Fourteen pioneer areas to lead health and social care integration

The government today announced the 14 ‘pioneer’ areas that have been chosen to spearhead plans to integrate health and social care by 2018.
Care services minister Norman Lamb said the announcement marked the start of a ‘quiet revolution’ in the care of older and disabled adults.

Plans put forward by the 14 – who were chosen from 99 expressions of interest – include setting up multidisciplinary teams to support service users, providing people with integrated care plans and single points of contact and setting up seven-day services.

The pioneers will be supported by a central team that will help them overcome barriers to integration.