What barriers to integrated care still remain and how can we overcome these? How much can local leadership achieve? Post your questions in the comments section now

This week, care and support minister Norman Lamb announced plans to make joined-up care the norm in every part of the country by 2018, with projects in every part of the country by 2015. This reflects a growing consensus that integrated health and social care is the way forward for patient care − with the challenge now to make it a reality.

So what do these lessons mean for you? Was the announcement of a “shared commitment” document and local pioneer sites a game-changer, and how can local areas prepare for the introduction of these and future waves? What barriers to integrated care still remain and how can we overcome these? How much can local leadership achieve, and are further changes in national policy needed?

Join HSJ for a live panel discussion with Dr Nicola Walsh, integrated care programme lead and assistant director of leadership at the King’s Fund; Don Redding, director of policy at National Voices; and a panel of other experts working in health and care. This live stream will take place here from 1pm on Monday 20 May.

You can leave your views and questions to our panellists on the comment thread below. For more background see the King’s Fund’s report, Making integrated care happen at scale and pace.

Expert panel:

  • Dr Nicola Walsh, integrated care programme lead and assistant director of leadership at The King’s Fund
  • Don Redding, director of policy, National Voices
  • Debbie Freake, director of integration, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Anthony Gardner, NHS Cumbria CCG network director for South Cumbria