On the 19th March 2012 – the Department of Health issued a Press Release on their website about integrated care and Allied Health Professionals. You can read the Press Release in full here:
http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2012/03/19/better-integrated-care-could-save-the-nhs-millions/
The term ‘Allied Health Professionals’ refers to the large and wide-ranging number of health professionals working alongside more the more traditional doctor and nurse roles. Some of these disciplines include:
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Dietitians
- Arts Therapists
- Podiatrists
The Press Release, called ‘Better Integrated Care’, discusses how the use of Allied Health Professionals could save the NHS millions of pounds each year. The statement says, “A new series of online tools, launched today, will help the NHS identify how therapists can intervene at different stages of a patient’s condition to improve patient care whilst saving on costs.”
The tools can be found on the NHS Networks site:
http://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/ahp-networks/ahp-qipp-toolkits
One service manager reports, “Although this was developed as a tool for commissioners it is so much more. It is a one stop shop of information and evidence that I hope will promote local discussions amongst all clinicians on how we can improve services for out patients and deliver the savings the NHS needs to achieve.”
Integrating care is a key part of the controversial Health and Social Care Bill. Although the Press Release emphasises the important role that Allied Health Professionals (including Speech and Language Therapists) play in healthcare, it remains to be seen whether the proposed reforms will impact positively or negatively upon the delivery of speech and language therapy within the NHS.
If NHS speech and language therapy services have been affected in your area and you are considering private/independent speech and language input for your child or relative, Integrated Treatment Services could be of help. Contact us here:
https://integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/contact-us/enquiry
Sarah Bennington, March 2012
