The 12-month programme is intended to provide a support programme to move obesity care closer to home.
The NHS Confederation and US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly have launched a project to understand how integrated care systems (ICS) can redesign weight management services outside of hospitals. The move is in line with current shifts proposed by the government to move care closer to home.
The programme will run from January 2025 for 12 months, including four engagement workshops to shape the resources produced where ICS leaders will be able to share knowledge and innovative solutions that can be scaled.
“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges we face today, taking a massive toll on individuals’ health and wellbeing, as well as placing strain on our NHS,” said Karen Thomas, associate director – strategic and collaboration partnership at Eli Lilly.
“There is huge potential for the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS to work together to tackle this crisis. Lilly’s expertise in developing solutions, combined with NHS Confederation’s expertise in supporting ICBs to improve population health, deliver high-quality care and reduce health inequalities, are driving real progress,” she continued.
The collaboration will provide a support programme for a cohort of NHS Confederation’s members (NHS leaders working to improve weight management services and pathways for the benefit of local communities), culminating in a change package that will include practical resources to spread and scale learnings beyond members involved in this programme.
“This project will help us to equip ICS to reimagine what holistic support could look like, and help them fulfil their four core purposes as statutory bodies; improve outcomes in population health and healthcare, tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access, enhance productivity and value for money and help the NHS support broader social and economic development,” said NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor.
