Bold plans to deliver (ICSs) for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Today (Monday 3 April) sees the publication of the first version of an ambitious 10-year strategy that sets out the priorities to make Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a great place to be born, live and thrive, and grow old.

Across the region local authorities, the NHS, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector will work together as an Integrated Care System (ICS). They have committed to deliver the strategy to better support connected, healthy and caring communities that will improve people’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.

This will see all partners across the ICS planning and delivering services that are more joined up, proactive and personalised, to better meet the needs of local communities. This collaborative approach will enable the best use of the resources that are collectively available to them.

The strategy, which has been agreed by Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership, and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, is a national requirement from NHS England.

More than 1,500 local people have provided feedback that has helped shape this first draft of the strategy. This has been achieved through a series of engagement activity and events over the course of many months.

Kate Shields, chief executive of the Integrated Care System, said: “The people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly deserve to enjoy happy and healthy lives, supported with the right health and care services, when they need them.

“Developing this ambitious strategy has been a real team effort, I want to personally thank our partners and local people whose important feedback has helped us to shape our exciting plans and priorities for the next 10 years.

“Only by working together, sharing expertise, knowledge and resources can we make sure this beautiful place we call home is a great place to be born, live and thrive, and grow old.”

Cllr Andy Virr, Cornwall Council cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “It’s extremely important that we work together as a system to tackle the challenges that Cornwall faces across health and social care. We all want to be able to live as independently as possible for as long as possible in our own homes and by continuing to work together with our partners, I know we will continue to improve the outcomes for our most vulnerable residents.”

Councillor Joel Williams, Lead Member for Children and Lead Member for Adults and Public Health, Council of the Isles of Scilly:“The Isles of Scilly face health and social care challenges in line with so many other areas in the country, as well as additional concerns given its location. We want to work with partners to provide sustainable and effective services that either meet or exceed the expectations of our residents.  We want to focus our energy on the areas we know need additional investment or commitment.  By understanding our needs, we can improve outcomes and create provision that is built around our island context.”

 Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, Cornwall Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “The key parts of the strategy are very closely aligned to the council’s mission to work with communities for a carbon neutral Cornwall where everyone can start well, live well and age well. Having the best start in life is what we all want for our children and I’m confident that by working together we can achieve this.”

Steve Williamson, chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust said, “This ambitious strategy sets out how we want to change how our services operate over the next 5 years to improve the care people receive. More community-based services will improve access providing faster, more local access to diagnostic tests and treatment and less time spent in hospital.”

Debbie Richards, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive, said: “We’ve already begun to make these changes with the opening of the community diagnostic centre in Bodmin. Facilities like this will are already reducing the distance people need to travel in order to access specialist diagnostics. As we continue to develop facilities like these, we will ensure there is help for people with mental health conditions, with increased community services and support like those already available in Falmouth and Penryn,”

Emma Rowse, chief executive of Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, said: “This ambitious plan shows that by working as a joined up system, we can better support the people and communities of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to thrive.”

In the months ahead, there will be further opportunities to provide feedback on the Integrated Care Strategy before a final version of the strategy is submitted for approval.

You can read our first draft of our Cornwall and Isles of Scilly integrated care system strategy by clicking the links below:

• Full version of draft integrated care system strategy
• Summary version of draft integrated care system strategy
• Easy read version of draft integrated care system strategy
• Audio version of draft integrated care system strategy

For more details visit Shaping our Integrated Care Strategy – NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (icb.nhs.uk)