Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) ICS has developed a draft strategy proposing a common set of priorities that partners will work on together, in order to support their population’s health.
Representatives from across the health and care systems have collaborated with partner organisations, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders in other to develop the priorities.
The draft strategy proposes three key priorities which aim to promote and protect people’s health: to Start Well (helping children achieve the best start in life); Live Well (supporting people and communities to stay healthy for as long as possible); and Age Well (supporting older people to live healthier, independent lives for longer). In addition, there is to be a focus on improving quality and access to services so that people can access the right service at the right place at the right time.
The ICS’s next step is to work with local people and communities in order to refine the proposals with public input.
Cllr Jason Brock, Chair of BOB ICP and Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “We have to work together to best achieve those things which are most important to the people who live and work across our area. As such, public feedback and input will be hugely important as the strategy develops.
“The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West area is geographically vast, and it also has a very diverse population in all sorts of ways. This engagement is about finding common ground on broad strategies which can help give people the best possible start in life, to be happier and healthier and to ensure they have access to support when they need it.
“This draft document is intended to promote thought and discussion. The detail comes later on, in particular how all partners can direct limited resources to have the biggest positive impact on people’s lives.”