And continued close collaboration with partners and communities – who have challenged health and social care leaders to move away from traditional models of care to a new way of thinking – is at the heart of a blueprint for the future. 

Soumen Sengupta, Director of Health and Social Care, has explained that the publication of South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board’s Strategic Commissioning Plan 2022 – 2025 sets out a bold new direction.  

“I can understand how devising a plan in the current context – when we’re moving from one period of uncertainty to arguably another – could be easily dismissed as a ‘tick-box’ exercise,” said Mr Sengupta. “Our Plan, however, has been shaped by the real experiences of people in our very communities – and that has allowed us to chart a new course. 

“The Plan clearly sets out support for our staff, services, partners and communities to recover – whilst promoting meaningful renewal and reinvigoration.”

The Plan, which was approved today by South Lanarkshire’s Integration Joint Board, was informed by rich evidence and insights from a range of sources – including a comprehensive and in-depth public engagement process. 
 

scp (2) from NHS Lanarkshire on Vimeo.

Mr Sengupta continued: “What has been most striking is that all of the information we’ve gleaned reinforces three key areas. 

“Firstly, our health and social care services make a substantial difference to people’s lives – but we are going to have to do more than just ‘more of the same’ if we really want to improve outcomes and tackle inequalities. 

“Secondly, our communities value their independence and very much see the heart of health and social care provision being not within NHS or Council buildings, but within their own homes. 

“And thirdly, the pandemic has shown that staff and communities can innovate at pace and are much more open to change than we might have thought before. In conversations and feedback, we’ve been challenged to cast off nostalgia towards traditional models of care to meet aspirations with bold solutions.”

The Plan, in turn, identifies three concrete priorities which will shape the delivery of health and social care over the next three years and beyond. 
 
These are: 
 
•  Ensuring that early intervention, prevention and addressing inequalities are much more prominent across all service areas.
 
•  Increasing access to a greater variety of activities and supports that address mental health and addictions. 
 
•  Sustaining and improving day-to-day health and social care services, ensuring all services are working at their best and are accessible to our diverse communities.
 
Mr Sengupta added that alongside recovery, collaboration will be key.

“Achieving these and our longer-term ambitions will be dependent on a simple, fundamental factor. That’s the quality of our partnerships; how well we enable staff to work together across disciplines and services; how well we develop new approaches with our primary care contractors, independent providers and public sector partners; and how we support, where necessary, third sector and community groups to grow and flourish.

“If there was ever a time for thinking differently about health and social care, it’s surely been now. This plan represents that very blueprint for the future.”
 
Vote of thanks to the public for their participation
 
Craig Cunningham, Head of Commissioning and Performance for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership thanked all those who have invested their time, experience and thoughts in helping devise the Strategic Commissioning Plan. 

Mr Cunningham explained the three themes identified are part of a wider raft of 12 priorities. Other priorities include continuing support for unpaid carers and improving unscheduled care.

Mr Cunningham added: “Members of the public can be assured our health and social care staff across South Lanarkshire continue to work tirelessly to address the significant challenges created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the same time, we are also committed to looking and planning for tomorrow, collectively. The delivery of this plan is the result of a tremendous effort.”
 

Fact file

You can read the full Strategic Commissioning Plan and supporting documents.
•   Strategic commissioning is the term used for all the activities involved in assessing and forecasting needs, linking investment to agreed outcomes, considering options, planning the nature, range and quality of future services and working in partnership to put these in place. The importance of effective strategic commissioning for the success of integrated health and social care provision cannot be over-stated. The Plan will be the blueprint which South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board and South Lanarkshire HSCP will follow to inform the significant resources we invest in health and social care provision to deliver better care for people.