Plymouth health and social care: Good relationships being forged but more development is required says CQC review

Published: 6 February 2018 Page last updated: 3 November 2022

The Care Quality Commission has published its findings following a local system review of Plymouth. This report is one of 20 targeted reviews of local authority areas looking specifically at how people move through the health and social care system, with a focus on how services work together.

The reviews look at how hospitals, community health services, GP practices, care homes and homecare agencies work together to provide seamless care for older people living in a local area.

The review found strength and commitment amongst system leaders to deliver a fully integrated system in order to meet the needs of the residents of Plymouth. This process had already begun with integration between the CCG and local authority, with innovative risk sharing agreements and a significant shared budget.

However, the city faced significant pressures in relation to finance and flow of people through the system. In order for this to succeed moving forward key challenges need to be addressed including, primary care capacity, continuing healthcare and organisational budgets.

At the time of the review, people’s experiences of health and social care services in Plymouth were varied. More people were attending A&E, being admitted and staying longer than necessary. Recent work undertaken by the system had led to some improvements, However, Derriford Hospital remained under pressure.

While there was a compelling strategic vision for the future, system leaders need to ensure that the key challenges including primary care capacity continuing healthcare and patient flow were addressed

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of Primary Care Services, said:

“The review of Plymouth's services - and how the system works together – has found some shining examples of shared approaches. The system leaders had a clearly articulated, long-established vision of integration which translated well into local commissioning strategies. Leaders were consistent in their commitment to the vision with whole system buy-in.

“I would encourage system leaders in Plymouth to drive this forward to ensure there is a more community, home-based focus. System leaders also need to ensure that as the system moves towards further integration, work is undertaken to ensure that staff are fully engaged, from the outset and led by a collaborative leadership.”

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The review of Plymouth's services - and how the system works together – has found some shining examples of shared approaches.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of Primary Care Services

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.