Surrey’s bid for joint body rejected

Proposals by Surrey Council to run an
organisation integrating health and social care have been rejected
by the government.

The council had planned to set up a body
dealing with health and social care in Surrey alone. But the
government has decided to opt for a strategic authority that covers
Sussex and Surrey and deals with health alone.

David Munro, council executive member with
responsibility for adults and community care, said Surrey council
was disappointed by the government’s decision.

“We put a lot of hard work into the proposals
and, although the letter we received was very polite, it gave no
reasons as to why we were turned down.”

Under the council’s plans health would have
been franchised out to Surrey Council to be run by the council’s
chief executive.