ABSTRACT
In the integrated health and social care teams model the focus is on the joint commissioning of health and social care services to improve access and co-ordination for individual users, rather than on strategic service development. It will be important for the lessons and benefits of this experience to be communicated to primary care managers, to support them as they gradually take on responsibility for joint investment plans and other areas of joint commissioning. However, some practical problems, such as those associated with the alignment of geographical boundaries, will continue to be experienced in primary care-level joint commissioning; solving these will require considerable skill and enthusiasm. It will, therefore, be important for health authority managers to share their experiences and support PCG/T members and managers in developing joint commissioning partnerships with social services.
