A MASSIVE shake-up of health and social services is being proposed in Parliament by Bury's MPs.

David Chaytor (Bury North) and Ivan Lewis (Bury South) say vulnerable people are being caught in a bureaucratic crossfire.

When the House of Commons reconvenes on Monday, October 27, they will table an early day motion calling for the merger of health and social services.

The MPs say there is "overwhelming evidence" that patients are suffering because of the "organisational divide which artificially separates health care and social care".

Their motion adds: "Collaboration and co-operation between health and social services departments and other agencies, while essential, has too often failed to deliver high quality, seamless and cost-effective services."

Bury North MP David Chaytor said they had written to all MPs asking them to support the motion.

And Mr Lewis, who represents Bury South, said: "Weaknesses in the community care system and delayed discharges are prime examples of the impact of the current divide on vulnerable individuals, their families and the wider community." The idea has been given a cautious welcome by local social services and health bosses. Mr David Ashworth, borough social services officer, said: "I can see advantages in terms of health care for people, but we don't know how it will work," he said.

"Would it just cover the elderly and adults? Where would child protection fit in? We would want to see the detail."

Mr Ashworth also wanted to see what was in the Government's forthcoming White Paper on abolishing the internal market in the NHS.

"Collaboration between us is as good if not better than it's ever been, and I'm not sure what we would gain," he added. "However, given the financial pressure on both organisations, anything that saves money through getting rid of duplication can only be good."

Mr Alan Maden, chairman of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said: "Partnership between the authority, Trusts, GPs and social services is a feature of an increasing amount of joint initiatives aimed at improving health and continuing care.

"Clearly health improvements can only be achieved by adopting an integrated approach between all the agencies including those in the NHS.

"We will have to see what the Government's plans are in the forthcoming White Paper."

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