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This is potentially a very exciting and appropriate development. Its been clear for some time that Trusts need to shift from treating a conveyer-belt of patients coming their way, to instead taking responsibility for primary and particularly, secondary prevention for their populations.

One point of concern I would express at the moment is - why is just FTs or the new breed of FTs that get to take on this unique and important responsibility? There are already good examples of where a non-FT takes on the huge responsibility of "hosting" as opposed to "leading" a multi-agency partnership, to tackle admission avoidance and chronic disease. The partners are bound together by an alliance agreement. The host's role is to be a servant to the partnership and mutual accountability has, in some places, driven impressive outcomes on attendance and admission avoidance.

Devil's in the detail and I look forward to seeing it in due course.