Interim report calls for shake-up in health and social care service delivery in Wales

The independent Parliamentary Review interim report on Health and Social Care in Wales today calls for new models of care to be trialed across Wales.

Describing the case for change as “compelling”, it calls for a bold vision for the health and care system based on continuous quality improvement and prevention.

Frontline staff, the public, and other public and voluntary organisations will be asked to work together to develop new models of care, to help hospital, primary care, community health and social care providers to work more effectively together. The models will be developed to work in different settings such as urban and rural, and take account of Welsh language needs.

The report recognised that new models will need to be underpinned by action in a number of areas and  makes further recommendations including the need for:

• a step change in the way the health and social care systems adapts to the changing needs of the population
• the people of Wales, staff, service users and carers to have greater influence on new models of care with clearer, shared roles and responsibilities
• new skills and career paths for the health and social care workforce with a focus on continuous improvement
• better use of technology and infrastructure to support quality and efficiency
• streamlined governance, finance and accountability arrangements aligned for health and social care.

Dr Ruth Hussey (pictured), who is chairing the review panel of nine experts from across the health and social care field, said:  “In our independent interim report we have focused on the challenges to, and the opportunities for, improvement in the current services. The report defines the key issues facing health and social care services as we see them and outlines our initial proposals for a way forward.  

“By the time our final report is published at the end of the year, we aim to have a list of recommendations that command widespread support, are implementable, and give Wales the best chance of delivering the changes needed to achieve  quality driven, sustainable, whole health and social care system and services that the population rightfully expects.”

“We want to hear from as many people as possible to inform the next part of our work, especially on the case for change, new models, and the areas we have identified for action.”

The final report will consider ways of meeting rising need for health and social care as well as public expectations about the services and is due to be published by the end of 2017.