Polyatrics

As the health and fitness of the population continues to decline, as many older people decondition further and become increasingly frail, and as long-term conditions increase and worsen, the NHS is coming under increasing pressure to find a way to support all of these people without adding to the existing workload of GPs and other health professionals. It is clear that there is a need to support self-care directly and not rely on primary care teams and NHS rehabilitation services to be the sole provider of knowledge and support. Polyatrics brings together cross-sector experience to establish and support collaboration between NHS and public health leaders, the Voluntary and Charity Sector, the Activity and Fitness Sector, the Life Sciences Industry, Health Education, Health-Tech and other key stakeholder organisations. The aim is to employ an Integrated System approach to harness the experience, manpower, services and technologies from these allied healthcare sectors to supplement and support the service provision of the NHS. This is being implemented initially in first-phase areas in London, Thames Valley and the South West, with the approach being validated, benefits quantified and the results published to demonstrate the value for citizens, partners and the health and care system.