The Hewitt Review represents an ambitious vision for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and the opportunity they represent for improved population health.
Barnardo’s supports the Review’s call to shift the focus from only treating illness to instead promoting health including through improved prevention and reduction of health inequalities.
We are pleased to see the Review acknowledge the role of services supporting children and young people, and the importance of investing in the early years to address health inequalities and wider population health. The Review also recognises the importance of including the voices of children and young people throughout ICS structures.
We welcome the Review’s recommendations which would remove barriers to collaboration and effective partnership working with the voluntary sector and improve effective data sharing.
Barnardo’s supports the recommendation to create a National Health Promotion Strategy and wider roles for national government in providing leadership in the shift towards improved population health.