Lessons from transforming health services delivery: Compendium of initiatives in the WHO European Region

In order for health services delivery to accelerate gains in health outcomes it must continuously adapt and evolve according to the changing health landscape. At present, the case for change is compelling. In the context of both new challenges and opportunities, initiatives to transform services delivery across the WHO European Region has emerged. This Compendium demonstrates the diversity in activity, describing examples of health services delivery transformations from each Member State in the Region. The initiatives vary greatly in their scope and stages of implementation, from early changes to initiatives at-scale. When taken together, these examples offer unique insights for setting-up, implementing and sustaining transformations. A summary of 10 lessons learned attempts to synthesize key findings and consolidate insights derived from experiences.

Primary health services at district level in South Africa: a critique of the primary health care approach

The rhetoric of primary health care philosophy in the district health system is widely cited as a fundamental component of the health transformation process in post-apartheid South Africa. Despite, South Africa´s progress and attempts at implementing primary health care, various factors still limit its success.

Talking leadership: clinicians leading transformational change

Taj Hassan, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine, answers some questions about how clinicians are contributing to transformational change in the NHS

From self-assessment to knowledge transfer and improvement in integrated care: How to engage voluntary sector in the provision of integrated care?

Integrated care is a recognised solution to address the challenge of ageing population. Hence, it is important to commit to opportunities that increase the readiness and capacity of regions to implement integrated care. Knowledge transfer has been greatly recognised as an effective enabler to access existing evidence and learning on integrated care. It encompasses a very broad range of activities to support mutually beneficial collaborations between the interested stakeholders. 

Skills building seminar: Capacity-building for implementing integrated care

The significance of integrated care as a means for improving health outcomes and effectiveness and sustainability of health and care systems is widely acknowledged. Integrated care is a central element in many on-going or planned healthcare system reforms, however, the main challenge remains of how to build relevant capacity and know-how for the successful implementation of integrated care. Capacity-building is both the foundation and aspiration of SCIROCCO Exchange EU Health Programme funded project. The project aims to facilitate access to tailored, evidence-based support and improvement planning by recognising different staring points, or levels of maturity of healthcare systems in Europe

Leadership for integrated care: a case study

Integration of health services involves multiple interdependent leaders acting at several levels of their organisation and across organisations. This paper aims to explore the complexities of leadership in an integrated care project and aims to understand what leadership arrangements are needed to enable service transformation.

This study provides insights into the interdependencies of leadership across multiple levels and proposes steps to maximise the success of complex transformational projects.