Integrated Health Services

Together for Health is the new five year vision of health services across Wales

Alongside other policies, such as Setting the Direction and the Rural Health Plan, the intention is for all services to deliver equitable, effective and safe services as close to the person as possible. Services will be reconfigured to be considerably more community and primary care based. Local Health Boards are currently submitting delivery plans to show how they will meet the targets in Together for Health.

What is COT doing about Integrated Health Services?
 

• COT is developing evidence and resources to help members demonstrate the effectiveness of interagency and joint services
• The Wales Policy Officer is working with service managers to support members in the coming changes
• The Wales Policy Officer is meeting officials and Assembly Members to raise the issue of the important contribution of occupational therapy in maintaining people independently at home

What can you do about Integrated Health Services?

• Ensure you can articulate benefit of your intervention and services
• Take every opportunity to show service users, managers and other stakeholders how occupational therapy can make a difference in keeping people out of hospital, or getting people home from hospital
• Ensure your services are part of a ‘whole occupational therapy system’. Do not allow your services to duplicate or leave gaps with others, for example across health and social care, across physical and mental health services.
• Keep up to date with developments in BJOT, OTN and on the COT website