Boundary revamp to aid joint-working

A massive shake-up of the NHS will ensure most primary care trusts
and councils share the same boundaries, to promote joint working
between social care and health.

The proposal, announced last week, follows the government’s
decision to have a joint health and social care white paper,
betraying a renewed determination in Whitehall to bring the
services together.

It has been welcomed by both the Local Government Association and
the NHS Confederation, which said joint boundaries would make
partnerships easier. There are 303 PCTs in England but only 150
top-tier councils.

However, in Commissioning a Patient-led NHS, the Department of
Health said it envisaged large councils including more than one
PCT, “while a number of small unitary authorities might fit into
one PCT.”

The proposals are available from
www.dh.gov.uk