Report on ICIC25 International Conference on Integrated Care. 14-16 May 2025 

CHA President Dr David Seamark attended the International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC25) on 14-16 May in Lisbon. This is the annual conference of the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC). The conference was attended by over 1000 delegates from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds from over 50 countries. Plenary sessions examined the carbon footprint of health care and what can be done to reduce it, integrated care strategies for universal health coverage and collaborative approaches in integrated care. Community hospitals were featured in a workshop that saw the launch of a new international network. David spoke about the history of the CHA and its role in education, facilitating networking, research and the current situation in the UK. There was an encouraging response with representatives from Singapore, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the UK joining the discussion and wanting to join the CHA.

IFIC Scotland has kindly agreed to host the International Community Hospital Network and will be organising webinars and learning events in the future. Further details will be posted on the CHA website.

Dr David Seamark President CHA

More details can be found here 

Can we afford not to make integrated health & social care work in Scotland? Dr Alastair Noble is the CHA National Lead for Scotland 

In his blog, Dr Alastair Noble addresses the need for reform in Scotland’s health and social care system. Drawing on his experience in Nairn, he advocates for a shift towards integrated care that prioritises local communities over large hospitals. He points out that the current system, with its focus on hospitals, results in unnecessary delays and increased costs. By using data to better understand local needs, Dr Noble believes we can improve care at home, reduce hospital admissions, and ensure better outcomes for patients. This approach would make health and social care more affordable and effective. 

Read the full blog here 

Seachange Devon -  a vital community hub for health and wellbeing

Marc Jobson is Head of Seachange Devon

Seachange Devon, a charity, located in Budleigh Salterton, operates as a vibrant community hub in conjunction with the NHS, providing a wide range of services aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of the local population. Originally Budleigh Salterton’s cottage hospital, the facility was transformed into a community hub in 2018, following a collaboration between the local community, the Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust, Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, and NHS England.

Seachange offers NHS outpatient appointments, GP services, and various health-related activities such as exercise classes and wellness programs. These services are designed to improve community health, reduce isolation, and promote social interaction. The hub also provides space for community gatherings, fostering a sense of belonging and support among residents.

The partnership with the NHS allows Seachange to deliver essential healthcare services locally, reducing the need for residents to travel to larger hospitals. This integration of healthcare and community services not only enhances accessibility but also helps in reducing the overall burden on the NHS by promoting preventive care and early intervention.

Preventative care and early intervention is the key to our model. It not only enables people to live, longer, better lives, but also enhance the quality of life by delaying the onset of diseases, reducing complications and promoting overall health and wellbeing. This is a win-win for the NHS, saving money upfront. The disappointing part is that it is the charities funds that are being spent to save the NHS money. The ICB do not currently provide us with any direct funding. Other hospitals are funded directly so why not ours?

Seachange exemplifies how community-driven initiatives, led by a charity, can create a holistic environment that nurtures both physical and mental health, ultimately contributing to a healthier, happier community.

Read more here 

Getting the hump over the loss of in-patient beds 

Chris Humphris is an Associate Member of the CHA

In 2018 a fantastic vision for the replacement of the old Ellen Badger Hospital in Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, was drawn up by South Warwickshire Foundation Trust. This was an exciting scheme that encompassed the in-patient beds, the relocation of the General Practice, and a whole range of community health and well-being services. The local community were hugely supportive. The League of Friends even donated over £600 k to allow the NHS to purchase adjacent land to facilitate this whole scheme.

Somehow over the intervening years we have managed to move to a situation where SWFT moved the beds ‘temporarily’ to a ward in Leamington Hospital, did a community bed review, and concluded that this would be the best arrangement permanently.

Instead of a proper look at all the local services for Shipston and the surrounding area, the Integrated Care Board just proceeded to consult on the beds, and even then, narrowed it down as much as possible.

The Beds4Badger group, supported by Chris Humphris, an Associate member of the CHA, have galvanised the local community to argue for the restoration of the original vision, or at least as close as we can now get to it. Although the ICB still agreed with the loss of beds from Ellen Badger following rh consultation they have been prompted by the scale of the community response, to launch a rural services group with a focus on this area.

Beds4Badger and other local groups have not given up! They are now trying to work with all the other interested parties to produce a plan for future services, including some community beds, and to use the latest NHS promotion of ‘neighbourhoods’ as a vehicle for doing this.

Meanwhile they definitely get the award for the most eye-catching media-friendly supported. Meet the camel! 

https://www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/24888714.beds-badger-protesters-take-shire-hall-camel/

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