Insight

Will ICSs address health inequalities in England?

Health and Life Sciences

Welcome to the second episode of a new mini-series exploring the NHS's adoption of Integrated Care Systems, presented by the Global Counsel Health and Life Sciences practice.

As part of the NHS Long-Term Plan in 2019, plans were announced for all areas of England to become part of Integrated Care Systems (also referred to as ICSs). ICSs promise to bring down barriers to care and allow organisations to work together to better improve the health of their community.

Four years after this initial announcement, 2022 has not only seen 42 ICSs established across England on a statutory basis, but the world has witnessed a global pandemic that has shaken up health systems worldwide. Three years before the 42 Integrated Care Systems were established across England on a statutory basis this Summer, the Long Term Plan laid out its intention for ICSs to provide stronger foundations for working with local government and voluntary sector partners on the agenda of prevention and health inequalities and to address such discrepancies. What impact will ICSs have on health inequalities across the country?

To discuss this and more, Rosie is joined by Professor Kevin Fenton, CBE, Regional Director London, Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care; Seema Kennedy, former Health Minister, Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health; Matthew Swindells, Joint Chair of North West London Acute Hospitals, and Former Deputy CEO of NHS England; and Dr Harpreet Sood, practising GP and board member at Health Education England.

Stay tuned for episodes in the coming weeks exploring the impact of ICSs on digital healthcare, and more.

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