One Ilfracombe

Journal of Integrated Care,Volume 25, Issue 3, Page 150-161, July 2017. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a horizontal integration programme in the South West of England. The programme was unusual insofar as it included the full range of public services being provided in a single town. It was a place-based system framed by the concept that a person ’s wellbeing includes their health, economic status and living environment and that they are inextricably linked. As well as aiming for broader system integration, the programme utilised a person-centred approach using service-user perceptions to influence design. It was implemented through a loca l governance structure using a set of collaborative principles. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents personal reflections of the programme manager about the efficacy of the model, its sustainability and the problems encountered. It sets out the principles defining the model and the exten t to which the principles were followed in practice. Findings Creating a holistic public service based on integration to tackle deep seated problems within a population requires reducing complexity at the interface between citizens and services. A local system model that includes all public servic es allows for collective responsibility for meeting the service needs of the population augmenting the connections and bridging the gaps between services. There was a recognition amongst participants that service redes...
Source: Journal of Integrated Care - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research