Shifting the balance of care…and making the money add up

Abstract

Purpose

A critical commentary on policy and practice over time in English health and social care. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal reflections based on prior experience as a senior leader in the English health and care system, combined with insights and relevant evidence from other senior leaders and health and care “think-tanks”.

Findings

Shifting the balance of care from a hospital to a community setting can potentially be cost-effective as well as improving quality for service users. However, it will require a change in the approach to planning and implementation, by focussing on service users and communities, rather than on statutory organisations. It will also require a greater level of integration between primary care, community health services, social care and the voluntary sector, and greater levels of “co-production” with service users and the public.

Research limitations/implications

Front-line health and care leaders are generally unaware of the evidence base in this field. Emergent findings in this field need to be rapidly evaluated and then communicated to front-line leaders and practitioners.

Originality/value

Incorporates direct experience of senior leaders in the field together with the existing and emerging evidence base.

Citation

Wilderspin, J. (2017), "Shifting the balance of care…and making the money add up", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 256-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-06-2017-0015