From today (July 1), the One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System becomes a legal entity.

The existing partnership brings together NHS, social care, public health and other public, voluntary and community sector organisations.

Health and care leaders believe by working ever closer together the partnership can build a healthier Gloucestershire, supporting people to live well and providing high-quality joined-up care when people need it.

From July, the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, known as NHS Gloucestershire, will be responsible for planning and buying services to meet the health needs of local people. It will also bring partners together to ensure the county's NHS provides the best possible care.

It will work alongside the One Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Partnership - ensuring a joined-up approach across the NHS, public health, social care and the wider public, voluntary and community sector.

Whilst organisations will continue to retain their individual responsibilities to provide health and care support and services in people's homes, GP surgeries, communities and hospitals, One Gloucestershire leaders believe they can achieve much more together through working as integrated teams in local areas.

Mary Hutton, chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (NHS Gloucestershire), said: "Whilst we are under no illusions about the challenges ahead, we are ambitious for the county and are optimistic about what can be achieved due to the goodwill, shared determination and expertise that is already in evidence across our One Gloucestershire partnership."

Pete Bungard, chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The challenges that health and care organisations face are better tackled as one and we are pleased to be working with partners, local people and communities to build an even better future for our great county - making best use of our collective strength and the Gloucestershire pound."

Matt Lennard, chief officer of the Gloucestershire Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Alliance, said: "We are very excited about the work we are doing - joining forces with statutory partners and communities on shared priorities and offering up the considerable know how and expertise of the voluntary and community sector."

In the coming months, One Gloucestershire partners will work with local people and communities to focus on:

• Health and care services today - supporting recovery from the pandemic - including reducing waiting times for appointments, treatment and operations and supporting people's mental health

• Transforming what we do now - making best use of resources, developing the workforce and making the most of new technologies to support care

• Making Gloucestershire a better place for the future - improving the health, wellbeing and care of local citizens across their lifetime and reducing health inequalities.