In this briefing, the Improvement Analytics Unit – a partnership between the Health Foundation and NHS England and NHS Improvement – has found evidence that integrated care programmes have the potential to reduce hospital utilisation and that the best results are delivered when new ways of working start to become embedded.   

It is important that the analysis was?able to?look?at the impact of the programme?over such a long time. Integrated care programmes usually aim to reduce hospital admissions, however previous?evaluations?were not able to demonstrate?whether reductions in hospital use might begin to materialise over a longer period.?This briefing?provides?promising evidence that integrated care programmes have the potential to reduce hospital use over the longer?term, even if there are increases in the short-term.? 

The briefing also underlines the importance of ongoing evaluation when implementing new ways of delivering care. Having a mechanism for robust evaluation in place is essential for continuous learning, so that necessary adjustments can be made to new programmes as they are delivered, and lessons learnt can be used to inform future policy decisions.?