The current level of noise surrounding the future of adult social care leaves little room for doubt that this is the key arena in which the drivers steering how services are delivered by local authorities and the NHS are set increasingly to converge in years to come.

While the issues surrounding this convergence are complex, the reasons for its taking place are deceptively simple: no matter which side of the divide health and care providers actually sit, in a time of falling investment levels, increased value for money and improving outcomes for patients and citizens has to be the target.