The government has outlined some of its aims to improve the links between the NHS and social care in its Integration White Paper.

Patients will also have a digital care record where they can book appointments and order prescriptions easily under the new plans by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Proposals announced in the White Paper include helping individuals receive “better, more joined-up care” through improved integration of the NHS and social care system.

It also aims to provide patients with the ability to communicate with their care providers on one platform while workers can access the patient’s latest information easily.

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The paper goes on to suggest creating more integration between hospitals and social care so that care home residents can have access to better specialist support.

This could result in them avoiding going to hospital if they become unwell.

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Personalised care and improved information sharing

Care will ultimately be more personalised and accessible for patients, the government hopes, while improvements on information sharing will mean people will not have to remember details including dates of their diagnosis or what medicines they have been prescribed.

The likes of more diabetic clinics in areas of high obesity or more smoking support in communities where there are a higher number of smokers will also be part of a drive for tailored local health services.

Addressing the plans, Boris Johnson said: “The pandemic highlighted what our fantastic NHS and local government can achieve when they work together – from delivering the phenomenal vaccine rollout to supporting those who were shielding.

“We now want to build on these successes, joining up health and social care even more to deliver the best possible care – whether you want to see a GP quickly or live independently with dementia.”

The prime minister added: “These plans will ensure no patient falls between the gap, and that everyone receives the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Better integration is vital to stop people falling into the gaps between health and social care.

“Ensuring our health and care systems work in unison will mean we can support hardworking staff, provide better care to patients and deliver value for the taxpayer.

“Our Integration White Paper is part of our wider plans to reform and recover the health and social care system, ensuring everyone gets the treatment and care they need, when and where they need it.”

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Last September, Mr Johnson announced a £5.4bn funding package for adult social care reform over the next three years to help tackle hospital waiting lists and the backlog of operations and treatments delayed by the COVID pandemic.

The Autumn Spending Review confirmed that £1.7bn would be used to improve the adult social care system as a whole.

Figures from NHS England showed that the waiting list for hospital treatment hit a record six million in November – a rise of nearly 50% since the pandemic started.

The Integration White Paper builds on both the Health and Social Care Bill and the People at the Heart of Care White Paper which was announced in December.

It set out a 10-year plan for social care funded through the Health and Care Levy.

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