Directors of communications from 15 Swedish county councils visited London to learn more about the health and care system in England.This presentation is from this visit. NHS Improving Quality planned and hosted the study tour as a result of close links with Jönköping, one of the councils represented in the delegation. Our guests learned about the important role of communications specialists in transforming healthcare in England, and the leading role NHS Improving Quality has taken in engaging and mobilising staff at scale and pace. During the study tour it became obvious that many of the challenges and opportunities we face in our health and care system mirror those in Sweden, in particular issues such as emergency care, obesity and smoking, patient safety and working with the media. This was a fantastic opportunity for NHS Improving Quality to strengthen alliances at an international level and share ideas and approaches, and we hope to build on this in the future

1. Presentation of the
ID Network, county
councils & regions
in Sweden and SALAR
23-26 June 2014

2. Swedish Health System
 Run by county councils and regions
 The regions also have responsibility for regional
development
 County councils/regions are financed by taxes
 Elections every 4th year (general elections)
 Regulations and laws from the government
 https://sweden.se/society/healthcare-in-sweden/

3. Opportunities and challenges facing
Swedish county councils and regions
 Financing and cost increases within healthcare.
 High demands and expectations on healthcare and for
greater participation.
 Inequality in health and lifestyles. Also inability to
provide equal care.

4. Opportunities and challenges facing
Swedish county councils and regions
 Greater responsibility for Sweden’s county councils –
building regions.
 Major recruitment needs.

5. Opportunities and challenges facing Swedish
county councils and regions
 Confidence in healthcare system and county councils.
 Image of Swedish healthcare. Media image – a sector in
crisis.
 Antibiotic resistance.
 Fewer people living in sparsely populated areas.

6. The ID Network – who are we?
 A network of directors of communication. Existed since 1993.
 Meet eight times a year to exchange information and discuss common
issues.
 Contact and reference group for authorities and organisations.
Representatives from other authorities can be invited for dialogue.
 Able to make decisions regarding communication matters in which
county councils and regions require consensus.
 Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) has a
permanent information point on the agenda.
 Joint action meetings with representatives of the county council
directors.

7. What are we doing together?
 1177 Vårdguiden – a hub for information and services
within healthcare. Website (1177.se) and phone number.
 Joint e-service development.
 Joint campaigns. During the 2011 – 2014 awareness
about stroke and the development of treatment services
for stroke. Excellent results.

8. What are we doing together?
 Joint campaign to encourage interest in working in the
public sector – Sweden’s most important job.
 Health promotion initiatives – planning underway to
join forces on health issues and encourage lifestyle
changes.
 Communication days – joint forum offering skills
development for county councils’/regions’ employees
within the area of communication.

9. What is the purpose of this trip?
 Global reconnaissance! Gain new knowledge and
inspiration on current areas for development:
 New ways of meeting the population’s
needs/development of eHealth
 Brand strategy issues
 Increased participation and dialogue with patients and
inhabitants
 Greater responsibility for county councils (regional
development – region-building)
 Networking and sharing experiences.

10. How will we follow up what we’ve learned?
 Feedback on what we’ve learned
 Continued networking within a selected area?
 More long-term contacts and partnerships?

11. The Swedish Association of
Local Authorities and Regions

12. The Swedish Associations of Local
Authorities and Regions (SALAR)
 We act as an employer’s
organisation, and defend
and promote the interests of
our members.
 290 municipalities, 20 county
councils/regions
 1,1 million employees
 Service and support to all
members

13. Our members
SALAR represents Sweden’s:
 290 municipalities
 20 county councils/regions

14. A matter of democracy
SALAR is a member organisation for
municipalities, county councils and regions. As
their employer organisation and representative
we advocate the interests of our members and
offer them support and service.
We raise issues, act decisively and enlighten
public opinion.
Our mission is to provide municipalities, county
councils and regions with better conditions for
local and regional self-government. The vision is
to develop the welfare system and its services.
It is a matter of democracy.

15. Employers´organisation
 Employers’organisation for Sweden’s
municipalities, county coucils and regions.
 Our members are employers for more than
one million people.
 Strengten our members as employers’
 Signs central collective agreements.
 Make room for local collective agreements.

16. Service and support
 Offer our members service and support
for example in legal affairs and
development of activities.
 Economic analysis.
 A meetingpoint for our members, to
share experiences and discuss issues on
top of the agenda for them.

17. Public Affairs
 Represent the members towards
government, parliament and other
national authorities.
 Raising issues, important for our
members.
 Active in media and public opinion

18. Priority issues 2014
 A successful school
 Jobs for young people
 Better life for sick elderly people
 Equality in care and in health
 Culture and leisure for all
 Digital welfare services for all
 Users and patiens as active co-creators
 Sweden´s most important job
 Quality –guaranteed welfare
 Strengthened local and regional growth
 Immigrants establishment – an investment for the future
 The long-term financing of the welfare state