West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (HCP) covers 2.6 million people. It is made up of around 50 local health and care networks, eight local authority areas, seven local care partnerships and six place plans (Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield). This case study forms part of our integrated care systems (ICS) resource.
Alongside the principles of ambition, shared leadership of NHS and local government, simplified decision making and the need for great shared analysis, is the principle of subsidiarity. The partnership only works together at a West Yorkshire and Harrogate level where it makes sense to do so – where there are economies of scale, where good practice can be shared, and where ‘wicked issues’ (complex, intractable problems) can be solved together.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate HCP has attracted over £300 million of additional revenue and capital funding, which is the result of collaboration effort.
The partnership aims to address three issues across the area: health inequalities (including helping the poorest the fastest), unwarranted variation in care and financial sustainability.
It is supported by the Academic Health Science Network to evaluate health outcomes for people, for example healthy hearts and identifying people most at risk of stroke. It also works with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on shared priorities, maximising the mutual benefits of inclusive growth and, for example, leveraging the economic and health benefits of the ‘med-tech’ industry in Yorkshire.
Partners in West Yorkshire and Harrogate have agreed a memorandum of understanding describing how they work together. A key aspect of this is the establishment of a partnership board made up of local elected members (including from health and wellbeing boards) and non-executive chairs of NHS organisations, along with other key stakeholders including Healthwatch and the voluntary and community sector. The board will meet in public and will provide oversight and assurance and an additional link between health and wellbeing boards and the partnership.
Parity between NHS and local government partners across each of the six places is an important principle, recognising that it is only through collaboration that comprehensive improvement to health and wellbeing will be achieved. A dedicated post of head of regional health partnerships has been established, hosted in Leeds City Council, to support the involvement of local councils in the HCP.
Contacts
Karen Coleman, Communication and Engagement Lead
[email protected]
Rachel Loftus, Head of Regional Health Partnerships
[email protected]