Integrated Care Programme—Department of Health, UK

Introduction: Integration is seen as a key building block within the strategic plan for improving the health and well-being of the population of England. The Integrated Care Pilot programme is a three-year academically assessed research programme sponsored by the Department of Health, England, which aims to explore and gather evidence to support different approaches to integration. Aims: With 16 pilot sites across England the objectives of the programme are based upon a Government commitment to test and evaluate a range of innovative models of integrated care that should help to improve patient, carer and service user outcomes. Each pilot is exploring a new approach to a key health issue within the local community, and seeking to deliver improvements in quality, service user satisfaction and local health and well-being. Current status: The programme launched in April 2009 and all 16 pilot sites are currently implementing their integration interventions. Evaluation activities are underway with qualitative and quantitative data being collected via pilot site information systems as well as through patient and staff interviews. An interim evaluation report is due to be published in summer 2010. The programme is due to be completed in April 2011 with a further year of evaluation data collected before a final assessment is published.