NHS England accounces that all STPs will become ‘accountable care systems’

Full story at Pulse Today 31st March 2017

According to new plans by NHS England, all health and social care organisations will eventually become accountable care systems (ACSs).

NHS England’s Five Year Forward View delivery plan has said that hospital trusts, CCGs and local authorities in the new ACSs will ‘take on clear collective responsibility for resources and population health’.

Regional organisations that created the sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) will ‘evolve’ into ACSs, with some as early as April this year.

Head of NHS England, Simon Stevens, announced that between six and ten STP areas would be launching as so-called accountable care organisations (ACOs).

Nevertheless, the delivery plan suggests that ACOs are the next step after becoming ACSs, with some becoming accountable care organisations ‘in time’.