21.12.16
Integrated Personal Commissioning programme rolled out to six more areas
An NHS England scheme to transform care for millions of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions is being rolled out to six new areas across England.
Birmingham and Solihull, Nottingham City, Hertfordshire, Islington, Sheffield and Nottinghamshire will become new early adopters of the scheme in NHS England’s plans to improve care for people with complex needs.
The Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme aims to connect health, social care and other services, along with the voluntary and charity sectors, to help those with complex needs and their families have more control over their care.
It is hoped that the further roll-out of the programme will help people to access the best care for their needs as health services move towards more local commissioning.
James Sanderson, NHS England director of personalisation and choice, said: “We know people want a greater say in their own care and that of their loved ones.
“These new centres will continue to bring more choice to people across the country and are a big step in joining up health, social care and the voluntary and community sector to improve the lives of people with the most complex needs.”
The programme, in partnership with the Local Government Association, is already working in 12 areas of the country, helping adults and children with issues such as severe mental health problems, complex learning disabilities and/or autism.
If the demonstrator sites continue to be successful, IPC may face a mass roll-out to become the main model of community care for up to 5% of England’s population – over 2.5 million people.
A key target of the IPC programme is to increase the number of people with complex needs who have their own personal health budget (PHB). NHS England has set a target of at least 50,000 people having PHBs by 2020-21.
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