Recommendation 33

We welcome the Joining up Care for People, Places and Populations White Paper and commend the Government for making the integration of health and social care a policy priority. We particularly welcome the Government’s ambitions around shared outcomes, workforce integration, and ensuring every citizen has a shared care record by 2024. However, we are concerned that inconsistent geographical boundaries could result in gaps which could also hinder the successful pooling of budgets. In Spring 2023 the Government should review how many places have established governance and accountability models and their geographical footprints, and should work with local partners to modify boundaries if necessary to ensure all citizens can benefit from effective arrangements. The Government should also publish without delay its review of the arrangements that govern pooled budgets under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006. The Government should seek to enable localised place-based arrangements between the NHS and individual councils, and pool budgets on that basis.