What is an Integrated Care System?

The best possible services for patients

Now, more than ever before, health and care services need to work together to deliver the right care, at the right time and in the right place for patients. An integrated care system brings health and social care organisations together to agree joint priorities and decide how to share information and resources to deliver services in the best possible way.

By collaborating and making best use of resources, including data, money and workforce, we can improve outcomes for patients, wherever they live.

Read more about our north east and north Cumbria integrated care system in this summary booklet.

Bringing organisations together

The NHS Long Term Plan, published 7 January 2019, makes it clear that integrated care systems (ICS) are central to bringing together local organisations to redesign care and improve health.  It is expected that, by April 2021, ICSs will be in place across England and play a key role in coordinating how services collaborate on shared priorities. In creating an ICS for the north east and north Cumbria, we are not creating a new organisation or structure.

But we are looking at new ways to work differently for the benefit of patients and staff, to improve the overall health of our population.

Shared decisions on joint priorities

Working under the umbrella of an integrated care system will support shared decisions and work together on issues which are ‘bigger’ than one organisation or clinical commissioning group (CCG) / local authority area. Find out more about the NHS Long Term Plan.