South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw has been named as one of the first areas in the country to be an Accountable Care System – putting the region at the forefront of nationwide action to provide joined up, better co-ordinated care breaking down the barriers between GPs and hospitals, physical and mental healthcare, social care and the NHS.
Sir Andrew Cash, STP Lead for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, said: “We’re delighted to be named as one of the first regions in the country to be an early adopter Accountable Care System.
“Without doubt, this is down to the strong relationships that exist between the NHS and local partners in each of our towns and city, and a proven history of working together to improve health and care for our population.
“Our Plan has been well received and while it is still at a formative stage, it reflects the strength of our collective ambition to bring about more joined up health and care, invest in GP and community services and make sure everyone has access to the best treatment while supporting them to stay well.
“We are being asked to push ahead in priority areas such as cancer, mental health and GP and community services as well as urgent and emergency care and managing long term conditions and the pressures that build up across our services.
“Conversations about the ambition and what the future could look like in our Plan have been taking place with our staff and the public with the feedback informing our work before any plans go forward.”
The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Partnership brings together all health and social care organisations in the region and sets out the ambition of “giving everyone in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw the best start in life with support to stay healthy and live longer.”
Will Cleary-Gray, director of sustainability and transformation for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, said:
“This is a great opportunity for us in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw to realise our ambition of having excellent health and care services that are truly based on local need. Over the coming months we will be working through what being an Accountable Care System will look like before further plans are developed.”
Making the announcement, NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens said: “The first group of designated ACSs have agreed with national leaders to deliver fast track improvements set out in Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View, including taking the strain off A and E, investing in general practice, making it easier to get a GP appointment, and improving access to high quality cancer and mental health services.
“These areas will also lead the way in taking more control over funding available to support transformation programmes – with the combined indicative potential to control around £450m of funding over the next four years – matched by accountability for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations they cover. NHS national bodies will provide these areas with more freedom to make decisions over how the health system in their area operates.”