Support move towards accountable care structures

NHS Providers has announced a new programme to ensure that there is the right support for NHS trusts as they move to accountable care structures that deliver more integrated care for the public.

Supporting Providers: STPs and accountable care will be developed in close collaboration with NHS trusts over the next six weeks, supporting by developing new and effective relationships with local authorities, primary care and commissioners and responding to specific challenges such as moving care closer to home, prioritising mental health, workforce strategy and getting the most out of the NHS estate.

The programme will also explore new ways to support change and develop STP level governance arrangements.

NHS Providers will also make the case for trusts in shaping the environment in which they operate, prioritising greater clarity from the national arms length bodies on the purpose of STPs and how they relate to the existing statutory framework, and identifying how the STP rating system can be developed and improved.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “The NHS is changing from a focus on individual NHS institutions to integrated local health and care systems. NHS trusts and foundation trusts are already playing a key role in this process through their STPs, by adopting new care models and by moving to accountable care structures.

“Our focus will deliberately be unique and distinctive: using our in depth knowledge and understanding of providers we will support them in the detailed practicalities of making these important transformations work and representing members’ views to the arms length bodies. We will take care to avoid duplicating the work of others.

“We will work to identify what is happening in the more innovative and advanced systems, and across the wider NHS, consulting closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement through the STP advisory group. We will also build on existing partnerships, for example our work to publicise the early lessons from the New Care Model Vanguards involving NHS Clinical Commissioners, the Local Government Association and NHS Confederation and will consult some of the best experts in local government, primary care and commissioning to ensure our work has the appropriate cross system focus it will clearly need.”