A ‘blueprint’ approach to tackle healthcare challenges

Smriti Singh, Associate Partner at The PSC, discusses the business management consultancy’s recent codevelopment – with Plymouth Local Care Partnership – of a so-called ‘Blueprint’ approach to designing estates which the two organisations says both meets population needs, and enables integration of care. The approach taken strongly aligns with the New Hospital Programme principle that models of care in the acute setting cannot be developed in isolation.

The biggest healthcare challenges we face today are ageing, multiple long-term conditions, and lifestyle factors. However, our healthcare estates are not set up to address these challenges; rather they were designed to deliver interventions when people need immediate ‘help’. Most of our healthcare estates are large acute hospital sites designed to deliver interventions when people are already ill. Unfortunately, these estates leave us illequipped to tackle the modern challenges of supporting people in managing chronic conditions, preventing illness, and reducing health inequalities

To address this issue, The PSC has – in partnership with the Plymouth Local Care Partnership – co-developed a ‘Blueprint’ approach to designing estates which both meet population needs and enable integration of care.