Vital vision for future of health and wellbeing gets the go ahead from Lancashire County Council

A crucial blueprint for improving health and wellbeing across Lancashire and South Cumbria has been given the green light by Lancashire County Council.

The vital vision holds clear ambitions for the region’s residents to be healthier, wealthier and happier and aims to ensure that children have the very best start in life, that everyone lives, ages and works well, and that there is a positive experience for all at the end of life.

Called the ‘Integrated Care Strategy’ (ICS), it has been created by the new Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership which joins local care and health services together and has been approved by Lancashire County Council’s cabinet at its meeting on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Louise Taylor, Lancashire County Council’s executive director of adult services and health and wellbeing and director of health and care for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, welcomed the move.

She said: “I am pleased we have been able to agree this strategy. The priority is now to deliver on what we have agreed and do this in a way that draws on the collective skills, experiences and resources of all partners to make a lasting and improved difference to the health and wellbeing of residents.”

Lancashire County Councillor Michael Green, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing and chairman of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board and chair of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership, said: “We know that people across our region have different needs, experiences, aspirations and opportunities.  They also have different day to day lives, different things that affect their health and wellbeing and experience the impact of healthcare differently.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that all residents of Lancashire and South Cumbria live in good health, regardless of where they live.  I am delighted that we have approved this vital vision for enabling better health and care outcomes, reducing health inequalities, and providing the best care at the right time to enable people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.”