The Playbook programme in Cornwall aims to outline the benefits of greater local integration and joint action across health, social care and housing sectors in the county.
Currently, a quarter of the population is over 65 and by 2036, a third of the population will be over the age of 65. This ageing population places increased demand on the health and social care system.
In our initial desktop research, we also discovered:
- The Adulthood Social Mobility Indicator shows that Cornwall is amongst the worst performing 10% of local authorities
- There has been an increase in the number of DTOCs attributed to residential homes
- The dispersed settlement patterns make strategic infrastructure interventions challenging and the average time taken to travel to the nearest hospital in the county is over an hour by public transport
The steering group for this agreed to focus on how to establish greater local integration between health and social care, and housing in the context of an ageing population in Cornwall given:
- 300 people die each year from excess cold
- £20.2m is the annual cost to the NHS of preventable health problems caused by poor housing
- £4m investment to prevent falls would save £16m
The final report and action plan lists the following key areas to take action in:
- Establishing the governance and leadership for a shared operational framework that sets out an integrated system that includes health, social care and housing
- Using existing tools, like the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, and new tools to understand the extent to which poor housing can have an impact on health and wellbeing
- An integrated approach to commissioning that create a seamless approach between commissioners that recognises needs, reduces gaps between services, shares accountability for outcomes, makes the best use of joint resources and shares the management of risks
- Proactive communication and engagement strategy including the development and delivery of a shared information system
- Cross-sector workforce strategy to ensure appropriate capacity and capability across the health, social care and housing sectors
- Digital technology strategy and plan covering health, social care and housing is required that supports information sharing around care planning, care coordination, and proactive and urgent care management
