Audio
Chris Hopson: what does the financial squeeze mean for NHS provider organisations?
Chris Hopson, Chief Executive, Foundation Trust Network, shared his optimism for closer integrated health and social care spending, but highlighted trust-wide concerns about the impact that funding cuts are having alongside extra demand on other social services and third sector organisations that provide crucial support – and the knock on effect this is having on the NHS.
Comments
As usual, a very helpful and insightful contribution.
I'd like to add two comments.
The first is that my understanding is that the 14th February is now an intermediate (draft) submission with a final BCF plan (albeit with metrics, full buy-in, measures etc) required by 4 April. This does not reduce the challenge set out in your blog, but at least we have more time to work with co-commissioners and providers.
The second - and more important comment - is that you are absolutely right to say that BCF presents an opportunity to rethink how the local 'systems' can work together to improve how we provide health and care services to the public. Those of us responsible for encouraging integration must continue to explain and the wider, long term benefits of integrated health and care and promote the necessary system changes to both improve outcomes and reduce costs.
To this end the tight timetable may just be a way of making sure that
we and our partners focus our early attention on this opportunity!
Add your comment