Nearly 100 people representing the NHS, local government, and the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector came together recently in Exeter to understand how they can better collaborate to benefit local people’s health and wellbeing at the second annual conference held by the Eastern Local Care Partnership (ELCP).

The ELCP, which came into existence formally in July 2022 as part of the new integrated care system, aim to provide a platform for better-integrated care across Devon, respond to local needs, and keep people well and supported in their own communities. In its first year, the ELCP has focused on:

• Developing relationships with the voluntary and community sector
• Addressing prevention issues that significantly impact people’s health and wellbeing, including loneliness and isolation, informal carers, and children’s mental health
• Addressing health inequalities

The partnership covers a large area – from Axminister to Okehampton, including Exeter – with a total population of around 400,000 people. The Royal Devon is a key player, leading on the organisation and content of the conference.

Jeff Chinnock, Associate Director of Policy and Partnerships at the Royal Devon, said:

‘Place-based partnerships, such as the ELCP, offer a significant opportunity to build and maintain a broad coalition with community partners to promote health and wellbeing and influence the wider determinants of health. Over time, working with local partners and the strengths and assets of local communities will help reduce demand on services.’

Dr Barry Coakley, a GP in Exmouth and Chair of the Eastern Local Care Partnership, said:

‘This is an opportunity for communities to come together alongside voluntary sector organisations and the public sector to talk about how we can improve our services, work better together, and improve the aspirations and outcomes for all of our citizens across the Eastern locality. The voluntary sector is a key partner in the ELCP – they understand what communities need, have insights into what makes communities strong, show innovation, and they’re amazing at getting on with the job at hand.’

Lou Higgins, NHS Devon’s locality director for the North and East of Devon, said:

‘This is all about collaboration, inclusion, and community. I work with a really fantastic group of people across the whole sector that all have one goal in mind: how they can make the lives of the people within this community better. I think that it's really inspiring.’

Richard Foxwell, Chair of Wellmoor – a community health and wellbeing charity based in Moretonhampstead – is working with colleagues from the NHS to address the issue of informal carers. He said:

‘Unpaid carers do fantastic work. They're often catapulted into it when, for example, their partner becomes very ill and they have to care for them. Above all, they make a big contribution to the health and wellbeing of the people they're caring for. In turn, they help to reduce pressures on the NHS.’

More information is available on the ELCP website and a report of the conference is also available to read.