Last Updated on February 10, 2022

Government has published a new Integration white paper that it says will bring the NHS and local government closer to improve care and value for money. The white paper outlines plans to ensure people receive the right care for them in the right place at the right time, according to Government. In addition, joining up services will help deliver a world-leading health and social care system working together as part of the wider reform and recovery agenda, the white paper envisages.

The Integration white paper is the latest aspect of Government’s vision of a reformed health and social care system. It follows the Health and Social Care Bill and the People at the Heart of Care white paper which set out a ten-year vision for social care funded through the Health and Care Levy, and follows the delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care. Dedicated plans to tackle health disparities are set to be published in due course.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said, 'Better integration is vital to stop people falling into the gaps between health and social care.

'Ensuring our health and care systems work in unison will mean we can support hardworking staff, provide better care to patients and deliver value for the taxpayer.

'Our Integration white paper is part of our wider plans to reform and recover the health and social care system, ensuring everyone gets the treatment and care they need, when and where they need it.'

In response to Government's announcement that the Integration white paper has been published, Cllr Martin Tett, Adult Social Care Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said, 'Today’s white paper is another important step on the integration journey that county authorities and their health partners have been on for a number of years. The flexibility for local authorities and the NHS to share budgets is welcome, as is an aspiration to use data more effectively.

'Whilst further funding will be needed to maximise the success of these proposals, not least in establishing an effective intermediate care offer jointly with the NHS, this is a white paper that recognises county authorities’ role in shaping their local health systems. We must now be given the tools to make this a reality.

'With county authorities offering the scale as place leaders in bringing together key public sector partners, it is critical that an individual from local government should be the ‘single accountable person’ to lead on Integrated Care Partnerships. Those upper-tier authorities should also be the ones who lead on devising the most effective local structures to focus on improving community care options and tackling the wider determinants of poor health, working alongside primary care partners.'

Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive at the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), said, 'The true test of integrated care is whether the changes to local services make a tangible difference to people’s care experiences. The pandemic demonstrated the inter-dependence of the NHS and social care. Whilst shared care records will enable the joined-up care people expect, better data does not on its own lead to better outcomes or experiences. A culture change in how care is organised, financed and delivered is just as important.

'Local partnerships are key to delivering this ambition, and we welcome the white paper’s continuity for integration reforms already underway. Our research supports the premise of flexibility for local 'place' arrangements. Involving citizens and communities is crucial for determining how best to meet the needs of local people and expand their care choices.

'The Government’s white paper for the integration of health and social care is the right way forward, but realising the ambition requires long-term commitment and investment. Integration will not resolve the urgent issues of stabilising the social care system or tackling the backlog of NHS demand.'

In other news, councils in England will be given a spending boost of £54.1bn for the coming financial year, including more than £1bn extra for social care.