Social Care: Integrated Care Systems

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Excerpts

Wednesday 11th January 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Markham (Con)]

First, I think we can all agree on the necessity of making sure that these are integrated and the vital role that social care plays in all this. I must say, my experience from the places I have visited is that they are well integrated, but I will take that point back and would be pleased to look at any particular examples of where we feel that is not the case because, as I think the whole House will agree, it is vital that they are completely integrated.

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I believe that six integrated care boards have been selected as national front-runners on innovations that will help move patients from hospital to their home. Can my noble friend the Minister confirm that these are going ahead, give examples and reassure us that they will be properly monitored, with data being collected? I have just realised that I called the Minister “my noble friend” but, due to my new role, all noble Lords are now my noble friends.

[Lord Markham (Con)]

Replying on behalf of all noble friends, let me say that I am particularly pleased to see this scheme go ahead. Just yesterday, Members of the House were talking about whether we should have full-time contracted dom care people because they know their patients best. That is exactly what these front-runner pilots are designed to do: to try out these new ways of working and heavily invest in areas, which you probably cannot justify on a national level until you know that it really works. Leeds, for instance, is developing a transfer of care hub, while the Northern Care Alliance is focusing on dementia. This is all about seeing what works and then, when we know what works, scaling it up very quickly.