In the north east and north Cumbria, the overall quality of our health and care services is good, but the general health of our populations remains poor.
Although there have been many improvements in recent years – for example the number of people dying from cancer or heart disease has decreased, fewer people are smoking and many are living longer – healthy life expectancy in many communities in amongst the lowest in England and health inequalities in some areas are long-standing and complex.
To tackle these issues and ensure the best possible care, we must work in partnership, at a number of levels, across health, local government and the voluntary sector. We need to work across organisations to redesign services, ensure greater integration and collaborate at scale where this can bring the greatest benefits.
The north east and north Cumbria is currently classed as a ‘aspirant’ integrated care system. The next stage of our journey will be to increase the pace and scale of change, to make the most important improvements where they can benefit the greatest number of patients.
As organisations in the north east and north Cumbria work towards becoming a fully established integrated care system, we will be expected to demonstrate: strong leadership, a track record of delivery, robust financial management, a clearly defined population and compelling plans to integrate care services.
More information about our plans will feature on this website as our journey progresses.