NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

While studying ageing services and models of health and social care integration in the California sunshine news comes from over the pond via the 21st Century version of the Wells Fargo Pony Express - the broadband super highway.

In the US in this interesting election season the issue of healthcare reform is a major political debating issue. So too at the local level back in the county of Somerset in my corner of the UK.

In Somerset as in many other parts of the country a debate has been underway about the future direction of health and social care integration. This boiled down to two options for the local front line NHS primary health delivery organisation, Somerset Community Health (SCH). The first was to remain within the NHS public sector environment by merging with the Somerset Partnership NHS (Mental Health) Foundation Trust. The second was to move SCH out from the NHS umbrella and to create a new independent social enterprise organisation along the lines of the successful social care social enterprise that is the Somerset Care Group.

The decision of the Somerset Primary Care Trust Board this week is that SCH will take the first option. I.e. Stay within the NHS.

While this decision is not the one many of us in the social enterprise camp were hoping for it is the one we expected. It is less risky and less culturally challenging for local NHS managers and staff. We understand it will save money. It is good at least that we have a decision and we can now put this debate behind us.

It is very important now that we move on to the more important agenda of how we improve the front line integration of health and social care in Somerset for the benefit of all residents of the county. Somerset Care looks forward to contributing it's energy to taking this work forward with our NHS colleagues.

Now - on with the tour!

Location:Sacramento, California, USA