PROPOSALS to link the provision of health and social care in Wiltshire are being reconsidered ahead of government changes.

Wiltshire Council, who organise adult social care, and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), responsible for health care in the county, had planned to create a joint corporate director who would be accountable to both parties in a bid to provide integrated care for Wiltshire.

But on Monday Wiltshire Council and the CCG agreed “that it would be sensible to reconsider” the plans, in anticipation of a green paper due to be published by the government in July, which is likely to focus on commissioning of health services and collaborative working with social care providers.

Wiltshire’s cabinet member for adult social care Jerry Wickham said it was “extremely disappointing” the plans would not go ahead, but said integrating health and social care remains “a top priority” and that an alternative joint post with the CCG would be explored.

“We had viewed this role as vanguard in driving integration to improve health and care services,” he said.

“With the growing pressures on these services and the rise in the number of older people, partnership working and the delivery of joint services will be vital if we are to manage the increasing demand.

“Whilst we have a strategy and plan for this, the joint post was viewed as key to its delivery. We are working with our health partners to deliver changes that will help to manage the pressures and this work must and will continue.”

Dr Richard Sandford-Hill, chairman of Wiltshire CCG said: “Although we do not know the contents of the paper, we are confident that our proposals for closer, collaborative working with Wiltshire Council will not be compromised.

“We have made great strides towards a single, overarching health and social care strategy., and are looking forward to a third workshop this month to continue developing our combined ambitions for integrated, seamless services for Wiltshire people”