• The National Audit Office (NAO) has published it's report into new care models and the vanguards.
• The report examines whether the NHS is well placed to get value for money from its investment in developing new care models through vanguards.
• The NAO has warned short-term financial pressures led to the diversion of much of the transformation funding, weakening the programme's chances of success. 

Responding to the report, NHS Providers head of policy, Amber Jabbal, said:

"The vanguards have made strides towards improving the way people access health and care setting out a blueprint for integrated care.

"It is promising that some vanguards have seen a slower growth in emergency admissions compared to the rest of the country, but we support the report's recommendation for further evaluation on the long term impact on outcomes and demand.

We must be realistic about what this funding can do alone without a clear longer-term strategy for transformation and support from national and local leaders.

Amber Jabbal    Head of Policy and Strategic Projects

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"We must recognise that large-scale transformation in health care requires funding, implementation support, time, and the permission to make mistakes and learn from them.

"We welcome the commitment from the chief executive of NHS England to sustain and help to spread learning from the vanguards within the upcoming ten year plan, but we must ensure this builds on the progress made so far.

"Continuing the journey towards more integrated care will be a key pillar of the plan and funding settlement. But we must be realistic about what this funding can do alone without a clear longer-term strategy for transformation and support from national and local leaders."