Developing a combined framework for priority setting in integrated health and social care systems

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Resource Allocation

Background:

• International trend towards integrating health and social care services.
• Formation of 31 Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) in Scotland following 2014 legislation.
• Need for structured local-level priority setting and resource allocation frameworks despite resource scarcity.

Approach:

• Conducted a scoping literature review on priority setting principles from economics, decision analysis, ethics, and law.
• Co-produced a combined framework through a multi-disciplinary stakeholder workshop.
• Incorporated views from local and national stakeholders, and academics.

Key Points:

• Developed a combined framework for priority setting and resource allocation.
• Framework principles derived from economics (opportunity cost), decision science (good decisions), ethics (justice), and law (fair procedures).
• Outlines key stages: framing the question, assessing resource use, defining/evaluating options, and reviewing processes, including patient and public involvement.

Conclusions:

• Integration of health and social care presents an opportunity for implementing a combined framework for fair priority setting and resource allocation.
• Aims to facilitate resource reallocation from acute services to community care.
• Enhances the ability to meet local population needs through structured decision-making.