On 2 Feb, the Department of Health announced the expansion of its Programme of Integrated Care Pilots.

A new self-assessment tool has been launched to give local health and social care services the chance to apply to join a new, extended national integrated care community. Innovative services will become part of a network that will prompt debate, discussion and challenge policy makers. Central to the network is the sharing of knowledge and learning between sites, right across the country. This knowledge will help shape future direction in health and care policy.

The programme of integrated care pilots began with 16 sites in April 2009, looking beyond traditional health and social care boundaries to explore personalised, flexible and better joined up services. The expanded community will enable more sites to set up projects working across a range of sectors, such as children’s services, education, criminal justice and housing

Health Minister Mike O’Brien said:

"We want to build on the success of the existing 16 integrated care pilot sites, working closely with their local communities to design health and social care services that work together seamlessly."

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

"If local NHS and social care services work together, we can cut costs and improve people’s quality of life. Our new network will help showcase services, share best practice and drive up the quality of care across the country. "

For more information and to access the new self-assessment tool, go to our webpage on Child health here or visit www.dh.gov.uk/integratedcare

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/IntegratedCare/index.htm