do need it.

“We are therefore in a really strong position to deliver the ambitions of the national legislation and make sure people only have to tell their story once before getting the best possible support and care quickly and in the right place.”

The Partnership will receive public feedback, as well as advice and assurance on issues relating to public involvement and equality and diversity, from a Patient and Community Panel.

Closer collaboration will bring a range of benefits including improving the health of children and young people, supporting people to stay well and independent, acting sooner to help those with preventable conditions, supporting those with long-term conditions or mental health issues and caring for those with multiple needs as populations age.

For more information about the Wakefield District Health & Care Partnership, visit the website: www.WakefieldDistrictHCP.co.uk.