Integration

Integrated care could be seen as an overarching strategy to encourage service change and redesign, rather than solely as a means of cost reduction. Indeed, evidence for the economic benefits of integrated care is equivocal, although many of its components have clear benefits for the quality of services received by patients. Given the financial challenge facing the NHS, integrated care may represent a useful methodology to encourage fundamental service redesign. This level of change is required if the health service is to adapt and survive in the face of significant fiscal challenges.