The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the government to make councils equal partners with the NHS in digital health and social care reform.
A new report from the LGA and management consultancy PPL highlights the role local authorities play in connecting health and care services, as the government seeks to deliver its 10-Year Health Plan for England.
The report argues digital technology and data sharing must be included in the redesign of services and the development of neighbourhood health care, rather than treated as a separate technology project.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, chair of the LGA’s health and wellbeing committee, said: ‘Digital and data integration in health and care can help deliver more joined up, preventative and responsive services for the people who draw on care and support, but only if local government is treated as an equal partner.
‘If government wants neighbourhood health to succeed, local government must be positioned at the centre of digital reform rather than as a supporting actor to NHS digital reform. Without councils, digital health reform will fail.’
According to the report, one of the main barriers is the difficulty of sharing information between organisations. The report also warns digital reform remains fragmented, with too much emphasis on the technology rather than improving outcomes for people across local areas.
Funding is another concern. Local authorities can be left paying for digital integration, technology-enabled care, care coordination and early intervention, while the financial benefits are felt elsewhere in the system. For example, better support in the community may help reduce demand for hospital treatment, benefiting NHS services.
The LGA says national funding and policy need to reflect these wider benefits if councils are to help deliver more preventative and joined-up care. In adult social care and home care, it argues, shared national standards and better coordinated information flows are needed instead of individual providers digitising their services in isolation.
The report also highlights the risk of digital exclusion as more health and care services move online. Councils are often trusted local partners and can help ensure people can access services in ways that meet their needs. Accessibility, inclusion and public trust, the LGA says, must be central to digital reform.
Cllr Taylor said: ‘Councils often shoulder the costs of integration, but the benefits are felt elsewhere. With national standards, better data sharing and support for local service redesign, councils can help deliver the joined-up services people need.
‘We’re ready to work with government and NHS partners to ensure the aims of the 10-year Health Plan and Health Bill are realised.’
Image: Shutterstock
In related news:
80,000 children wait over a year for community health appointments
Leave a Reply