Partnership aims to boost NHS use of integrated care systems
A consortium of four business have teamed up to launch the Integrated Improvement Partnership, helping the NHS to realise efficiencies within the UK’s healthcare system. Advisory firm Develop Consulting, data analyst Vuit, training provider Click2 learn and healthcare improvement specialist Innovative Online Products will provide guidance and strategy for efficiency savings and capacity building across the NHS.
Over the last 13 years, funding for the NHS has steadily eroded in real terms, while the challenges it faces – from an ageing population, to the pandemic – have left it having to do more with less than ever before
Amid this, a growing school of thought has suggested that state healthcare provision should look to Lean principles, if it is to survive. Now, a new coalition of professional services firms is set to help NHS trusts apply Lean methodology across their operations, identifying areas where savings can be made, and freeing up funds for other areas of investment.
The Integrated Improvement Partnership (IIP) is a partnership created to provide data driven population health solutions, from evaluation to implementation. The platform aims to enhance population health evaluation and analysis, improve provider and process efficiency, and enable capacity building.
The IIP will particularly focus on supporting integrated care systems (ICS) – partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver ‘joined up’ health and care services – in the NHS. To do this, the IIP will leverage the specialist knowledge of four key brands.
Develop Consulting – a Coventry-based improvement consultancy specialised in process and organisational improvement – has been working with the NHS to identify areas of improvement for an extended period. This included work to support the development of NHS England’s ‘Productive Series’ including the internationally renowned Productive Ward. At the same time, Click2 learn, Develop’s digital training provider, will also support the project.
Steve Boam, CEO of Develop Consulting commented, “We want to be able to make it easier for ICS leaders to get the support they need while making cost savings and optimising staff efficiency in the process and all through the use of their data. By adopting a comprehensive perspective of the ICS and utilising complex data sets to analyse demand versus capacity, as well as other crucial drivers and indicators like primary care capacity in relation to beds, A&E, and patient flow, we enhance our support and offerings to NHS regions.”
At the same time, data analytics VUIT will also support the IIP’s efforts. Based at Keele University, it uses a set of online, fully GDPR compliant tools and visualisations to help health leaders make informed strategic decisions. Meanwhile, Innovative Online Products which has produced products supporting healthcare providers across the UK for a decade – helping identify and implement efficiency opportunities while managing day-to-day challenges.
Adam Townsend, Founder of Vuit Online added, “Our joint offer to the NHS now speaks to the whole breadth of the significant challenges it is currently facing around resource and demand and draws on all of our proven expertise in the sector. The IIP can help NHS organisations make sense of this, at pace with the VUIT diagnostic tools, with support through consultancy, advice and training through the primary care and wider provider landscape.”
The IIP will formally unveil its joint offering at NHS ConfedExpo, which takes place on June 14 and 15. The event will occur at Manchester Central, and is expected to attract around 5,000 healthcare leaders and professionals.