The move from STPs through to accountable care systems responsible for planning and delivering whole population care and onwards to accountable care organisations is now beginning to pick up pace. There are some areas rocketing ahead and others that are just starting to make progress, however all areas will be facing similar governance and legal challenges.

Earlier this year, Hempsons and NHS Providers hosted a roundtable event to find out what advice NHS trusts needed in order to progress towards accountable care systems and organisations.

Accountable care – the art of the possible is the resulting publication which provides useful advice and sets out eight steps and key considerations to help trusts as they seek to work more closely with partners.

The eight steps identified in the guide are:

1. Phasing
2. Partners
3. Governance
4. Contracting
5. Funding
6. Organisational form
7. Enablers
8. Competition