We’re better together

How the health sector worked in partnership during the Covid-19 crisis

This report shares eight factors that have enabled health partnerships to respond effectively to Covid-19. It is aimed at anyone interested in building cross-sector relationships to improve local health and care outcomes – NHS systems (particularly ICS/STP leads and PCNs), commissioners, clinicians, local authorities and professionals from the VCSE sector.

Previous barriers to the NHS, councils and the voluntary sector working together – such as information governance, organisational boundaries or agendas, and lack of trust – were removed, or set aside, in order to respond swiftly to a ‘tsunami of need’. The research is based on learning from 11 partnerships in different areas of England, who took part in the Building Health Partnerships programme.

This research found that as a result of working together, health partnerships:

  • Reached the most isolated and vulnerable community members
  • Protected against overwhelming demand on statutory health services
  • Improved referral pathways and access to services
  • Provided a more focused/targeted response when required
  • Ensured that services meet local needs
  • Distributed information to communities quickly and efficiently
  • Built on, and made best use of, community assets (e.g. volunteers)
  • Ensured the right people are at the decision-making table.
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