New report on Integrated Care Systems

After two years since the formation of integrated care systems, the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) has published a series of recommendations to ensure the partnerships’ continued success.

Integrated care systems (ICSs) were formalised across England in July 2022. Organised into 42 regions across England, they bring a wide range of local organisations together to improve the health of the population in their local area and include Directors of Public Health (DsPH) and their teams.

Following a comprehensive survey of its members to understand DsPH’s experiences of working with ICSs, ADPH has published a new report summarising the findings and setting out ten key areas for improvement:

1. There should be co-terminosity between ICSs and local authorities.
2. DsPH should be represented in their Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) and other boards/groups, but partners should be aware of the capacity constraints that DsPH work within.
3. DsPH should be given more resources to support their work across both local government and their ICS.
4. ICS priority areas should translate into action and delivery.
5. Health inequalities work within ICSs should be joined up, strategic and focused on delivery.
6. ICS infrastructure should not supersede local government infrastructure.
7. All ICS partners should be understood, respected, and sufficiently resourced.
8. There should be a strong understanding of prevention within each ICS.
9. ICSs should do more to fully recognise the work of the voluntary and community sector.
10. The strong partnership work that is happening between NHS organisations and local government public health organisations should continue.

In line with today’s report from the King’s Fund, our report concludes that while there are many examples of effective partnership working that have improved local health outcomes, there is still further to go.

The recommendations put forward by ADPH focus on how ICSs can become stronger through an improved understanding of what prevention means in practice, and continued partnership working to deliver effective local evidence-based initiatives.

Helen Atkinson, ADPH spokesperson for ICSs, said:

“DsPH and their teams are committed to participating in the strategic work of ICSs and are working collaboratively not only with the other local authorities within their ICS, but with other partner organisations as well. As with any new partnership, it takes time to run smoothly and now, almost two years since their formation, we know more about what is working well, and what could be improved.

“As Directors of Public Health, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge about our local communities and we want to help create a system where that expertise can be harnessed fully. If acted on, the recommendations in this report would enhance the work of ICSs and help to realise the goal of improving health and wellbeing for all at a local level.”