The Integrated Care System brings together several organisations, taking on new responsibilities for both health and care across the six boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.
These new responsibilities will make it easier for GPs, hospitals, mental health, councils, social care, community services, and the voluntary sector to work together more closely, to make sure local people receive the best care.
The Integrated Care System has four purposes:
- Helping local people to live longer, healthier lives.
- Reducing unfair differences in health in different groups.
- Making sure the NHS gets the best value for money possible.
- Supporting the community by helping local people into training or jobs and sharing NHS buildings and spaces.
Each local health and care organisation has a part to play to understand and meet the health and care needs of local people, including a greater emphasis on working with community and voluntary sector organisations.
Millie Banerjee CBE, Chair of South West London Integrated Care System, said: “We aim to improve the health and wellbeing of all the residents of South West London. In particular we will focus on reducing health inequalities or unfair differences in health in different groups within our six boroughs. Working with our partners we can do more to support people to live healthier and happier lives, prevent ill-health and keep people independent for longer.”
Cllr Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council, co-chair of South West London Integrated Care Partnership, said: “Our partnership working to bring together health and care over the last few years for the benefit of local people continues to go from strength to strength, but we know there is so much more we can achieve.
“By working together, we can do more to support people to live healthier and happier lives, prevent ill-health and help people stay independent for longer. We can also take action together to address the wider-determinants of health, for example jobs, housing, education and our environment. We know these factors have a big impact on our physical and mental health.”
Sarah Blow, Chief Executive Officer, South West London Integrated Care System, said: “The idea of joining-up care is not something new in South West London. The NHS, local councils, voluntary sector, charities, and community organisations have been working together for some time. However, this new chapter represents another significant stride forward.
“By working even closer together we can not only continue to improve care and focus on value for money, but we can also support our communities by thinking about how we spend our money as health and care organisations.”