New report on health and care partnerships

the UK could go further than the 70,000 housing-with-care units currently constructed, which provide a home for just 0.6% of over-65s compared to 5-6% in New Zealand, Australia and the US.

These calls were followed later that year by an open letter to the Prime Minister, co-ordinated by ARCO and signed by more than 40 politicians and campaigners.

A review of retirement housing by Professor Les Mayhew of City University published in November last year concluded that 50,000 new homes for older people need to be built each year to meet the needs of the ageing population – or one in four of all new homes.

Michael Voges, Chief Executive of ARCO, said, ‘The launch of the Older People’s Housing Task Force is a watershed moment for our sector –

The Health and Social Care Committee has published a report into new partnerships aimed at delivering joined-up health and care services. The report calls for the Government and NHS England to address key concerns if these partnerships are to genuinely improve health and care services for people throughout England. The inquiry, which focused on autonomy and accountability, found genuine enthusiasm for the potential of the new local partnerships, called Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), to deliver on challenges facing the health and care sectors. However, MPs warn of a serious lack of clarity in some areas with risks that acute shortterm pressures could be given priority over longer term ambitions such as preventing ill health.

Social Services (ADASS), said, ‘The Committee’s report hits the nail on the head. Integrated Care Systems have the potential to create the sort of health and care system we need, where we prevent ill health by providing high-quality, timely care and support when people need it in their homes and their community. And where decisions about care are made by the people accessing it and the front-line staff supporting them as much as possible.

‘Critically, the Government needs to ensure that Integrated Care Systems are not just left to deal with the immediate crisis in health and social care. If they are genuinely going to build a health system that acts for the long term, investing in a way to prevent ill health and improve well-being in their communities, they will need