Integrated Care System and integration by default

The healthcare system that we operate within has changed with Integrated Care Systems becoming a legal requirement in July 2022.

Nottinghamshire was one of the first areas in England to develop an Integrated Care System (ICS). Integrated care systems are partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in their area. Being part of the ICS places a legal duty on Sherwood Forest Hospitals to be accountable for our own delivery of services and accountable for delivery of the system-wide requirements.

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System strategy (2023-27) leads with three principles and four aims that all partners will deliver. The principles are:

1. Prevention is better than cure
2. Equity in everything
3. Integration by default

The four aims are:

1. Improve outcomes in population health and healthcare
2. Tackle inequalities in outcomes, experiences and access
3. Enhance productivity and value for money
4. Support broader social and economic development

Sherwood Forest Hospitals has contributed to the Joint Forward Plan (JFP), a 5-year delivery plan created by partners in the ICS which ensures progress is made towards the ICS Strategy.

The Sherwood Forest Hospitals strategy responds to all of the principles and aims above - whilst retaining the requirements that meet our local population’s health needs and our vision of Outstanding care, provided by compassionate people, enabling healthier communities.

The JFP sets out a “collective ambition to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population… will require us to accelerate our
collaborative working at neighbourhood, Place, System and Regional level” (Nottingham and Nottinghamshire JFP).

Sherwood Forest Hospitals has a long history of working in partnership across our community and during the lifecycle of this strategy that will be developed further to ensure care is delivered as close to home as possible and that we are using our resources wisely for maximum quality and efficiency.