NE Lincolnshire to set up care trusts

North East Lincolnshire Council and primary care trust are bidding to fully integrate the area’s adult social care and health services, while also bringing health improvement functions under one roof.

Julie Ogley, the council’s executive director for community care, said the proposal had been prompted by the health and social care white paper, which calls for much closer working between the two sectors.

Under the plan, published last week, the council would transfer its adult social care staff to a care trust, which would also be responsible for the PCT’s adult health commissioning and community health delivery functions.

In addition, the council would take over the PCT’s public health function, so that it could be brought together with council services such as leisure and housing.

A public consultation on the plan, which would require Department of Health approval runs until 2 October.