I’ll be honest, I’ve lost count of the number of articles I’ve read over the last few years regarding integration of health and care concluding that more could be done, and now is the time for change. The need for better integration of services has been on the cards for some time. Progress has been made, albeit variable across the country. Where we have succeeded is in creating a lot of associated acronyms – STPs, ICSs, PCNs, ICPs, etc.

While COVID-19 has exacerbated the pressures on services in a manner that has undoubtedly led to tragic results for families over the last year, one could argue it has been a catalyst needed to galvanise support for change. Public attention has been focused like never before on health, social care and public health services, and thus we find ourselves with a new White Paper promising greater integration of health and social care.