The CSP has welcomed strong endorsement of the value of rehabilitation in a new publication designed to shape the creation of a ‘neighbourhood health service’ in England.
Guidance published by NHS England sets out what local systems should include to deliver on the ambition of providing more care outside of hospitals and built around the needs of patients.
The guidelines, released last week alongside national planning principles, calls for neighbourhood health to deliver integrated intermediate care with a ‘home first’ approach as one of six core components.
‘Systems are asked to deliver short-term rehabilitation, reablement and recovery services (integrated intermediate care) taking a therapy-led approach (rehab or reablement care overseen by a registered therapist) working in integrated ways across health and social care and other sectors,’ it says.
Sara Hazzard, assistant director of strategic comms at the CSP and co-chair of the Community Rehab Alliance, welcomed the guidance.
‘This is further evidence of rehab moving up the national agenda and being recognised at last for the critical role in can play in improving patient outcomes,’ she said.
‘We know it must be central to efforts to provide care closer to home and in a person-centred way, so it is good to see our campaigning on this issue being heard at the highest levels.
What is important now is for local areas to implement this guidance in sustainable way that ensures all workforce needs are met, not just in the neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams, but in services across the pathway
The vision for neighbourhoods is to bring health and social care closer together, along with partners in the voluntary sector, to create integrated services that meet the needs of patients in their community.
Systems have been asked to focus initially on those with complex health and care needs, who require support from multiple services and organisations.
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