Creating more integrated services is a vital part of improvement in primary care. The social determinants of health are wide and varied, and the growth of social prescribing, the introduction of new roles and local place-based partnerships are all helping to provide more joined-up services.
The Bromley by Bow Health Centre has made great strides towards integrating services for local residents since establishing a general practice in 1997. It does this through strategic partnerships with other local organisations and its impressive social prescribing scheme. This scheme is widely regarded as one of the first social prescribing initiatives to become fully operational in the UK. The Centre also offers a wide range of services, including energy advice, one-to-one social care support and an employment and skills team.
This in-person Visit gave a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Bromley by Bow Centre, get a tour of their award-winning Health Centre and hear from the practitioners making integrated care a reality.
Post-Visit resources
Here is a pack of additional resources to help explore integrated services and other topics covered during the Visit. The pack includes a link to Bromley By Bow Centre slides from the Visit.
Why the Bromley by Bow Centre?
Bromley by Bow Centre is a world leading community-based health and wellbeing centre which offers a variety of integrated services to the local population. Their model of integration is driven by the knowledge that health outcomes are primarily driven by social factors, not medical ones.
Bromley by Bow Centre led the development of one of the UK’s first social prescribing schemes, and they have developed partnerships with a wide range of organisations and funders to design and deliver programmes that integrate services across community organisations, primary care and other providers, such as housing and welfare. They have created a working model for healthy vibrant communities and are excited to share their learning with the Q community on this Visit.
The Visit was hosted by Dan Hopewell, Director of Knowledge and Innovation at the Bromley by Bow Centre.
What people experienced on the Visit
- they learnt about the Bromley by Bow Centre and get a tour
- found out how the Centre’s practice is based on collaborative work with local partners around housing, employment and social connection
- heard inspiring stories about the journey to integrated services from the Bromley by Bow team and their partners, and how this model is being replicated elsewhere
- had a chance to reflect with others about the challenges and opportunities to creating integrated services
