West Essex CCG’s strategic vision is to create an Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) with a clear priority for developing and delivering a shared strategy for Integrated Urgent Care in West Essex. In line with national strategy, West Essex CCG is looking to develop an urgent and emergency care system that is intuitive and helps people make the right decisions. The clear aim is to shift the provision of services into local community settings to provide alternatives to A and E whilst placing the responsibility across all services for preventing escalation of need. This will be achieved through timely clinical access for urgent care close to people’s homes, moving from "assess and refer" to a "consult and complete" model that promotes an agreed consistent approach to supporting people to manage their health independently. The expectation is that the system will shift towards more “managed urgent care” as opposed to unscheduled urgent care to reduce the pressure on our hospitals so that resources are protected for the sickest patients and those with serious or life threatening needs. The Integrated Urgent Care (incorporating Extended Access) Service (IUCS) is at the centre of this strategy and will be expected to support patients in a crisis, those struggling to cope and in need of support, individuals needing help to manage their health conditions to enable them to live independently and to act as an information point for the general public. The Provider will actively participate, through a senior clinician, in the development and implementation of the shared strategy, for the integrated delivery of care in West Essex and will work in partnership with all relevant professionals, teams, organisations and trusts within the local health and social care system. West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (WECCG) wishes to establish a Lead Provider contract for the provision of Integrated Urgent Care Services (incorporating Extended Access) Services (IUCS). The IUCS will incorporate the following in scope elements: NHSE mandated services:
— NHS 111 call-handling service,
— NHS 111 on-line service,
— Multi-specialty Clinical Assessment Service (MCAS),
— Primary Care Out of Hours (OOH) service Locally mandated services:
— GP Extended Access service with the ability to make pre-bookable routine appointments from primary care alongside urgent referrals from local acute trusts; Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Harlow, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Trust (Broomfield Hospital), Cambridge University Foundation Hospital Trust (Addenbrookes Hospital) and NHS111.
It is essential that there is interoperability and digital transferability between all elements of the IUCS to avoid unnecessary handoffs, so that the service is seamless for both the patient and their clinical records.