NHS England has announced the publication of principles for assessing and managing risks across integrated care systems. The move is designed to improve patient care and safeguard the NHS against future challenges. The principles were developed in partnership with NHS England's Integrated Care Systems (ICS) programme and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The principles centre around four main areas: risk identification, risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk management. They aim to ensure that integrated care systems can better identify and address potential risks, ultimately improving patient outcomes and care.
The development of these principles is a key component of the NHS's Long-Term Plan to improve the health service. The plan aims to ensure that the NHS is fit for the future, with a focus on providing high-quality care and services to patients. The publication of these principles marks a significant step towards achieving this goal.
According to a spokesperson for NHS England, the principles are designed to 'provide a clear framework for assessing and managing risks across integrated care systems'. They added that the principles will help the NHS to 'improve patient care, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, and make better use of resources'.
The Labour Party has welcomed the publication of the principles, stating that they 'recognise the importance of integrated care systems in improving patient care and reducing health inequalities'. However, the party has also called for the government to do more to support the NHS, citing concerns around funding and staff shortages.