The Government has outlined plans to bring local government and the NHS closer together under its new Integration White Paper.

It said the White Paper would provide patients with 'better, more joined-up care' and help reduce waiting lists.

Under the plans, local authorities and the NHS will be encouraged to share data and be more transparent about their performance, and a new integrated system will allow the NHS to notify a local authority immediately if someone needed social care support.

The Government said improved integration would also deliver earlier intervention, more personalised care and give patients a single digital care record.

Health and social care secretary, Sajid Javid, said: 'Better integration is vital to stop people falling into the gaps between health and social care.

'Ensuring our health and care systems work in unison will mean we can support hardworking staff, provide better care to patients and deliver value for the taxpayer.'

Health minister Edward Argar added too many people were 'bounced around' the 'fragmented' system.

But head of policy at the Health Foundation charity, Hugh Alderwick, warned the White Paper risked 'overclaiming what integration can achieve'.

Health and social care spokesperson for chief executives' organisation Solace, Paul Najsarek, said: 'The potential for local government to make a real, positive difference to the people and places we serve is immense, but it will only be by working together with health, voluntary and community sector partners, and playing to our respective strengths, that we will be able to deliver meaningful change by better treating and preventing illness, improving public health, and addressing inequalities.'

But general secretary of trade union Unison, Christina McAnea, said: 'This is yet another Government policy without substance. 

'The NHS and social care are running on fumes because of workforce and funding shortages.

'Without sufficient staff or investment to deliver them these reforms are doomed.

'Joined-up working won't happen until ministers stop dodging the issues that really matter.'

Chief executive of The King's Fund charity, Richard Murray, said it was 'hard to see' how the White Paper's ideas would 'come to fruition by the planned deadline of April 2023'.