It is hoped that this initiative will remove organisational and physical barriers within healthcare, and between health and social care.
Lord Warner said: ‘The primary, community and social care of tomorrow cannot be delivered from the facilities of yesterday. It is only logical for these complementary care systems to be located on the same site, the move makes sense if they are to work together effectively. At present, this often does not happen.
'We should look forward to a point where it will be increasingly common for patients to visit a local 'one-stop shop' to see their GP, a physiotherapist, a specialist nurse, and a social worker. They should be able to attend an out-patient clinic, have a prescription made up at the pharmacist, and, possibly, ask for an eye or hearing test. Patients should no longer have to travel all around town for these different services. It is particularly important to bring social care and voluntary organisations together with health services.’
Lord Warner said: ‘The primary, community and social care of tomorrow cannot be delivered from the facilities of yesterday. It is only logical for these complementary care systems to be located on the same site, the move makes sense if they are to work together effectively. At present, this often does not happen.
'We should look forward to a point where it will be increasingly common for patients to visit a local 'one-stop shop' to see their GP, a physiotherapist, a specialist nurse, and a social worker. They should be able to attend an out-patient clinic, have a prescription made up at the pharmacist, and, possibly, ask for an eye or hearing test. Patients should no longer have to travel all around town for these different services. It is particularly important to bring social care and voluntary organisations together with health services.’
