Primary, community & social care

Across England, primary, community & social care remains an area requiring urgent transformation.

At Health Innovation KSS we work with our local integrated care systems (ICSs), GP practices and primary care networks (PCNs), local authorities and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) to understand their priority needs and how we can help to meet these needs.

We support the implementation of innovative solutions, such as exploring where automation and AI can make a safe and positive difference to both health and care staff and patients. We support organisations in taking a population health management approach to delivering care, with a particular focus on addressing health inequalities.

Primary community and social care illustration - lady in wheelchair and care working using a laptop

Primary and community care

Across England, patients report frustrations around waiting times, access to care, staff shortages and a perceived lack of investment. Meanwhile, staff highlight concerns over working conditions, their ability to provide good quality care and a risk of burnout.

The Fuller Stocktake report reviewed how Primary Care can be best supported by Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), with the aim of ensuring primary care remains the lynchpin of community-facing healthcare while also meeting the needs of people in their local area. This includes the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) to create better collaboration and ultimately improve services.

More recently, the Government has published its delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, including updates for 2024/25. The focus of this plan is to empower patients to manage their own health, implement modern access to practices, build capacity, and cut bureaucracy.

Healthcare professional talking to residents at care home

Social care

Social care in England covers the range of services and support that help people with the consequences of disability, frailty, and ill-health, and also associated needs that are exacerbated by poverty and social isolation.

With an ageing population across Kent Surrey and Sussex, and changes in family caring availability, the need and demand for social care is rising. Supporting innovation in Social Care is an area we are developing at Health Innovation KSS. We also have our ageing well programme and work closely with NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey Sussex who have a strong focus on applied research in Social Work and Social Care.

Children and young people’s mental health is also another example of where increased social support is needed, and at Health Innovation KSS we work with both health and care partners as part of our mental health and neurodiversity programmes.

Our work

Enabling primary care to utilise AI and automation

AI and automation have the potential to reduce clinical workload in primary care by removing admin tasks, supporting decision-making, introducing smart triage and automating services for patients. But there are challenges to adoption including GP’s not having the time to assess which AI and automation innovations are right, and safe, for their practice. At Health Innovation KSS we are working with primary care organisations to understand the challenges, share learning and support with adoption.

Supporting innovators working in primary care

Our team of experienced Innovation Managers and Coordinators help innovators navigate the complexities of our health and care systems, including primary care. We offer practical advice and guidance including workshops and webinars, hold regular innovation panels, and provide signposting to support innovators to develop their innovations to meet the needs of our local systems and populations. Find out more by visiting our Innovator Hub.

News and case studies

Contact us

If you’d like to find out more about our work in primary, community & social care or are interested in collaborating with us, get in touch.

Get in touch