North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System

More than ever before, health and care services need to work together to deliver the right care, at the right time and in the best place. The NHS Long Term Plan makes it clear that integrated care systems (ICS) have a central role in bringing together local organisations, to redesign care and improve health.  

An integrated care system supports agreement on joint priorities and the best way to deliver efficient services, specifically where there is a common need or opportunity which spans organisations. By collaborating and making best use of combined resources, including technology, data, money and workforce, we can have a shared focus on improving health and wellbeing in all communities. 

Creating an ICS for the north east and north Cumbria is not about developing a new organisation or structure. But it is about looking at how we can work differently to benefit all patients and staff; how we coordinate decisions and make it easier to tackle common issues which are bigger than one organisation, clinical commissioning group (CCG) or local authority area. 

Alongside the ICS, work to plan and tailor care for local populations and communities will continue through integrated care partnerships (ICPs) involving hospital trusts, GPs, community-based health and care services and the third sector. These ICPs will also be working to reduce some of the costs associated with planning and delivering services, in addition to sharing what works best to improve the health of local people.