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Integrated Care in Rural Communities
Alcester Town Council are working with Warwickshire Association of Local Councils and Warwickshire Community & Voluntary Action to help decision makers understand the specific needs and challenges of our community on health and social care. We are one of five local councils who have worked together to design and deliver a customised survey, unique to our town.
This survey is part of a research campaign which we will be rolling out over the coming months inviting you to contribute your thoughts on health and care in your area. We have developed the survey to be accessible in many ways, online, in person and in group settings. Please help us to inform the delivery of integrated health and care across Warwickshire by taking part in this important research.
To access this survey please click this link
Different communities will need different services or approaches to health and social care. Rural areas face particular challenges, with limited access to public transport and longer distances to medical and other facilities. Dispersed rural settlements are more prone to “deserts” where provision of services such as dentistry, pharmaceutical and even fresh food is limited.
Healthcare is going digital, with the NHS app and an increased use of technology for booking appointments, monitoring conditions, and receiving test results. This transition presents barriers ranging from financial to age and ability but also in connectivity, with rural areas lagging behind urban in coverage figures for broadband and mobile. (Source: Rural Services Network).
To help improve access to health and care services as well as tackle growing health inequalities, local NHS organisations are creating place-based partnerships with local councils, the voluntary and community sector and others.
These partnerships are called Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and have been formed to plan, coordinate and deliver services to make sure everyone gets the best care possible and can live happier, healthier lives. They aim to remove barriers between services, join up care and address other factors that might affect people’s health such as housing, education and access to jobs.
The Coventry & Warwickshire ICS Vision and Priorities: “We will enable people across Coventry and Warwickshire to start well, live well and age well, promote independence and put people at the heart of everything we do.” Find out more about ICS in Warwickshire
Your help is needed to understand the needs and challenges of the Alcester Community on health and social care to inform the local ICS in Warwickshire.
NHS England have produced a short video which explains more about what an ICS is. https://youtu.be/mz4FFE2y8PM
To find out more, contact: Wendy Sherwood, Tel: 01789 766084, Email: info@alcester-tc.gov.uk