Integrated Care Northamptonshire
Context
With an ageing population, increasingly complex health needs, and growing pressure on hospitals and statutory services, prevention has become more important than ever. Akeso partnered with Northamptonshire ICB, West Northamptonshire Council, and North Northamptonshire Council to evaluate the effectiveness of proactive and preventative care services across the System. This project sought to provide a robust evidence base to guide service redesign, optimise value for money and support sustainable, long-term delivery of preventative services.
Methodology
Our approach was guided by Akeso’s person-centred principle, combining IQ (quantitative data) and EQ (qualitative insights) to produce a balanced, holistic evaluation. By integrating service use, costs, outcomes, and peoples’ lived experience, we built a comprehensive picture of the current system and explored potential configurations for a service that is fit for the future.
The methodology followed four stages:
Engagement and Insight Gathering
We applied our advanced Population Health modelling methodology to segment and cluster the local population, using this to identify target communities for engagement. We conducted a comprehensive engagement programme, speaking with 22 staff members, nine service users through in-depth one-to-one sessions, and 33 additional service users through surveys. Seven workshops and focus groups were held with key stakeholders to co-produce options and maximise buy-in across the system. Using an Appreciative Inquiry approach, we explored lived experiences, identified gaps, and derived insights to inform future service configurations, ensuring that recommendations were practical, person-centred, and reflective of local needs.
Data Driven Evaluation
We synthesised quantitative service and outcome data, and undertook an analysis to assess efficiency, coverage, and impact of preventative programmes across Northamptonshire. This included understanding current costs, system pressures, and potential areas for improvement.
Impact Modelling
Using both qualitative and quantitative evidence, we modelled the potential benefits of redesigned service configurations. This included financial impacts, reductions in acute care usage, and broader wellbeing improvements.
Options Development
A longlist of potential service configurations was generated and refined into a preferred shortlist. We assessed options against affordability, coverage, service user impact, and potential return on investment, producing a preferred model for future delivery.
Impact
We developed a Strategic Outline Case for the reform of the services that ensured optimal affordability, while mitigating the potentially negative impacts of service closure. The SOC was structured around the five-case model, with an additional Clinical Case to reflect the importance of clinical outcomes in preventative care, ensuring recommendations supported population health, targeted unmet need, and improved the quality of care across the system.
The project highlighted opportunities for cost avoidance, efficiency gains, and improved service delivery:
Significant System Savings: Across the services evaluated, optimised service design could deliver up to £80 million in cash-equivalent benefits to the local health economy through reduced GP visits, emergency admissions, and improved social outcomes.
Enhanced Wellbeing: Co-productive engagement confirmed that service users experience improved wellbeing when supported by integrated social prescribing and preventative care. Services also enable families to maintain independence and avoid crisis escalation.
Robust Evidence Base: Nine detailed case studies were developed, demonstrating that the cost avoidance for individual service users far exceeds the cost of service provision, highlighting the preventative value of these services.
projected in cash equivalent savings
Key Takeaways
Integrated, person-centred preventative care offers a powerful lever to deliver substantial system savings while improving wellbeing for service users and their families. By combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative research of local people’s lived experience, we can pinpoint where services are most effective and identify gaps that, if addressed, maximise impact and efficiency. This evidence-driven, collaborative approach provides a clear pathway for sustainable and scalable delivery, ensuring future models are equitable, responsive to local needs, and capable of reducing reliance on high-cost hospital admissions and statutory services.
Contact Our Experts
Rosie Morgan
Manager
Rosie.Morgan@akeso.co.uk