AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/integrated-care
Integrated care
Integrated care joins up hospitals, GPs, community services, mental health and social care around the patient.
Summary
- Its aim is that a patient is not passed between separate organisations that do not share information.
- England was divided into 42 integrated care systems in July 2022, and some have since merged.
- Each has an integrated care board that plans and pays for local NHS services.
- Delayed discharge shows why it matters. Patients who are well enough to leave hospital wait in beds because social care is not ready.
Interview questions
- Why do patients get stuck in hospital when they are medically fit to leave?
- What is the difference between health care and social care?
- How would joining up services help an elderly patient with several conditions?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.