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The concept of population health management in the NHS emerged towards the end of the previous decade and was cited by NHS England as a “core strategic aim” for integrated care systems.
This was underlined in the NHS long-term plan (2019), which confidently proclaimed: “In 2021-22, we will have systems that support population health management in every ICS.”
Such technology systems are “crucial” to delivering the level of population health management envisaged by NHS chiefs, experts say.
But unfortunately, more than a year on from that particular target, less than half of ICSs have put the tech in place and several do not have any meaningful system underpinning their population health management approach, HSJ can reveal.
Why the failure to hit the long-term plan’s objective?
The pandemic can take some of the blame, along with the slow progress to develop mature ICSs. Funding may also be an issue.
The target has been quietly pushed back to March 2025, although the government expects at least an underpinning tech platform to be in place at all ICSs by the end of this year.
But even this latter aim may not be achieved, our research found.
Getting up to speed
The NHS is arguably facing its biggest ever crisis, with its leaders up against a huge array of challenges coming out of the pandemic.
One thing that’s been noticed by NHS England is the number of local chiefs who are relatively new in post, and may need increased levels of support from peers and external bodies.
It has launched a new pilot scheme in the North West region, which has six first-time CEOs, to try to address this need.
In an email to trusts last month, NHSE signposted leaders to a package of support programmes available.
Regional workforce director Christopher Cutts added in the email: “Newly appointed CEOs and chairs will be invited to one-to-one calls with Richard Barker, regional director, the NW Leadership Academy and myself as regional director of workforce, spanning across the first three months in role.
“We hope these conversations will provide invaluable support to the individuals as well as enabling a collaborate partnership moving forward.”
The email also set out several available programmes, including a new CEO development eBook, CEO mentoring, and a pre-existing peer support group run by NHS Confederation.
NHSE said the pilot will also involve some new CEOs from the North East and Yorkshire, where Mr Barker is also regional director.
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