Councils have ‘pivotal’ integration role
Author: Michael Burton, the MJ |
In its report into the new public health and GP commissioning system ‘In sickness and in health’ the think-tank Localis said that local authorities have a ‘pivotal role to play in forging closer integration of health and social care’ now backed by ‘strong financial drivers’.
Localis recommends that the Government should review the new health system in 2015 to ensure health and wellbeing boards have ‘real influence over commissioning’ and, if not, give local government greater, even complete’ responsibility for health commissioning.
It also called for the post of public health minister to be made a joint Department of Health/Cabinet Office role, for data to be shared across local health bodies and for health and wellbeing boards to have their own representative body divided into regional sub-groups.
Speaking at the launch, care minister Norman Lamb said there was now an ‘enormous opportunity’ to create an integrated care and health system.
Mr Lamb cited the Department of Health’s integration pioneer bids, currently being evaluated, as leaders of the drive to merge care and health.