What’s it all about?

Fit for my Future has been focused on getting the different parts of our health and care system work more closely together and we’re already starting to see some results.

Health and care services in Somerset have been working together closely over the past few years to improve services and provide more joined up care for the people of Somerset. In December 2020, we were formally designated as an Integrated Care System (ICS).

In Somerset, we have already achieved a lot by working in partnership; this has been strengthened through our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes have been made possible by different organisations – NHS hospitals, GPs, councils, care homes, commissioners, voluntary and community organisations and others – joining forces to agree and plan for local people’s needs.

From July 2022 the Somerset ICS will have legal status and will include a statutory Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), and a new NHS body called the Integrated Care Board (ICB). These are described in more detail below.