Release of summary paper on commissioning end-of-life care within Integrated Care Systems

With the introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in early July and the release of guidance for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on their legal responsibilities for delivery of  PEoLC services, this piece of work aims to  improve how the ICS system can work in practice.

To produce this paper interviews were carried out with PEoLC and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector leaders, gathering their thoughts on the key opportunities and challenges associated with the transition to ICSs and developing recommendations based on key themes that were discussed.

The key recommendations that emerged were centred around four themes; 

• funding and commissioning; 
• workforce: retention and pay, education and training; 
• collaboration within the system; and
• health inequalities, cultural awareness and minority groups. 

This was alongside the importance of patient centred care, longer term planning and data collection.

We are hopeful that this can become the starting point for wider conversations with the Government, NHS England and the PEoLC sector around how ICS structures can improve PEoLC provision across England and ensure more people can get the care they need. 

For more information please contact: john.kemp@sueryder.org

* Contributors include - Katharine House Hospice, Hospice UK, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Forest Holme Hospice, Cransley Hospice Trust, Keech Hospice, The Kirkwood Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Willen Hospice and others.