The Health and Care Act 2022 comes into effect on 1 July. The Act establishes 42 statutory Integrated Care Boards in England, which will work alongside regional and place-based partnerships as part of an integrated care system.
Kirklees Health and Care Partnership (HCP) is one of five recently formed place-based partnerships that will operate as part of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System. The other partnerships are Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Leeds, and Wakefield District.
Kirklees HCP brings together a range of local organisations to plan and deliver joined-up services and improve the health and wellbeing of people who live in Kirklees. It will focus on preventing ill health, improving health and healthcare, reducing health inequalities, making the best of collective resources, and putting communities at the heart of all it does.
Kirklees HCP includes the local NHS, other health and care providers, Kirklees Council, Healthwatch, and community and voluntary sector organisations. They will come together to arrange and deliver services for the 440,00 people who live in Kirklees.
Carol McKenna, Place-based lead for Kirklees Health and Care Partnership said, “We have been working together as partners for many years to plan and deliver local services. This new partnership builds on very strong foundations and strengthens our approach, paving the way for continued, successful collaboration.”
Under the new arrangements, a local committee of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has also been set up. The committee has delegated decision-making powers and a budget to commission services for the Kirklees population.
Chair of the Kirklees Integrated Care Board Committee, Dr Liz Mear, said, “Most health and care services are delivered within the community, where people live or work. Local place-based partnerships are the foundation of integrated care systems and they will play an important role in improving outcomes for local people.”