For health service decision makers this agenda shows that health sector workforce decisions need to address the move from acute illness to chronic preventable conditions as the third ‘age’ of health care across European regions. This shift will need (i) cross-sectoral service delivery designed around the needs of patients, carers and families (ii) investment in technologies and skilled workforces that minimise hospitalisation (iii) consideration of how to balance immigration and emigration of key health professions. It also supports the development of the corporate social responsibility role of your organisations and also shows your commitment to the health inequalities and health improvement agenda.
For local health organisations such as acute hospitals and primary care organisations, this agenda helps show your commitment to joint working with local government and other partnerships to develop fully engaged communities at both individual and organisational levels in service delivery and quality of preventable and minimised affordable care.
For regional governments, evidence suggests that effective, sustainable and competitive employment is best managed where there is considerable local autonomy in decisionmaking, coupled with tightly knit accountability to a region’s population. Overall, the partner case studies indicate that regional health bodies should develop and maintain expertise in anticipating future health demands, understand how to manage relations with other private or public sector providers, and become proficient in speaking the language of the central Finance Ministry.
For SMEs, the adoption of this agenda in your region or community, offers a clear basis for creating an approach to building and maintaining healthy competitive and inclusive workforces.
For relevant directorates within the European Commission (DG Employment, DG Enterprise, DG Research, DG Regional Policy, DG Health & Consumer Protection), this agenda offers a platform for an approach that cuts across individual DG competencies in order to achieve European added value.
