Simon Stevens said that there was a fundamental need to find ways of better coordinating health and social care for people with high levels of need.
The government has announced the creation of a £3.8bn Better Care Fund from 2015 to integrate services. However, after visiting one of 14 integration pioneers in South Shields where the NHS, local council and voluntary groups are working together, Stevens said his aim was to ensure that integration began this year.
‘My aim is that NHS England and our local government partners get going, this year, on supporting and testing some practical new models that don’t need structural re-organisation.
‘There are many current initiatives to build on, plus some international approaches that we should now try.’
Among the areas to examine was how GPs could be involved in integration efforts, he added.
‘[One] of my first steps is going to be considering with our partners how the newly agreed GP contract – which goes live today - can best support our most vulnerable older patients.’
However, Stevens also warned that the recession and a tight spending settlement from government had left the NHS facing its most sustained budget crunch in its 66-year history. Greater coordination will not be a panacea to this, he added.
‘No-one should pretend that just combining two financially leaky buckets will magically create a watertight funding solution – it’s going to take more than that.’
