Integration of health and social care requires public health evidence base and analysis

The integration of health and social care is high on the agenda at the moment, and implementing this effectively will require public health to support development, not least in using and interpreting the evidence base for local purposes. In part, this will be driven by developments such as an ageing population and the Care Act (2014).

Responding to integration will require considerable public health input and technical expertise, not least in understanding pathways and modelling expected futures, and in bridging the gap between social care (where there has been much less emphasis on an evidence base) and healthcare (where the emphasis is on scientific evidence).

Technical skills such as analysis/interpretation of data will be extremely important, to avoid misinterpretation.  Working across the system is likely to continue to grow, and people who can build effective relationships will make changes happen.

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.