OXFORDSHIRE GPs, hospitals and local authorities have joined forces to improve health services and reduce inequalities.
The NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board will bring together GP teams, hospitals, local authorities, the voluntary sector and other partners to plan and deliver health and care services for more than 1.9 million people across the counties.
The move comes as part of the new Health and Care Act, which aims to make it easier for NHS and social care organisations to work together through an integrated system, speeding up the recovery of care disrupted by the pandemic.
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While health and care organisations, hospitals, community trusts and councils have been working together in different ways for years, previous laws have prevented services becoming properly joined-up.
Wondering what will change as the CCGs move to Integrated Care? Your NHS will be working more collaboratively and across multiple counties, but access to care will stay the same.
— NHS_BOBICB (@nhsbobicb) July 1, 2022
To see the new map of Integrated Care Systems, visit https://t.co/Nu8rfOYXm5 #NHSBOB pic.twitter.com/ALeUgLMsth
Javed Khan, who chairs the board, said: “Today is a milestone for the NHS. We can now create a fully integrated care system across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire West, so that people can get the care and support they need, joined up across local councils, the NHS, the voluntary sector and other partners.”
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Dr James Kent, chief executive of the board, said: “The collaborative working between the NHS and local authorities has strengthened over recent years and as part of our collective pandemic response.
“The creation of the integrated care system gives us a great opportunity to build on that collaborative working for the benefit of the population we serve.”
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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers.
Get in touch with her by emailing: anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi
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