About the strategy

Putting people and communities at the heart of all we do and focusing on the things that are most important to you will help us in supporting everyone to live happy and healthy lives from cradle to old age.

Together, we will:

make sure our resources are used where they’re needed to meet health and care needs

look at how public, independent and voluntary organisations can provide joined-up care together

listen to people, and involve them in making decisions about their care and how
they get it

look at how well things are working for our communities, and make changes if things aren’t right

You will:

  • be more involved in your care and in the decisions that are made about what care you’ll be receiving and why
  • be able to access information more easily in a format that is suitable for your needs
  • be considered as a person rather than a patient, your care will be tailored to suit you, not your condition or injury
  • be listened to and where things aren’t right, your experiences will be used to make improvements
  • be able to access services closer to home, not passing from service to service. This will save you time and money by not having to make multiple trips to hospital settings
  • be able to access Dorset’s natural environment to stay well and use green spaces to improve your physical and mental wellbeing
  • have the right tools to stay well and independent for longer, so you can manage your own health and wellbeing successfully, and recognise when things aren’t right or when you may need extra support.

‘Integrated care systems are all
about improving outcomes and
tackling inequalities. I’m excited by the
opportunity working as a single system
brings – only by working together and
listening to local people will we make the
changes we need to.’

Jenni Douglas-Todd – Interim Chair, Dorset Integrated
Care Partnership

‘I’m encouraged by the focus in integrated
care systems of using our collective assets
to improve prospects for people who don’t
get the chances of a decent job, or home or
support network. These factors are so crucial
to health we mustn’t underestimate what we
could do together to help.’

Spencer Flower – Leader of Dorset Council,
Integrated Care Board member

‘When we talk to communities about what
makes a great place, people mention the
importance of our natural environment to
boost wellbeing. This is where councils can
make a real contribution to integrated care
systems, aiming to be the best place for
wellbeing and healthy living.’

Drew Mellor – Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch
and Poole Council, Integrated Care Board member