We often need care that crosses the boundaries of different types of organisation: housing, social care, help from the voluntary sector. It would be better for patients if that care could be better coordinated. This report summarises the key points from a seminar on health care integration.
With an ageing population and an increasing prevalence of chronic disease, ever more people require care and support services from organisations that cross the boundaries of health, social care, housing and voluntary organisations.
A wealth of studies report that people with chronic, complex health problems – particularly older people – are often confused by the array of services they are faced with, receive duplicate interventions, and find it hard to understand where to turn with specific problems. They value initiatives to coordinate care and simplify their journey through the health and social care systems. Equally, with pressure to deliver elective care in community settings and prevent avoidable ill health, integration and collaboration between generalists and specialists – GPs, consultants, specialist nurses and other clinicians – is increasingly important.
This report is from the 2008 Sir Roger Bannister Annual Health Seminar.