NHS People Plan pledges closer ‘much stronger links’ with social care

An interim report published by the NHS has pledged to establish “much stronger links” between health and social care.

In its Interim NHS People Plan, the NHS said it will aim to increase clinical placement capacity in primary and social care settings.

The report also cites the NHS Long Term Plan which includes a £4.5bn investment in expanding multidisciplinary teams aligned with new primary care networks.

These expanded teams will include GPs, clinical pharmacists, district nurses, community geriatricians, paramedics, physiotherapists, physician associates, podiatrists and social prescribers, together with social care and voluntary sector staff.

Skills for Care Interim CEO Andy Tilden: “We welcome the report’s very clear commitment to working with the 21,200 organisations who offer social care in England that employ 1.47 million people who will all want to play a key role in helping deliver the ambitious themes in this report.

“It is clear from our experience that building sustainable relationships between social care and health professionals and our fellow citizens is the key to delivering the sort of 21st century care we all want to be able to access when it is needed. Around 42,000 nurses work in community and social care settings and we’re pleased to see this is recognised in this report. We look forward to working with NHS colleagues and other partners to deliver the support and development opportunities the workforce in social care and health need.”