Only Connect: Policy options for integrating health and social care

How can we integrate health care and social care to achieve a better outcome for patients? This report summarises some expert views.

To explore the issues involved in achieving closer integration of health and social care, the Nuffield Trust held a series of seminars led by experts in this field between November 2008 and January 2009. The series built on previous work by the Trust on integrated care and focused on areas of the country in which primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities have experience of working together on issues of common concern.

This briefing paper summarises the discussions that took place at the seminars, discusses emerging messages, and identifies the policy implications.