The Provision for the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES)

1.1 Local Authorities (LA) and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) in Greater Manchester (GM) signed a landmark agreement with the government in February 2015 to take charge of health and social care spending and decisions in the Greater Manchester area.

The strategic plan: 'Taking Charge of Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester' includes an ambition for people to take charge of - and responsibility for - managing their own health and wellbeing, whether they are well or ill.

One of the changes sought is that when people do need support from public services it's provided largely in their community, with hospitals only needed for specialist care.

Access to appropriate Equipment and Minor Adaptations helps enable people to live more independently or be cared for at home longer.

1.2 Provision of Equipment / Minor Adaptations is crucial in enabling timely discharge from hospital, supporting post-discharge recovery, preventing falls, preventing admissions to care homes and hospitals and maintaining independence.